RAYONG, July 18 (TNA) – The ferry pier of Koh Samet was virtually deserted as a very small number of tourists visited the normally popular island this weekend.
The quiet atmosphere followed the report that a recently visiting Egyptian soldier was infected with the coronavirus disease 2019.
Although it was weekend, the Koh Samet Ferry pier in Banphe area was deserted. A very small number of tourists showed up to board ferries to Koh Samet. Ferry operators said the number of tourists dropped by 70% after the island reopened 18 days ago.
A ferry operator said his boat was capable of carrying 74 passengers but to observe social distancing its load was limited to 40 passengers a trip. Today less than 20 people boarded his boat per trip and most of them were workers, not tourists.
Most buses on Koh Samet were parked. Shops and restaurants had no customers. Beach chair operators said they doubted that they would earn a baht today. (TNA)
