January 30th, 2006, 11:34
THE murder of Welsh tourist Katherine Horton on Thailand's holiday island of Koh Samui has led to a significant drop in the number of foreign tourists, including Australians, to the province.
Two Thai fishermen have already been sentenced to death for the rape and murder of the 21-year-old British backpacker on New Year's Day.
The tourist island was shocked by the murder of Horton, whose body was found in the ocean after she was last seen strolling alone on a beach on the evening of January 1.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, visitor numbers to the southern province of Surat Thani, which includes Koh Samui, fell 30 per cent in the first month of 2006.
Spokesman Pramote Spyen said it was obvious Horton's murder had affected tourism, even though two men had been quickly arrested, tried and sentenced.
Australian visitor numbers had been affected, dropping an estimated 10 per cent, but British tourist numbers were the worst hit, he said.
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A third of the expected visitors to Koh Samui and nearby island Koh Pha-ngan had cancelled high-season trips to the islands, he said.
Australians were estimated to spend about $250 a day each on holidays in Thailand and on that basis the islands had already lost millions of dollars so far this year, the spokesman said.
Police said they were introducing stricter safety measures on Koh Samui and neighbouring islands to protect tourists.
This included assigning English-speaking officers to warn foreigners against going to what he described as "risky places".
Meanwhile, falling tourist numbers have prompted Thai International to cancel direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne to the southern resort town of Phuket from February 1.
Tourism companies are to ask the airline to reconsider its decision.www.news.com.au
Two Thai fishermen have already been sentenced to death for the rape and murder of the 21-year-old British backpacker on New Year's Day.
The tourist island was shocked by the murder of Horton, whose body was found in the ocean after she was last seen strolling alone on a beach on the evening of January 1.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, visitor numbers to the southern province of Surat Thani, which includes Koh Samui, fell 30 per cent in the first month of 2006.
Spokesman Pramote Spyen said it was obvious Horton's murder had affected tourism, even though two men had been quickly arrested, tried and sentenced.
Australian visitor numbers had been affected, dropping an estimated 10 per cent, but British tourist numbers were the worst hit, he said.
Advertisement:
A third of the expected visitors to Koh Samui and nearby island Koh Pha-ngan had cancelled high-season trips to the islands, he said.
Australians were estimated to spend about $250 a day each on holidays in Thailand and on that basis the islands had already lost millions of dollars so far this year, the spokesman said.
Police said they were introducing stricter safety measures on Koh Samui and neighbouring islands to protect tourists.
This included assigning English-speaking officers to warn foreigners against going to what he described as "risky places".
Meanwhile, falling tourist numbers have prompted Thai International to cancel direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne to the southern resort town of Phuket from February 1.
Tourism companies are to ask the airline to reconsider its decision.www.news.com.au