The plan to build two museums on Samui could be a waste of money unless trained curators were hired to oversee them. The government has set aside Bt200 million for the construction of the Koh Samui Natural History Museum in Baan Hua Thanon and Bt40 million for the Koh Samui Cultural Museum in Baan Nathon.Kristikorn Jaroenwong, a member of the Rak Samui Association, said that while he supports these projects, his concern is that the two museums could end up in total ruin like the cultural center at the Lamai temple for lack of competent management. 

Like him, other civic groups support the construction of the two museums. And they have similar concern: Without proper management, the two museums could end up abandoned like the cultural center in Wat Lamar.

Samui mayor Ramnet Jaikwang said the two museums could become a major attraction on the island. They would help tourists understand better the history and early beginnings of the island.

“Through these museums, we will make our foreign guests have a peek at our precious heritage. They could be a show window for our long history and beautiful traditions,” the mayor said.

In other countries, museums are by themselves tourist attractions like those in London, Washington and St. Petersburg in Russia. The planned Samui museums, the mayor said, could also be tourist draws in the future.

Samui has a collection of many antique objects and rare artifacts, including what is believed to be a 2,000-year-old antique drum found in Wat Taling Phang in Taling Ngam sub-district.

Unless shown in a museum with proper explanation, precious finds like this won’t get appreciated, said Kasem Wongtham of the Cultural Department.

Wongtham said tourists would get to appreciate Samui more if they knew a bit of its history. They would appreciate, for example, this ancient drum if they knew this was used by ancient inhabitants in sacred rituals devoted to worshipping the sea.