Islanders left drowning under a sea of waste
As thousands of tourists flock to tiny Koh Lan, they leave behind tonnes of rotting rubbish that locals are ill-equipped to handle
For the casual day-tripper to Koh Lan, the island off bustling Pattaya is a picture postcard destination of rolling hills, pristine waters and white sand beaches. Getting off at the main pier of Ta Naban after a 45-minute ferry ride, Koh Lan appears well-managed and clean. There is no rubbish on the streets and residents and visitors seem to have nearly disposed of their rubbish in bins provided by Pattaya City.
“It is a lot cleaner than the mainland of Pattaya,” said foreign tourist Felix, who visited the island with his family on the recommendation of hotel staff