A Paradise Island
For many hundreds of years the main economy of Koh Samui revolved around fishing and the harvesting of tropical plants and fruits, especially coconuts as they were able to grow and flourish in the warm, sunny, tropical climate.
It was during the early 1960’s that the first tourists started to visit the island, many of whom considered themselves to be ‘hippies’ on the trail to Kathmandu in search of enlightenment.
Word continued to spread within the hippie and backpacking community about the paradise island of Koh Samui and by the early 1970’s the islands popularity began to increase.
Even with this increase in popularity, agriculture still remained the islands largest economy and was the main source of income for nearly all of the islands inhabitants.
By 1975 young adventurers and backpackers from Europe had firmly established Koh Samui as one of their favourite destinations alongside places like Goa and Bali.
Offers something for everyone
The Koh Samui of today is however changing and the cheaply priced beach bungalows are increasingly hard to come by. Most accommodation is either mid range or top end properties with beautifully decorated rooms, lush manicured gardens and lavish pools.
Despite this up market trend, Koh Samui still offers something for everyone. There are crowded beaches where local vendors sell coconuts and mangoes to sunbathing tourists, and isolated spots where serenity and seclusion are the name of the game.
There are cheap food stalls and top class restaurants, crowded shopping areas with Starbucks and McDonald’s and store after store selling T shirts and other popular tourist items. Western bars serve burgers and chips and pump out the latest tunes from giant speakers late into the night.
Some travelers plan to stay for only a week and are still entranced with the island three months later while others prefer to fly in for the weekend before heading back to their normal lives.
Others look around, say ‘it’s too busy’ and move on to the quieter beaches in Koh Phangan or head to Koh Tao for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Whatever your opinion, however, no one can deny that Koh Samui is still a very beautiful island.