Attracted by the wonderful coral reefs surrounding KohTao, and the growth in recreational diving, a number of companies have established dive businesses on Koh Tao, these companies in turn developed resorts for their customers, and over the years several of these resorts have become quite plush.
A culture shock to most people, but generally the island reacted with a passion to these new visitors, over the following months much change has taken place, new resorts, with more facilities, a new array of restaurants offering different food from around the globe.
Immediately following the horrible events of the December 2004 Tsunami, the caliber of tourist visiting the island have changed, previously it had been a Mecca for backpackers, young travellers along their way south to Malaysia and beyond.
The first generation of today's community (began,started] settling when they brought over their families and started to cultivate & harvest the on offer.
Local fishermen and farmers realised that business people from other places were creating their island to accommodate to the needs of all these new customers and they also, immediately started to open their own businesses to fulfill all the customers demands.Kohtao is a small island near Chumphon.
These days, you can find everything from basic simple wooden bungalows with palm leaf roofs to exotic high class villas with their own private swimming pool.
In the late 1990's Ko Tao's very first, and until recently, only road was constructed, the road runs South to North from the far side of Sairee beach to the southern settlement of Chalok Baan Kao.
A new road is under construction on the way to Tanote Bay, and once completed it will open up the other side of the island for better development, it is accessable with care at the moment with 4x4.
Every now and again progress can be a wonderful thing, fortunately KoTao has kept its relaxed atmosphere, ]it is,it's] still nigh on impossible to find a crowded beach. |