Koh Mak: Low-carbon tourist attraction

      Those seeking a relaxing cruise devoid of nightlife on a nearly entirely undeveloped island may find their dream destination here. It’s the island of Koh Mak we’re discussing.

       Koh Mak is the largest of the three islands that make up the Koh Kood District in the province of Trat. It is situated about 38 kilometers from the coast in the Koh Mak Subdistrict of Koh Kood District. It’s about 9,500 rai (over 15 sq km) in size, including a public square (500 square meters) in the form of a four-pointed star.

     Koh Mak’s atmosphere is its greatest asset. Everything is peaceful around here. Nothing to do, nothing to see, nothing to entertain us. The island is still almost entirely covered in coconut groves, fruit orchards, and the rubber plantations of the locals, and some parts are coastal plains, so there are many picturesque bays and sandy beaches, such as Ao Suan Yai, Ao Nid, Ao Phai, Ao Phra, Tan Bay, Ao Lom, and Ai Ao. The surrounding ocean around the island will be a brilliant blue.

     Once we get to Koh Mak, we’ll undoubtedly want to go swimming in the crystal-clear water. Koh Mak is an island in the middle of Koh Chang surrounded by many smaller islands, making it an ideal starting point for tours and activities, such as snorkeling around the surrounding islands.

      Diving at Koh Rang, a popular destination for scuba enthusiasts on a trip to Koh Mak, is regulated by the nearby Koh Chang National Park. This diving destination is situated between the islands of Koh Yak Lek and Koh Yak Yai, both of which are surrounded by thriving coral reefs and teeming schools of fish. Snorkeling and discovering the underwater world are possible.

      Furthermore, Koh Mak is a tourist attraction with beautiful nature, tranquility, and safety, as well as a model of conservation tourism (ecotourism) with low carbon use (low-carbon destination) that maintains a balance between the economy, society, and the environment in order to achieve the goal of being a sustainable tourist destination systematically, according to the world sustainable tourism criteria.

      Protecting the planet, cutting down on carbon emissions, and helping local economies and communities are all important objectives. Even the Hilton hotel chain has started using a service called Lightstay. For the purpose of analyzing and managing a company’s environmental and social impacts, it is used to monitor environmental data in real time, such as energy, carbon, water, waste, and social impact indicators, and carbon footprint assessments. Nearly 6,000 of its affiliates in over 160 countries help businesses save money and energy without sacrificing productivity or environmental standards.

      Koh Mak will continue following the same waste management practices as they do today, such as limiting the distribution of plastic bags and encouraging sorting of trash at the source. Through a process of plastic separation and sorting, as much waste as possible will be burned, after which it will be dried and sent to a factory from which it can be repurchased, with the waste from that process being used to create fertilizer. By separating trash into “refuse-derived fuel,” or RDF, Koh Mak will eventually be free of incineration. RDF is created from solid waste after it has undergone physical treatment, including sorting, size reduction, and dehumidification.

     Koh Mak will have electric trams to provide services to the people on the island, and this includes the use of cars or vehicles to lobby for the use of electric trains. Koh Mak now has both traditional bicycles and electric bicycles, thanks to a cooperative effort by the Subdistrict Administrative Organization to phase out the use of cars for tourist rentals in favor of the electric train system and the two types of bicycles available on the island. Many resorts have upgraded to electric trains, which can be rented by visitors at low cost. It’s been hypothesized that this helps lower carbon emissions and conserve energy. Most of the money spent will go back to the resort. If more people join and follow the rules, they can reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and thus slow the rate at which the planet warms.

As for how to get to Koh Mak, there’s essentially one way from the mainland, whether you arrive by car or bus:

- Laem Ngop Pier provides a car storage service for those who drive from Bangkok. Anyone who doesn’t have their own vehicle can hop on a bus at Ekkamai Bus Terminal. You can choose from a variety of service providers, and at the time of purchase, just let them know that you want to be dropped off at Laem Ngop Pier, and they'll make sure to tell the driver.

- When they arrive,  people flock to Laem Ngop Pier to catch a ride on a speedboat to Koh Mak (Krom Luang Chumphon Khet Udomsak Pier).

- There are many speedboat companies serving Koh Mak, taking about 45-60 minutes to arrive.