Koh Samui, Surat Thani (Thailand) – September 3, 2017 (travelindex) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is involved in organizing the “Samui Festival 2017”, the island’s biggest festival. There are numerous attractions to discover, including traditional handicrafts from Surat Thani, contemporary art in “Art Lane”, concerts by well-known singers every evening, the “Samui Fight” boxing match, the “Samui Festival Marathon 2017” running race, the “Tour of Samui Festival 2017” cycling tour, the traditional sports competition “Takraw Lawd Huang, Saba”, and a large buffet on Chaweng Beach.

A press conference was held at the Centara Grand Chaweng Hotel on August 28, 2017, attended by Mr. Auaychai Innak, Governor of Surat Thani Province, along with Police Major General Apichart Bunsriroj, Police Commissioner of Surat Thani Province, Mr. Tanongsak Thawithong, Mayor of the Provincial Government, Mr. Sutham Samthong, Deputy Mayor, and Mr. Aumnad Chodchaung, member of the Surat Thani County Council. The topic was the progress of the Samui Festival 2017, which will take place from September 7 to 11 in Na Thon, Pru Chaweng, and The Wharf Bo Phut.

Mr. Auaychai mentioned the progress in the preparations for the event, stating that more than 80 percent of the work had already been completed and that it was being co-organized by Thai Search Entertainment Company and ThaiTV3.

On the 7th, the opening day, private hotel owners from Koh Samui, led by Mr. Aumnad Chodchaung, along with a school group and government representatives, organized a carnival parade with twelve flower floats and over 1,000 participants. The parade started at 2:00 PM and continued until 5:00 PM, ending in Nathon, where the opening ceremony took place. Mr. Somkid Jatusripitak, Deputy Prime Minister, presided over the ceremony, which was broadcast live on 3SD television.

The "Samui Festival Marathon 2017" will take place on the morning of September 9th. The winner will receive the Prime Minister's Trophy, presented by General Prayut Chun-O-cha. Thanongsak Thawithong, President of the Surat Thani Provincial Government and Tournament Director, stated that a total of 3,000 participants are expected.

At the Samui Festival Marathon, runners will start at 4:00 AM on September 9th and must complete all races by 11:00 AM. The first 100 runners in the 42km race will receive a special prize: a trip to the Angthong Islands courtesy of the Koh Samui Tourism Bureau of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The first 300 will receive a marathon finisher's T-shirt.

On the afternoon of September 9th, the world's largest free beach buffet, "Massive Buffet at Chaweng Beach," will take place on Chaweng Beach in Bo Phut. Stretching 2,600 meters and featuring over 10,000 dishes, it offers a truly unique experience. The buffet was organized in collaboration with hotels, businesses, communities, and the residents of Koh Samui as a way to thank the Thai and international tourists who regularly visit the island. The event has also been coordinated with Guinness World Records to attempt to break the world record for the largest buffet. The buffet opens at 5:00 PM and is free of charge.

Major General Apichat Boonsriroj, Chief of Police of Surat Thani Province, announced in his capacity as President of the "Tour of Samui Festival" long-distance cycling race that preparations for the event are now complete. Personnel, route surveys, security measures, and facilities are all in place.

The overall winners of the marathon (men and women), the mini-marathon, the "Tour of the Samui" cycling race, and the 50km races (men and women) in both road cycling and mountain biking will be honored with the Prime Minister Prayut Chayo-o-cha Trophy. This trophy was designed and crafted by renowned artist Sakwut Wisetmanee from Ban Bang Kao, Koh Samui. Inspired by the concept of "wings of victory," the trophy incorporates elements such as ocean waves and sunshine, symbolizing the overcoming of obstacles in the race leading to ultimate victory. The bronze trophy weighs 14.5 kg.

For both types of sports registration, please visit the website: www.samuifestival.com

In addition to the activities mentioned above, the Samui Festival 2017 also features Art Lane, where artists are invited to create artworks accompanied by music. The event is directed by Ajarn Ammarit Chusuwan, Sakwut Maneejit, Wisetmanee jitsing Sombun, and Chalit Nakpawan. Furthermore, there is a selection of booths from various government agencies, including the Government Savings Bank, SME Bank, the Ministry of Commerce, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), and many other institutions.

"This year we have significantly more stalls than last year. There are over 500: general stores, stalls of local entrepreneurs and OTOP joint ventures from Surat Thani and the neighboring provinces. Well-known actors from Channel 3 will provide a diverse entertainment program, and bands such as Body Slam, Joey Boy, Potato and many more will perform."

And thanks to the support of Thai Beverage Public Co., Ltd., Charoen Pokphand Group, Government Savings Bank and Mr. Auaychai Innak, the Governor of Surat Thani Province.