Koh Samui News

Koh Samui news, tourism, business, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, local events, and expat insights from Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted island news source.

  • Paws unite: Happy Doggo & Soi Dog tackle Asia’s strays | Thaiger

    Paws unite: Happy Doggo & Soi Dog tackle Asia’s strays

    Happy Doggo and Soi Dog Foundation have joined forces to tackle Asia’s stray animal crisis head-on with a colossal campaign. Aimed at putting an end to the suffering of homeless animals across the continent, this ambitious initiative promises to revolutionize the fight against the stray population. Animals 24-7, jaded by seeing grandiose claims in appeals and media releases a zillion…

  • Ukrainian found dead on durian plantation in Koh Samui | Thaiger

    Ukrainian found dead on durian plantation in Koh Samui

    A 32 year old Ukrainian man was found lifeless, hanging from a durian tree in Koh Samui. Police and forensic officials, led by Police Captain Rawi Na Boonno, arrived at the durian plantation in the remote village of Moo 3 in the Maret subdistrict. The steep terrain required a four-wheel drive pickup truck to transport the investigators to the crime scene.…

  • Shocking escape: Aussie woman zaps back to life after electrifying encounter with deadly jellyfish near Koh Pha Ngan | Thaiger

    Shocking escape: Aussie woman zaps back to life after electrifying encounter with deadly jellyfish near Koh Pha Ngan

    An Aussie woman declared she is thankful to be alive after a bolt of “electricity had shot through her body” following a horrifying attack by some box Jellyfish near Koh Pha Ngan. The 23 year old woman from Queensland in Australia was left hospitalised for over a month after the attack and issued a cautionary message to fellow holidaymakers about the…

  • Koh Samui set for tourism boost with influx of cruise liner visits | Thaiger

    Koh Samui set for tourism boost with influx of cruise liner visits

    Surat Thani province’s popular resort island Koh Samui is expecting a significant boost in tourism this year, with 47 cruise liners set to dock and unload around 25,000 international travellers, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). As stated by Kanokkittika Kritwuthikorn, TAT’s director for Koh Samui, the majority of these tourists will be hailing from the United States, Europe,…

  • 5 good reasons to visit Koh Samui in 2023 | Thaiger

    5 good reasons to visit Koh Samui in 2023

    Thailand’s “coconut island” has come a long way since its hippy heyday in the 1970s. Today, jet-set travellers rub shoulders with the tabloids’ favourite celebrities, while major golf events and regattas have become annual pilgrimages. So, now you’re thinking about a lazy leisurely holiday on this tantalisingly tropical island? The only question is … when to go? January – BBQ Season…

  • Danish danger on Thai island: Illegal firearms arrest on Koh Samui | Thaiger

    Danish danger on Thai island: Illegal firearms arrest on Koh Samui

    Thai police apprehended a Danish man in Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani yesterday, for his illegal possession of firearms. Following the strict measures implemented after the shooting at Siam Paragon mall in Bangkok, Thai police yesterday, October 10, conducted an investigation into owners of firearms both legal and illegal across the country and discovered…

  • Thai man denies sexually assaulting 7 year old French boy in Koh Samui | Thaiger

    Thai man denies sexually assaulting 7 year old French boy in Koh Samui

    The Thai man accused of sexually assaulting a seven year old French boy in Koh Samui, denied the charge, saying he only slapped the boy’s bottom because he thought he was cute. Police also denied confiscating the French woman’s passport. The boy’s 30 year old French mother, Mina, said on Twitter that her seven year old son was sexually assaulted…

  • Wild west drama unfolds at Samui Airport: Minibus driver shoots Grab driver in fiery clash | Thaiger

    Wild west drama unfolds at Samui Airport: Minibus driver shoots Grab driver in fiery clash

    Samui International Airport in the southern province of Surat Thani turned into a scene from a Western movie after a minibus driver shot a Grab driver following a heated dispute. Bophut Police Station officers rushed to a parking area of the arrival passenger terminal in the airport to investigate the shooting scene. Officers discovered travellers were shocked by the incident…

  • Koh Samui anticipates 34 billion baht mainland bridge by 2028 | Thaiger

    Koh Samui anticipates 34 billion baht mainland bridge by 2028

    Plans to establish a land link to the island of Koh Samui have been in the works for years but now the Express Authority of Thailand (EXAT) held their first public orientation hearing about the Samui Bridge. The blueprint for this project showcases a 20-kilometre bridge, slated for construction in 2028, to connect Koh Samui to the mainland. EXAT chief…

  • Indulging in Meaningful Wellness experiences in Koh Samui | Thaiger

    Indulging in Meaningful Wellness experiences in Koh Samui

    Koh Samui, Thailand’s second largest island, is not only well-known for turquoise waters, white sand, and tropical rainforests but also for being one of the top wellness destinations in Thailand. What makes the tropical paradise a wellness destination? Well, it’s not merely due to its sandy beaches. The amicable and rich culture, healthy and authentic Southern Thai delicacies, diverse flora,…

