Located 17 kilometres off the Andaman Sea coast, Koh Phayam, covering a 35km2 area, is the second largest island in Ranong province. Blessed with unspoiled forests and pristine beaches, the island attracts visitors seeking peaceful recreation amid pristine nature and the charming lifestyle of islanders who still make a living by catching fish. In recent years, Koh Phayam has been hailed as a model of sustainable tourism and economic growth that has still preserved its natural resources.
According to local authorities, the island's tourism substantially contributes to Ranong's economy. "Koh Phayam's tourism sector alone can make up to one billion baht a year. That is a significant portion considering the province's overall annual revenue of three billion baht," Chaiyut Anusiri, acting permanent secretary of the Koh Phayam administrative organisation, said.
With cooperation between the public and private sectors, the island maintains its allure as a sustainable tourism destination which pulls in tourists but still adheres to strict conservation measures. NOW COMES THE THREAT The government's proposed Land Bridge project, which aims to bolster connectivity between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman coast and herald prosperity for the region, has created concerns among the public and conservationists, who fear the development will harm the island's environmental harmony. The mega-sized project would link the Pacific and Indian oceans via the construction of deep-sea ports in Ch.
