| Koh Lipe: Opportunities Knock, But Challenges Persist | ||
| UPDATE : 4 May 2010 | ||
Located in the Andaman Sea within Tarutao National Marine Park, Koh Lipe ('Lipe Island') boasts an incredible, dramatic landscape that ensures it's one of the leading tourist attractions in the southern province of Satun. The island is home to the Urak Lawoi, an indigenous group better known in Thai as chao talay ('sea gypsies'). In the natives' language, Lipe means paper. Koh Lipe's impressive natural habitat tends to be a hit among eco-tourists, while it's also a great spot for snorkeling or scuba diving. Since about 2005, the island has become an increasingly popular destination among many different categories of tourist. However, the dramatic development of tourism has resulted in a number of changes on the island with the arrival of more traders, developers, entrepreneurs and investors.
Bang Mhad, a native of Satun province, seized the opportunity to open his restaurant about five years ago. During the interview, he outlines some of the major changes that have taken place on the island since he started out in business, while also describing some of his hopes for the future. Maneeya Dhammataree (MD): I think your restaurant is very stylish – what first inspired you to open a restaurant on the island? Bang Mhad (BM): Since Pak Bara, my hometown, is the port that connects the mainland with the island, I could observe the strong growth in visitor numbers over the last 10 years or so. This really inspired me to consider operating a business related to tourism. I thought it would provide me with a golden opportunity and help me to improve my standard of living. I didn't have much money to invest, so a small restaurant was the ideal vehicle through which to get started. MD: Could you tell our readers what the island was like previously and how it has developed since the upsurge in tourism? BM: Originally, there was just one narrow path that passed through the sea gypsy village, which was surrounded by jungle. There were only two or three bungalows for rent back then. Transportation has really been the main factor driving the island's development. Up until the late 1990s, the only way of reaching the island was by fishing boat. But once the new century began, speedboats improved accessibility. These days, there are tons of new resorts sprouting up all over Koh Lipe since the island lacks any form of formal construction management regulations to control this form of development. The native population has, by and large, had to move further inland and away from the beaches. MD: What are the main challenges in terms of making a living on the island? BM: Firstly, I can say that competition is not a major issue among local traders. However, the cost of basic utilities on the island far exceeds the levels on the mainland, and this can negatively affect our businesses. For example, 100 liters of artesian water here costs about 300 baht (US$9 [compared with 10 baht per 1,000 liters on the mainland), while a unit of electricity costs 40 baht (compared with 20 baht per unit on the mainland). Certain developers have been able to dig artesian wells for their own private usage, but small operators like me don't have that kind of budget. I'm afraid that, in the future, we may not be able to compete with the major developers. MD: How do you think things could be improved to ensure that tourism on the island becomes more sustainable? BD: Well, in addition to the construction controls I referred to earlier, I think we should also have a better garbage management plan. There's now a group of locals here calling themselves Khon Rak Lipe ('Folks Who Love Lipe'). By charging a significant fee, this group transfers garbage from the island to the mainland for regular disposal. Even so, the garbage continues to pile up, suggesting we may need to take even bolder steps. MD: Thanks very much for your time. BM: You’re welcome. | ||
วันพุธที่ 12 พฤษภาคม พ.ศ. 2553
Koh Lipe: Opportunities Knock, But Challenges Persist
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