Koh Chang (Ko Chang), was an unsettled island in the past but it is now important as a harbour for ships to escape from the monsoon, and dietary or fresh water resources, especially at Salak Phet Bay which is well known to pirates, Hai Lam Chinese and Vietnamese.
The island is part of the Mu Ko Chang Marine National Park. During World War II, when Thailand was occupied by Japanese forces, Koh Chang was the scene of a naval battle between the reluctant Royal Thai Navy and a Vichy France squadron, in which the Thais were decisively beaten.
Until the mid-1980s the infrastructure on the island was undeveloped, but tourism has increased significantly since then. Around the year 2000, malaria was eradicated, the area became a national park (and began charging entry fees). The island now receives 655,000 visitors annually, about two thirds of them Thai. Koh Chang is one the few places with virgin forest, but the mad rush to cash in on tourism has had a heavy toll on its virgin forests. Nowadays there are also numerous resorts all over the island. Land prices have been up since then. |
