SILKAIR’S impending launch of direct flights from Singapore to Koh Samui (TTG Asia e-Daily, July 14) is expected to help relieve the room glut on the Thai resort island.

Centara Hotels and Resorts sales and marketing senior vice-president, Chris Bailey, believes the new services will help to alleviate Koh Samui's oversupply of rooms.

Leon Pink, general manager of the recently-opened Outrigger Koh Samui Resort and Spa, said he saw positive signs going forward, especially with the new direct link from Singapore.

According to the Thai Hotels Association (THA), Koh Samui has an inventory of about 20,000 keys, but is served by slightly more than 3,000 seats a day.

The 78-villa Banyan Tree Samui, 75-villa W Retreat Koh Samui, 81-villa Outrigger Koh Samui Resort and Spa, and 61-key Akyra Chura Samui have all opened over the past year.

The 79-room InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort is scheduled to reopen in December, following a US$15 million renovation.

New hotels under development include the 118-room Conrad Koh Samui Resort and Spa, 180-room Vana Belle Samui Resort and Spa, and 81-pool villa Mövenpick Resort and Spa Mae Nam Beach Koh Samui.

While hoteliers in Koh Samui are hoping to see additional airlift, THA believes that hotel zoning is necessary to solve the island's woes in the long run.