  • Samui Slam Volleyball tournament coming next month | Thaiger

    Samui Slam Volleyball tournament coming next month

    The Samui Slam Beach Volleyball Tournament & Training Camp will be held next month on the island of Koh Samui in the southern province of Surat Thani. It will run from September 18 to 24 at the stunning SEEN Beach Club on Chaweng Beach. Promising to be a thrilling sporting event, the Samui Slam is originated by organiser Biggs Island…

  • PEA apologises for 11.8 million baht electricity bill error | Thaiger

    PEA apologises for 11.8 million baht electricity bill error

    In a surprising turn of events, the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) in Koh Samui had to extend an apology to a small hotel proprietor on the island in the southern province of Surat Thani. It seems the PEA’s miscalculated her electricity consumption, leading to them issuing a bill of over 11 million baht last month. The PEA’s Communication Affairs Division’s director-general,…

  • FazWaz’s successful Agent Recruitment Event in Phuket paves way for Koh Samui | Thaiger

    FazWaz’s successful Agent Recruitment Event in Phuket paves way for Koh Samui

    Thailand’s leading real estate company, FazWaz, held a successful Agent Recruitment Event on Friday, May 5, 2023, at Four Points by Sheraton at Patong Beach. The event aimed to give interested agents an in-depth understanding of FazWaz and the advantages of working with the esteemed firm. The recruitment event included informative presentations, speed interviews, and an engaging networking session. Aspiring…

  • Body found floating near Koh Samui, Thailand | Thaiger

    Body found floating near Koh Samui, Thailand

    A dead body was found floating in the sea between Koh Samui on Koh Pha Ngan in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, yesterday. The deceased appears to be a foreign woman, reports MGR Online. Yesterday, the Facebook page “Chalerm Yord Phongsri” posted photos of a swollen body floating face down in the sea, wearing only underwear/swimwear, with the caption… “I…

  • Thailand’s Raja Ferry temporarily suspends Pha Ngan – Sumui route | Thaiger

    Thailand’s Raja Ferry temporarily suspends Pha Ngan – Sumui route

    Raja Ferry Port Company suspended all ferry services between Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Samui in Surat Thani province in southern Thailand from Sunday – Wednesday (April 23-25). The company made an official announcement on Saturday… “Raja Ferry Port will suspend ferry service from Pha Ngan to Samui and Samui to Pha Ngan route from 23-25 April 2023. Customers who…

  • Following stormy seas, rescuers find fisherman’s body near Koh Samui | Thaiger

    Following stormy seas, rescuers find fisherman’s body near Koh Samui

    Following the stormy seas that wreaked havoc on many coastal areas of Thailand this past weekend, rescuers found the body of a fisherman near Koh Samui. According to the Samui Public Relations Department, several local fishing boats capsized on Sunday. One fisherman reported missing was 51 year old Wiroj Srifah. Wiroj had been fishing alone. Marine Police, tour boat operators,…

  • German woman injured after falling at Koh Samui waterfall | Thaiger

    German woman injured after falling at Koh Samui waterfall

    A tourist from Germany sustained injuries while visiting Koh Samui, one of Thailand‘s beautiful tropical destinations. The incident occurred when a German woman fell at a waterfall on Koh Samui, Na Mueang 2 Waterfall, and it took rescue teams and officials over 20 minutes to reach her location on foot. The team found the woman, 38 year old Sina Dahmann,…

  • Murky water at Koh Samui beach caused by plankton bloom, not oil spill: officials | Thaiger

    Murky water at Koh Samui beach caused by plankton bloom, not oil spill: officials

    UPDATE The smelly, murky water putting off tourists from swimming in the sea at Maenam Beach in Koh Samui, southern Thailand, is not an oil spill but caused by a plankton bloom, which is a natural phenomenon, according to the Director of Koh Samui Harbour Authority, Arun Buppako. The photos circulating of green murky water at the beach show dead…

  • Foreigners complain they can’t swim at Koh Samui beach due to smelly oil spill | Thaiger

    Foreigners complain they can’t swim at Koh Samui beach due to smelly oil spill

    French and German tourists complained that a smelly oil spill prevented them from swimming at Maenam Beach yesterday in Koh Samui, Surat Thani province, southern Thailand. A German man told reporters that he went to the beach to sunbathe and play in the water. But when he tried to go swimming, he noticed a foul smell emanating from the sea.…

  • Bangkok Airways to launch Koh Samui – Hong Kong route | Thaiger

    Bangkok Airways to launch Koh Samui – Hong Kong route

    Bangkok Airways revealed plans to launch a direct route between Koh Samui in Thailand and Hong Kong, aiming to “generate more revenue from foreign customers.” President of Bangkok Airways Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth revealed that a nonstop Koh Samui – Hong Kong flight is in the works and could launch sometime this year. The airline has also entered discussions to lease more…

