Ritz-Carlton Starts Operation in Koh Samui, Thailand

Top hotel brand Ritz-Carlton has commenced its operations in Koh Samui, Thailand, a new report said, adding the latest Marriott International hotel branch will offer 175 suites and pool villas, all in luxurious configurations. The new venture was made possible by Marriott’s partnership with Malaysian firm YTL Group.

According to C9 Hotelworks, Ritz-Carlton’s entry to Koh Samui, which is found on Thailand’s third largest island, marked the beginning of a long-term collaboration between Marriott and YTL. The Marriott hotel chain is expected to open another branch in Niseko, Japan with YTL as the chosen developer. However, the opening date of the Ritz-Carlton in Niseko is yet to the finalized.

The Ritz-Carlton in Koh Samui will boast not only of high-end hotel resort accommodations but also of the chance to experience “a new sanctuary of luxury amongst white sand beaches and the emerald waters of the Gulf of Thailand.”

Ko Samui Growing Tourism Industry

C9 Hotelworks said Ritz-Carlton’s presence in Koh Samui appeared buoyed by the recent projection that the island will soon emerge as one of Thailand’s main tourist attractions. In 2016, the Thai government has reported total passenger arrivals of 1.2 million in Samui International Airport, registering a surge of 22 percent in the past 12 months.

The data shared by C9 Hotelworks in a related report also indicated that domestic and international tourists, specifically coming from China, were key factors in the incredible tourism growth being observed lately in Koh Samui.

The same report showed that while domestic tourism in Koh Samui grew by 10 percent, it was the Chinese that really drove up the island’s booming economy. “The surge in international arrivals was due to the accelerated growth of Mainland Chinese travelers, which increased by 61 percent from January through October of last year,” C9 Hotelworks said on the report.

As a direct result of the heavy tourist traffic coming from China, “hotel operators are now experiencing two peak periods – in December to January and July to August,” the report added. The uptrend apparently convinced Ritz-Carlton to go ahead with its investment plans in Koh Samui.