The Eastern Region of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is launching a campaign to promote the region’s islands and the Eastern Sea in anticipation of the upcoming tourist season. Trat Province has a policy to develop and drive the economy of the province: “Valuable travel, livable city, economic growth, safe agriculture, sustainable environment.”

     Trat’s economic structure in 2022 was 47 percent agricultural, 9 percent services, and 44 percent manufacturing, indicating that the agricultural and manufacturing sectors have similar proportions. Therefore, the economic driving factors of Trat province are important, including the development of agricultural products, fisheries, services, and tourism. 

     Trat Province is a destination full of natural and cultural wonders, not just the sea. There is Koh Chang, the largest island in the Gulf of Thailand, and Koh Kood, the fourth-largest in the country. Because of its abundance of natural learning sites and tourist attractions, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has organized events that are in line with the province’s development strategy, which seeks to make cities in Trat more environmentally friendly and to promote the Clean House Campaign: “Beautiful Trat, quality, morality, and very pleased.”

     As well as having a high ranking from www.greendestinations.org, Koh Mak is the first place in Thailand that is recognized as a Low-Carbon Destination. This ranking is based on criteria from Good Practice Stories, Governance, and Reset and Recovery. This ranking demonstrates the power of cooperation – the special tourism development organization known as Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) has joined with communities in the area, government agencies, and the relevant private sector organizations to work together to ensure that Koh Mak remains a sustainable, Low-Carbon Destination. It does that by promoting tourism on the island with cycling, kayaking, campaigning to use more electric vehicles, and promoting restaurants and hotels. Instead of taking the boat across to another island or the mainland, use various cooking ingredients on the island. It also promotes eating and selling local vegetables in hotels and restaurants, and there is a project to bring food waste from hotels or restaurants on the island as fertilizer. It is clear that the Koh Mak entrepreneur community is cooperating in the care and preservation of the environment.

     Koh Mak is just one of many islands that visitors can easily visit, thanks to the 46 resorts located there. Other islands that visitors can easily visit via links include Koh Kradok, Koh Nok Nork, Koh Nok Nai, Koh Kai Hua Rao, and Koh Kham. Roughly 700 beds can be found here. Traveling by boat is a popular choice for both Thai and international tourists, and most companies offer at least three departures per day at prices that are affordable for all.

     At the beginning of the tourist season, public relations and announcements were telling visitors and potential visitors everywhere that the provinces of Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Trat all boast beautiful beaches, crystal-clear water, and an abundance of natural resources. Anyone who likes doing outdoor activities and traveling to see nature, as well as fresh seafood, will find plenty to do in these eastern provinces, where every variety of tourism is catered for.