Managing director Saisiri Hoontrakul said the resort was refurbishing its 44 cottages and hopes the work will be completed this year.

The upgrading programme began several years ago, and Bt60 million has already been spent to renovate other parts of the property including the lobby, grand villas and restaurants. When the final renovations are finished, the Tongsai Bay's room rates will be raised slightly, to help cope with tough competition on the island.

Saisiri said that within two years, the resort would move its spa, which is now located at the centre of the resort, nearer to the sea. As well, it will build a small room for executive meetings.

She said the resort now served only two main tourism markets: Japan and England, focusing on honeymoon couples and families.

"In the future, we will expand our targets to include business meetings and some other markets, such as Australia, South Korea and the Middle East," Saisiri said.

The resort has 83 rooms, including 24 rooms in a beachfront building, 44 cottages and 15 villas. Its average occupancy rate is only 60 per cent, lower than its target of 80 per cent, due to Thailand's political unrest and the recovery of Phuket and Krabi.

Saisiri said more than 40 hotels and resorts had opened on Koh Samui in recent years, including some five-star hotels run by international chains.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation

Koh Samui