PATTAYA, Thailand – Tourists have begun departing Koh Chang, Koh Kood, and Koh Mak in Trat province as the extended Songkran holiday draws to a close, causing heavy congestion with vehicle queues stretching more than 1.5 kilometres at ferry terminals.
On April 14, reporters observed a continuous flow of vehicles lining up to board ferries at the Ao Sapparot pier in Klong Son, Koh Chang, as visitors gradually returned to the mainland. The atmosphere remained busy since early morning, with cars moving slowly toward loading points.
Local maritime officials reported a significant increase in outbound traffic between April 10–13, with Koh Chang Police estimating that over 1,100 vehicles had already left the island the previous day alone.
Pol Col Kridsada Minsaen, Superintendent of Koh Chang Police Station, said today marks the peak of the return rush as many tourists head back before work resumes on April 16. He noted that at one point the last queued vehicles extended as far as the Koh Chang National Park checkpoint, prompting police to step in to manage traffic and prevent disputes after reports of queue cutting and tension among drivers.
Authorities coordinated with ferry operators to increase service frequency, including sending empty ferries from the mainland at Laem Ngob back to the island to speed up evacuation. Officials said the system can currently move around 150–180 vehicles per hour, and if no additional vehicles arrive, the backlog could be cleared within two hours.
Meanwhile, Koh Chang Ferry Co. Ltd. confirmed all four ferries are operating at full capacity, adjusting schedules and turnaround times to handle the surge in demand.
At Laem Sok pier in Mueang Trat district, similar scenes were reported as tourists returned from Koh Mak and Koh Kood. Operators are collectively transporting more than 2,500 passengers off the islands.
A representative from Boonsiri High Speed Ferries said nearly 1,000 passengers departed Koh Kood alone today across five trips, noting that even on normal weekends the island typically sees around 500–600 visitors, with numbers significantly higher during the holiday period.
