1.4.6.2 Tourism Industry
This area has its own potential in the tourism industry of southern Thailand. This province is a hub for travelers in the south of Thailand. A port and hub for tourists are going to the islands of Samui (Tao and Pha-ngan) and also the Andaman region in the South West (Phuket, Krabi, Pang-nga and Trang). The area has been hit by a tsunami disaster. Surat Thani‟s tourism industry is currently the leading provider of foreign exchange income for the Southern of Thailand. Government efforts are already under way through the TAT and Provincial Administrative Organization to develop and promote of the tourism industry. The capacity of facilities such as hotels, resorts, and bungalows in Surat Thani can provide and support the tourism industry (Table 1.2). Most tourist attractions are popular among Thais and foreigners with the increasing number of tourists greatly. The number of tourists and average length of stay by accommodation establishments in Surat Thani in 2007 presented in Tables 1.3 and 1.4. In this said year, the number of tourists was 2,579,621 and the total income reached up to 21,530.71 million Baht.