SURAT THANI: The number of tourist arrivals at Samui airport in 2023 reached 2.2 million people, marking a 66.65% increase from the year before.
A total of 2,273,351 tourists arrived at Koh Samui, an island off the east coast of Thailand, by air last year, Jirawat Wutthiwatworakun, director of Samui airport in Koh Samui district of Surat Thani province, said on Thursday.
In December alone, 207,096 passengers entering and leaving the popular tourist island via Samui airport, reflecting a 15.25% increase compared to the same period in 2022. The number of flights in December was 2,497, said the official.
With the continuous rise in passenger arrivals, the airport has proposed an increase in daily flights to 73, along with plans to develop the airport to accommodate more than 2 million tourists.
The island, known for "full moon" parties, currently welcomes about 50 flights a day.
The airport will also bring in technologies, such as an automatic check-in system or public relations signs that can change messages automatically, he said.
The airport has installed an additional X-ray scan at the main gate to reduce passenger congestion before entering the terminal, and a conveyor belt for larger luggage has also been added. The airport's landscape has been redesigned for increased comfort, transforming it into a green airport conducive to relaxation, said Mr Jirawat.
Tourists arrive at Samui airport in the southern coastal province of Surat Thani. (Photo: Supapong Chaolan)