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.

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  • 1,000 foreign tourists expected to travel to Koh Samui in July

    1,000 foreign tourists expected to travel to Koh Samui in July

    Koh Samui may have 1,000 foreign visitors arrive on the island in July. As part of the “sandbox” tourism scheme, also set to launch in Phuket on July 1, allows tourists who are vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel to specific destinations in Thailand that have reached herd immunity. Thailand just launched its vaccination campaign a month ago. Now, both Koh…

  • Can Koh Pha Ngan’s Full Moon Party recover from Covid-19 hiatus?

    Can Koh Pha Ngan’s Full Moon Party recover from Covid-19 hiatus?

    After a year long hiatus, can Thailand’s world-famous Full Moon Party recover, or will it evolve in the post-Covid-19 era? Before April last year, Haad Rin Beach on Koh Pha Ngan was invaded each full moon by backpackers and partygoers. The beach hummed to the thump, thump of the music and the buckets of exotic cocktails (and plenty of other…

  • Phuket and Koh Samui request bulk deliveries of AstraZeneca Covid vaccines

    Phuket and Koh Samui request bulk deliveries of AstraZeneca Covid vaccines

    Now Thailand’s Covid vaccine roll out has begun, it is starting to gather speed. The southern resort islands of Phuket and Koh Samui have made requests to the Public Health Ministry for enough doses to vaccinate the majority of the islands’ residents in anticipation of an early return to some semblance of tourism. Both holiday islands have a high reliance…

  • “Samui Wonder Island” safe and sealed travel scheme to launch in July

    “Samui Wonder Island” safe and sealed travel scheme to launch in July

    Under the new safe and sealed foreign travel campaign “Samui Wonder Island,” foreign visitors will be able to visit Koh Samui under disease control measures starting in July. Travellers will undergo a rapid Covid-19 swab test on their second or third day at the alternative state quarantine hotel or resort. The results will come back within 3 hours. If the…

  • 2 more Bryde’s whales seen off Koh Samui in marine park

    2 more Bryde’s whales seen off Koh Samui in marine park

    2 more Bryde’s whales are gracing the waters off Koh Samui, after tourists spotted the marine mammals in Ang Thong National Marine Park. Wichwut Jinto, the provincial governor says park officials heard about the sightings and went out to confirm them. The whales were swimming near the islands of Hanuman, Thai Plao, Hin Dap, Wua Kantang and Sam Sao. Wichawut…

  • Koh Samui aims for quarantine-free travel starting in October

    Koh Samui aims for quarantine-free travel starting in October

    Koh Samui is aiming to offer quarantine-free travels for vaccinated visitors to the southern gulf island. Joining Phuket, the island is expected to be the first area in Surat Thani to test such quarantine-free entries for tourists as it features its own airport. Ratchaporn Poolsawadee, the president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui, says he is hopeful that Samui…

  • Koh Samui lights back up, underwater electricity cable repaired

    Koh Samui lights back up, underwater electricity cable repaired

    Electricity is back on Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan after an underwater cable supplying electricity to the islands was damaged. Yesterday, blackouts swept over both islands in the Gulf of Thailand off the Surat Thani coast. Earlier reports say the cable was damaged by a Thai navy ship’s anchor, but now Provincial Electricity Authority district manager Jakkrit Meedet says…

  • Blackout on Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan after navy ship anchor damages underwater cable

    Blackout on Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan after navy ship anchor damages underwater cable

    A widespread blackout swept over Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan after a Thai navy ship anchor dropped on an underwater cable which supplies power to the islands in the Gulf of Thailand off the Surat Thani coast. The 115kv cable runs from Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Khanom district to Koh Samui. The anchor damaged the cable about 2 kilometres out…

  • Covid-free Samui, Phangan, Tao offer tourism discounts until end of April

    Covid-free Samui, Phangan, Tao offer tourism discounts until end of April

    The Covid-free gulf islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao are offering special discounts and privileges to tourists until the end of April. Over 80 tourism operators are taking part in the scheme which can be accessed by clicking on www.samui-phangan-tao-speciallink.com. Surat Thani, which includes Koh Samui, is 1 of 4 provinces to receive the first delivery of…