OPINION
Koh Phangen continues to evolve. Everywhere on the island will built and at many construction sites it even looks as if a project could actually be completed there. More and more foreigners settle on the island permanently or for several months a year. More and more Thais are settling on the island in order to be able to participate in business with tourists. More and more restaurants and shops on the island can still not find qualified staff and have to close completely or temporarily.
And it opens BIG C. The mall is currently being built between Ban Tai and Thongsala opposite the bars expected on 15. May opened. Update: The date could not be kept, but the opening is still planned for May.
In addition to the BIG C supermarket is also a MC Donalds as well as a KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) be included in the center. But what does that mean for Koh Phangan? Update: There was no sign of McDonald's or KFC on opening day. However, the latter is probably still 'under construction', while no one is talking about McDonald's anymore. It will also be available soon Mr. Donut open.
The reactions are mixed. On the one hand, many better-earning Thais and also foreigners are happy about new shopping possibilities and international fast food chains. The development of a destination is almost unstoppable and usually increases the value and reputation of a destination area. On the other hand, however, the appropriate infrastructure must be available in order to cope with the increasing influx of visitors. This does not just include roads and ferrybut also, for example, an underutilized waste disposal. Another criticism of the opening of the Big C Center on Koh Phangan is the growing pressure on local companies by international chains. It remains to be seen to what extent, for example, the fast food restaurant Food Factory, directly across from Big C, Mc Donald's and KFC in the future. But just as for many smaller food stalls, another supermarket (possibly even with Foodcourt, which in many other places in Thailand is part of the Big C) could complicate the business.
However, many tourists and even some locals simply want Koh Phangan to stay as they know it. They are generally negative about development and progress on the island and fear that gradually the atmosphere and beautiful nature of the island will be destroyed. For many, the development is already going too far: one desperately wants the times when a beach bungalow for 80 Baht per day was to be found back. However, it seems unlikely that the expansion Thongsalas and Koh Phangan in general. In addition to the plans for Koh Phangan Airport are also already negotiating with the wholesale market MAKRO be guided.
Competition promotes quality
In any case, new competition for Big A, TESCO Lotus and the fast food outlets on the island should force companies to break new ground, actively engage in marketing and, if necessary, rethink their pricing strategy. This was the case with the opening of TESCO Lotus im July 2008: BIG A in particular was forced to adjust its prices. Nonetheless, the company still exists five years later, which proves that an international supermarket has by no means destroyed local shops, but merely weakened monopoly positions.
Koh Phangan is changing - hopefully for the better! In no case should it be forgotten that the island of Phangan is still far from the development that Koh Samui had to go through. Some of the most beautiful beaches in Phangan are still insider tips and much of the island remains unspoilt.
What do you think, how will the island develop and what are you holding back from the opening of Big C. Koh Phangan?
Hello Nik,
Thank you for your report. For this maybe the following additions.
We have just spent 3 weeks on Koh Phangan and have the
Enjoy the magic of the island. As individual vacationers we have in
Haad Sadet lived, but are very much on their own on the island
been to collect impressions. We noticed that growth
In the area of infrastructure also isolated parts of the island has been recorded. So have us
Projects like the pointless airport construction for small planes shocked at that always
Once again a few earth movements took place, flood lights switched on at night
and from time to time trucks with soil material appeared - so it works
Fortunately, in Feb. 2014 there was no real progress - for whatever reason (missing
Payments, permits or participations ???) The work for the runway
Since 2013 reports, they have not progressed. In any case
it can not be recognized that sufficient flat surface is in the morphologically strongly
formed terrain was created. Either way, in our eyes a completely crazy
Plan to build a small airport in the border area of the national park!
The question of the access road to the airport through beautiful parts of the jungle will be
so far not discussed here at all ... This uses parts of the jungle slope
to the Haad Yao (east) and was widened and leveled so that the big trucks to
Airport construction site. To date, the route has only been single-lane - for one access
to an airport so actually too narrow. So it's up to you, too
widen and thus sacrifice more forest.
Either way, facts have already been created for the construction of the airport. Pity
Actually, because deforested forest and fallow ground are hopeless of erosion
Price given. And when the runway becomes impassable, just a layer of concrete comes on top.
This does not prevent the power of the water. You simply shift the problem
to the edge….
However, the growth of island visitors and the construction of resorts also intervene
another phenomenon around. The island is always attracting new people. And so are going out
from the streets more and more settlements in the jungle completed. If there is that
Cutting down is too tedious, is just just put a fire. We were able to do this ourselves
observe. It is difficult to watch with the knowledge of the variety of plants and animals
How easy it is to burn everything down and finally just a few big trees out of the ashes
stick out. Anything that can not escape fast enough will fall victim to the flames. A very sad
Image. In addition, agriculture works on the actually nutrient-poor soils of the (sub) tropics
limited. In many places you can see how barren such a created country looks after a few years
side of the highway from Thong Sala to Chaloklum. We very much hope that this “urban sprawl”
in the direction of the jungle does not go any further - otherwise Koh Phangan will lose one of its most valuable
Treasures.
So it's not just new supermarkets threatening the nature and uniqueness of Koh Phangan.
We also see a strong threat to wild settlements and the burning of forest land
this wonderful island. That may not affect one or the other party guest - with us they have
Observations triggered deep concern.
Please continue to report on the developments on Koh Phangan and stay up to date.
We stay tuned!
Greetings, Steffen
Hello Steffen, thank you for your detailed report! However, it must also be noted that many errors committed in other parts of Thailand are missing on Phangan so far. So we can hope for more 😉