KOH SAMUI, Thailand -- As the sun sets on a warm cloudless evening at Mae Nam on the island of Koh Samui, only a few tables are occupied at the beachfront bars.
Bartenders say that the tourist trade in the past year has been the worst they have seen. Official figures say that numbers rebounded in the first half from a downturn in 2014, but anecdotal evidence strongly suggests a further decline in traditional tourists from Europe, the main customers for small bars, is ahead.
