The White Lotus effect has thrown the spotlight on Phuket and Koh Samui, but with hotel operators hiking up their prices to capitalise on the popularity of the Netflix series, now is the time to offer alternative options in Thailand to clients, especially those looking to avoid the White Lotus Instagrammers.
Krabi’s Koh Lanta is a sideways step off the beaten track but will not take clients out of their comfort zone. And thanks to Charintip Tiyaphorn, owner of Pimalai Resort & Spa, they can be assured this is one area of Thailand where islanders are directly benefitting from tourism.
“I had absolutely no intention of ever working here!” laughs the youthful-looking Tiyaphorn, as we catch up over Zoom. The five-star resort on Krabi’s Koh Lanta turns 25 next year – but Charintip, now 43, wasn’t an early fan.
“I was a teenager during Pimalai’s build. So, every holiday, I had to leave Bangkok and live at the construction camp. Our whole family slept on the floor of one room; there was no electricity or TV – it was horrible. When we opened, I was in university, but still had to work here during the holidays. After graduating, I avoided visiting!”
But when her sister, Pimalai’s head of sales and marketing, fell ill in 2018, Tiyaphorn, armed with a marketing and management MBA, was drafted in to help.
A NEW ROLE, AT THE WORST TIME
“I took over full-time in January 2020. Then Covid-19 struck; by mid-March, we had zero bookings. When Thailand locked down, my blood pressure hit 190!”
Ironically, it was during the pandemic that Tiyaphorn succumbed to Koh Lanta’s charms.
“Finally, with time to explore, I started to love the island. The people here are genuine. They love their community and way of life and want to preserve it. That moved me.
“Pimalai’s always focused on protecting the environment and supporting local islanders. Lots of good businesses were struggling. By promoting them to clients, I knew I could help them and enhance the guest experience.
“Many businesses here have practised responsible tourism for years but lack marketing. Now, with my experience and contacts, I spread the word.”
When I visited last year, Charintip did precisely that. At Following Giants, an ethical elephant sanctuary, we watched rescued elephants roam freely through the forest. On nearby Koh Por, Charintip had been advising young islanders about developing fishing trips. Koh Por’s already small population is declining as its young disappear to the mainland. Those who stay invariably have to commute to Koh Lanta daily for work. So, Tiyaphorn is working to help them benefit directly from tourism.
Eager for my feedback, I spent a competitive afternoon at sea, landing tiddlers as my delightful hosts stifled giggles. Another highlight was exploring Tung Yee Peng’s mangroves by long-tail boat. With Pimalai’s support, the award-winning community enterprise has expanded its fleet, and young villagers who’d left to find work are returning.
Still, Koh Lanta remains relatively ‘undiscovered’, thanks partly to having no airport.
“Getting here isn’t that difficult—complimentary transfers from Krabi International Airport take two hours. Still, Koh Lanta isn’t for everyone. We’ve no party scene or malls. Instead, we have nature, mountains, waterfalls, and excellent snorkelling and diving in the national marine park.”
SHOULDER-SEASON VALUE
Koh Lanta has two seasons: high/dry (November to April) and low/green (May to October). While clients should avoid September/October’s peak monsoon months, climate change means the weather is becoming less predictable.
“Last year, May and June were hot and pretty dry, so offered brilliant value, as rates are much lower,” says Tiyaphorn. “Except for May 1st’s public holiday, when many Asians visit, the island is much quieter, too, with occupancy rates around 30%.
“Pre-pandemic, most businesses shut for low season. Now, many stay open. Although the marine park closes for conservation in July and August, we offer marine excursions to Talabeng Islands and Koh Ngai/Emerald Cave for great snorkelling, and our dive centre stays open all year.”
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
A a member of Small Luxury Hotels’ Considerate Collection, and Koh Lanta’s only Green Globe certified resort, sustainability is at Pimalai’s core.
“We buy locally whenever possible, particularly seafood and coconuts,” explains Tiyaphorn. “Koh Lanta has no farms, so vegetables come from our organic farm in Chiang Mai. We also achieve zero food waste, converting leftovers into fertiliser at our ‘plate-to-plant’ composting centre.”
From modifying old furniture to investing in digital technology, Charintip’s goal is to tread lightly. Pimalai’s reservoir supplies guest room water, wastewater is treated and reused in the gardens, and 80% of rubbish is either repurposed or recycled.
“Where we can’t reduce, we use sustainable versions, like wooden key cards, sugarcane straws, and rice sacks for garbage collection.”
HELPING THE WIDER COMMUNITY
Pimalai’s community plan includes weekly beach clean-ups, recycling points at local schools, and a brilliant ‘sea trash’ sculpture competition.
“We invite schools to create marine-themed artworks from recyclable waste, including rubbish cleared from beaches. The sculptures are displayed at the Laanta Laanta festival and sold to recycling companies, with proceeds returned to each team. We want to teach children to clean up and recycle, and hopefully, they’ll encourage their parents to do the same.”
Diving deeper, Pimalai’s marine conservation projects have included clownfish, turtle and blue crab releases and the resort is currently working with marine biologists to assess coral bleaching in the marine park, and regenerate coral locally.
“When we started, we had no idea how to run a hotel. But we’ve built a team of long-term staff who genuinely care about our guests and the island, and together with the community, we develop ideas based on what really matters, not what’s commercial.
“Koh Lanta’s USPs are its beautiful beaches, clean ocean, and fresh air,” adds Tiyaphorn. “We want to keep it that way, and that means the whole island working together. We can’t do it alone.”
Book it: Kuoni offers seven nights’ B&B in a deluxe room at Pimalai Resort & Spa for £1,399pp, based on two sharing, including Eva Air flights from Heathrow for select departure dates in June; kuoni.co.uk