  • Samui Open Beach Volleyball Tournament boosts sports tourism | Thaiger

    Samui Open Beach Volleyball Tournament boosts sports tourism

    With tourism back in full swing, a variety of diverse events and activities are taking place in tourism hotspots, offering variety to tourists and locals alike. Koh Samui recently hosted a successful volleyball tournament that organisers hope will boost sports tourism to Thailand. The 5th annual Samui Open Beach Volleyball Tournament took place from March 10 to 12, at the…

  • Koh Samui needs more direct flights to boost post-pandemic recovery | Thaiger

    Koh Samui needs more direct flights to boost post-pandemic recovery

    Koh Samui Tourism Association chief is urging authorities to enhance the island’s tourist infrastructure and increase flight capacity to boost a full post-pandemic recovery of the popular holiday resort. Association president Ratchaporn Poolsawadee revealed that only 70% of independent hotels with three or four-star have resumed operations following the pandemic. This is due to slow cash flow in comparison to…

  • Thailand looks to go Dutch with tourists from the Netherlands | Thaiger

    Thailand looks to go Dutch with tourists from the Netherlands

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) roadshow continues to gather a head of steam with the Netherlands the latest European country on its hit list. Last week, the TAT was in Germany at the ITB Berlin 2023 event to officially launch the ‘Visit Thailand Year 2023: Amazing New Chapters’ campaign, which aims to promote sustainable and responsible tourism in Thailand,…

  • Family of British man in coma needs help to bring him home from Thailand | Thaiger

    Family of British man in coma needs help to bring him home from Thailand

    A British man’s family is appealing for help to bring him home from Thailand, where he is fighting for his life following a terrible motorbike crash. The man, 32 year old Jay Bridgehouse from Stockport, travelled to Thailand for a chance to ‘chase his dreams’ and look for work, Manchester Evening News reported. But tragedy struck when a pickup truck ploughed…

  • Koh Samui welcomes inaugural flight from Chengdu, China | Thaiger

    Koh Samui welcomes inaugural flight from Chengdu, China

    On Sunday, Koh Samui Airport in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, welcomed a flight from Chengdu in China for the first time in over three years. Chengdu Airlines flight EU2807 landed in Koh Samui at 5.40pm with 130 Chinese tourists on board. Samui Airport held a special welcome ceremony for the inaugural flight by using fire engines to spray water…

  • German man drowns at Koh Samui beach | Thaiger

    German man drowns at Koh Samui beach

    There’s been another tragic drowning at one of Thailand’s holiday paradises, this time the island of Koh Samui. A 58 year old German man drowned at Koh Samui‘s Chaweng Beach on Monday. Bo Phut Police said the tourist had gone into the water with his girlfriend. When his girlfriend got out of the water, she could not find her boyfriend…

  • Former cop from UAE allegedly set cars on fire in Koh Samui | Thaiger

    Former cop from UAE allegedly set cars on fire in Koh Samui

    A former cop from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) allegedly set cars on fire in Koh Samui. The suspect, 40 year old Muajib Ali Salim Saleh Alkarbi, allegedly set fire to a BMW, and a Toyota sedan parked near vacant land in Koh Samui’s Taling Ngam sub-district at around 1.35am on Thursday, March 2. Koh Samui Police said CCTV footage…

  • Samui Open Beach Volleyball Tournament in March | Thaiger

    Samui Open Beach Volleyball Tournament in March

    The 5th annual Samui Open Beach Volleyball Tournament is set to take place on the island of Koh Samui between March 10 and March 12. The event will be held at the Royal Muang Samui Villas on Choeng Mon Beach in the northeast corner of the island. The tournament was created in 2016 to cater to the increasing global interest…

  • Remembering the dead – Koh Tao dive master mystery | Thaiger

    Remembering the dead – Koh Tao dive master mystery

    Twenty-three years before diving instructor Neil Giblin from Birmingham died on Koh Tao last month, a fellow Brummie diver lost his life there. Giblin is the fifth Koh Tao dive master to die on the island where Ian Jacobs, from Sutton Coldfield, died on January 18, 2000. Jacobs was found at the bottom of a well on the island. Giblin…

  • Seahorse Ferry relaunches Pattaya to Samui route | Thaiger

    Seahorse Ferry relaunches Pattaya to Samui route

    After a four-month hiatus, the Seahorse Ferry Company is finally ready to set sail again, resuming its weekly service between Sattahip and Koh Samui from Thursday, February 16. After a temporary pause for essential repairs and maintenance shortly after launching, the ferry is now back in business and ready to welcome passengers on board once again. If you’re planning a…