The beaches of Koh Samui in South Thailand's are nearly deserted. SARS having scared many tourists away over the past few months, but they are coming back.
Airlines and hotels are offering deep discounts and the government of Thailand is using a flood of promotion to convince tourists that Koh Samui hotels are not only safe, but spending a holiday in Thailand is a very good value.
Trained monkeys still delight tourists pulling coconuts from the trees on command. Fishing boats still dot the coastline of Koh Samui, where the beach views are spectacular.
But now Samui is taking further steps in an attempt bring the tourist back, a carnival in the style of Rio de Janeiro, complete with floats, dancers and the Samba beat that brings a flood of tourists to South America each and every year.
While most of the carnival had a Latin flavor, some things remained traditionally Thai. The music and the costumes are a bit different, no matter where you are from. The idea of the carnival, a first for Asia, came from Bangkok Airways who organized the event. Months in the planning, it even included participation by Thailand's royal family.
A Thai Princess was on hand to not only open the carnival but provide a lasting memory to U.S. Ambassador to Thailand, Darryl Johnson, with a turn on the dance floor.
The party lasted for hours and included lots of fireworks. Organizers are hoping the hoop-la translates into tourists.
Cris Micut, Samui Hotel Manager, predicted it would take time for travellers to regain their trust in Southeast Asian destinations.
But it will take more than dancing girls and the sounds of Ricky Martin to convince some tourists it is OK to return to what some call paradise.
"Some tourists in Europe and Japan are still reluctant, so we wish to let those tourists know this time of year at this island the weather is very fine," said Dr. Prasert Prasartongo, President Bangkok Airways. The weather may be fine but the climate for tourism is still on the mend.
An event like this may not convince everyone but at least thousands of people were able to gather in a small place where nothing bad happened and that in itself could be seen as an improvement over the past.
