Trat’s top three islands hit capacity during holidays, with tourists seeking peaceful, nature-filled escapes away from Andaman fears. PATTAYA, Thailand – Trat Province’s tourism sector is booming in 2025, with expectations that total revenue will exceed 20 billion baht. The driving force behind this growth comes from the province’s three major islands—Koh Chang, Koh Kood, and Koh Mak. During long holiday weekends alone, tourism activity on these islands generates between 200 and 400 million baht, with accommodations often fully booked throughout the high season. According to Korakot Opas, Acting Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) Trat Office, tourism in Trat from January to May 2025 has remained vibrant, particularly during major festivals and holiday periods. Both Thai and foreign tourists continue to visit the islands in large numbers, especially Koh Chang, Koh Kood, and Koh Mak. The tourism outlook for Trat this year is expected to surpass its original goals. The province currently has 410 hotels, resorts, and guesthouses offering a total of 11,299 rooms. Bookings from international tourists are at full capacity during the high season, and the situation along the Thai-Cambodian border has not had a significant impact on travel decisions so far. Korakot pointed out that concerns about safety in the Andaman region may be causing some foreign tourists to choose alternative seaside destinations that are perceived as more peaceful and secure. Eastern Thailand, especially the islands in Trat Province, fits this demand well due to its reputation for unspoiled natural beauty, tranquility, and a wide range of activities. The area also enjoys a high level of safety, with no history of major natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis, and no record of violent incidents. The islands offer a rich variety of natural attractions—beaches, forests, waterfalls—as well as exciting water-based activities. Travel to the area is also convenient, whether by road or by air. A survey by Prachachat Business among accommodation operators on Koh Chang, Koh Kood, and Koh Mak found consensus that fears of a tsunami on Thailand’s Andaman coast were not the direct cause of the current increase in tourists to Trat. However, the 2004 tsunami had a long-term impact, leading many European travelers to shift their vacation preferences to the eastern coast. That trend continues today, as these islands have become favored destinations for peaceful and nature-based holidays. With the latest discussions about tsunami risks in the south, it is possible that more tourists will pivot toward the east, especially as southern destinations become more crowded during the high season. From November 2024 through April 2025, accommodation on these islands tends to sell out each year. The number of rooms is limited—Koh Mak, for example, only has around 700 to 800 rooms. Long-stay tourism is also on the rise, with some visitors booking trips a year in advance, while others wait until around September to make sure conditions are favorable. Korakot Opas champions Trat’s islands as safe, scenic alternatives to the Andaman, driving tourism beyond expectations. Korakot further explained that the ongoing tension at the Thai-Cambodian border has not directly affected the primary tourist zones in Trat. The key islands and coastal attractions are far removed from sensitive border areas. In addition, authorities in Trat and national security agencies are maintaining close coordination to ensure peace and safety for travelers. Early checks indicate that cancellations related to border concerns are minimal and mainly involve tourists who travel by land across the border—only a small portion of total arrivals. These border-linked cancellations tend to occur outside the main tourism season, so the real impact will become clearer as the high season approaches in September and October. According to data from the TAT Trat Office, tourism between January and May 2025 has shown strong performance. Over the New Year holiday, Trat welcomed approximately 45,000 tourists, generating 400 million baht in revenue. During the long weekend from May 31 to June 3, hotel occupancy reached 64.41 percent, with 27,267 visits recorded—20,786 of them Thai tourists and 6,481 foreigners. Total revenue reached 241.96 million baht, including 156.20 million baht from Thai visitors and 85.76 million baht from foreign visitors. Another long weekend, from July 10 to 13, which included Asalha Bucha Day and the start of Buddhist Lent, brought an estimated 25,461 visits, with an average hotel occupancy rate of 43.59 percent. Thai tourists made up the majority at 21,688 visits, or 85.18 percent, and foreign visitors totaled 3,773, or 14.82 percent. Most of the Thai travelers were families, couples, groups of friends, businesspeople, and working professionals. Foreign visitors came from countries such as Germany, Russia, Spain, Japan, France, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Total revenue during this four-day holiday was around 189 million baht—138.90 million from Thai tourists and 50.51 million from foreign visitors. Korakot also emphasized that in 2025, the TAT Trat Office has stepped up international marketing efforts to reestablish Trat as a “must-visit destination.” TAT has partnered with its overseas offices in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, ASEAN, South Asia, and the South Pacific to organize campaigns that highlight Trat and its surrounding provinces. For example, the European TAT team held the “Amazing Thailand Responsible Fam Trip 2025,” bringing six major European tour operators from Norway, Poland, Belgium, Austria, and Russia to sample Eastern Thailand’s tourism offerings in Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Trat. TAT’s Sydney office, in collaboration with Thai Airways, organized the “Offbeat Thailand” campaign to promote new and meaningful travel experiences, including Trat’s islands and scenic routes linking to Rayong and Chanthaburi. Meanwhile, TAT Singapore brought members of the press to visit Chanthaburi, Trat, and Rayong to explore and promote the region’s tourism products and services. TAT ramps up international campaigns from Europe to South Asia to promote island hopping across Trat, Rayong, and Chanthaburi. TAT is also actively promoting Trat in Australia, New Zealand, India, Singapore, and the Philippines, especially encouraging travel to Koh Chang. Efforts include raising awareness among local businesses to prepare for growing demand from ASEAN, South Asia, and the South Pacific, as part of the “Asean, South Asia and South Pacific Market Briefing.” Trat began recovering from the COVID-19 downturn in 2024, earning 18.256 billion baht. In 2025, the province has set a target of increasing revenue by 5 percent. The goal is to attract 1.89 million Thai visitors, generating 15.75 billion baht, while foreign tourists are projected to spend an average of 8,333 baht per trip. If current trends continue and promotional efforts are sustained, Trat is likely to exceed 20 billion baht in tourism revenue. However, not all is smooth sailing. Attapon Klinthap, General Manager of Boonsiri Speedboat Co., warned that confidence is critical in maintaining cross-border tourism between Thailand and Cambodia. The Hat Lek route in Khlong Yai District (Sukhumvit Route 3) remains the most convenient corridor linking to Cambodia’s coastal towns such as Koh Kong, Kampot, Kep, and Sihanoukville, as well as inland destinations like Siem Reap and its Angkor temples. Travelers on combined Cambodia–Thailand tours usually plan months in advance, starting in July and August, for trips between October and November. Without clarity by that time, operators risk losing high-value tourists, about 100–200 people per day, resulting in over one million baht in daily revenue loss. This lack of confidence doesn’t only affect Trat, but Thailand’s tourism sector as a whole. Attapon added that earlier this year, a high-end French tour group of 500 to 600 travelers canceled their trip. Concerns over the border situation played a significant role in their decision. When safety is uncertain, tourists will switch destinations—often to Vietnam, Singapore, or Indonesia, which offer similar natural attractions. These competing destinations are already capturing the same demographic. If the situation remains unresolved through September or October, Thailand could lose these travelers for the season, not just from the border areas, but across the country. Regaining their trust could take anywhere from three to six months—or even an entire year. Tour operators warn of lost revenue and canceled high-end tours if Thai-Cambodian uncertainty continues into the high season.