Samui
- Thailand video news
Thailand Elite Card Scandal and Controversy | GMT
In today’s episode, Thailand Elite Card Scandal and Controversy, Rolling Loud Thailand 2023 is coming to Songkran Festival in Pattaya, Koh Samui booms as over 200,000 tourists visit the popular island in January, Bangkok public bus condemned by Singaporean tourist, and Chinese tourists wrongly fined 60,000 baht for carrying vapes, says law expert.
- Thailand video news
Welcome to Thailand’s Endemic Sandbox | GMT
The Bikini Beach Race to take place in Pattaya this October. An endemic Sandbox has been proposed where nightspots and entertainment would re-open. Thailand is open for business as per the PM. All this and more on todays Good Morning Thailand.
- Travel
Top 5 Best places to golf in Thailand 2022
If you’re living in Thailand or are planning a trip here, you should not miss out on experiencing these golf courses. The beautiful golf courses provide seasoned golfers with challenges and also give beginner golfers memorable experiences. Here are the top five golf courses you should try when you’re in Thailand. Disclaimer: The prices are subject to change. We recommend readers to check the official website…
- Thailand News
Police raid illegal ‘casino’ on Koh Samui located near police station
Officers from Bor Put police station in Koh Samui raided an illegal “casino” located in the middle of the island yesterday evening. They were joined by the island’s mayor, Chayapon Intarasupa. Those running the operation allegedly allowed people to gamble in different games to win money, according to reports. Thai media reported that the illegal gambling centre was a one-story…
- Koh Samui News
Central Festival Samui opens Covid test centre for Test & Go, Sandbox tourists
A Covid-19 testing centre has opened on Koh Samui to travellers entering under either the Sandbox or Test & Go travel schemes. Koh Samui Hospital and Bangkok Hospital Samui have teamed up with Central Festival Samui to open the “Samui Swab Centre” to offer convenient Covid-19 RT-PCT tests for tourists who are required to take two tests after entering Thailand.…
- Thailand News
Infected inmate escapee from Koh Samui Hospital surrenders, says he got hungry
The inmate infected with Covid-19 who escaped from Koh Samui Hospital has reportedly surrendered to police. Apparently, he turned himself in to police because he got hungry. With prisons and correctional facilities requiring a quarantine period for all new inmates, and with a number of them testing positive for Covid-19, there has been an increase in prisoner escapes, according to…
- Koh Samui News
Samui businesses call for Test & Go to be reinstated and to be included in sandbox
Tourism operators on Koh Samui are urging the government to reconsider the suspension of the Test & Go entry scheme. Operators are also asking for a sandbox programme for Samui, demanding to know why this is currently limited to Phuket only. According to a Pattaya News report, operators have cited multiple cancellations of hotel bookings from foreign tourists who had…
- Koh Samui News
Koh Samui tourism officials, businesses call on government to open Sandbox registration
The Phuket Sandbox is now the only quarantine substitution programme open for registration, but those on the Gulf of Thailand island Koh Samui are calling on the government to allow the Samui Sandbox scheme to continue as usual. Since the government’s announcement yesterday on closing registration for the Test & Go quarantine exemption scheme and the Sandbox scheme, with the…
- Covid-19 News
3 passengers test positive for Omicron when they arrive on Koh Samui
Three recent arrivals on the Gulf island of Koh Samui have been detected with the Omicron variant of Covid-19 – 2 British citizens and 1 Belgian. The 3 include a 54 year old British woman, a 55 year old Belgian man and a 56 year old British man. The 3 new cases are the first, not only for the holiday…
- Thailand News
Koh Samui agent gives honest property review by standing in waist-deep floodwater
For those looking into buying land in Thailand, the potential for flooding is one of the first concerns that comes up. One property agent on Koh Samui is being honest about the rising water levels… So honest that he decided to shoot a video of himself holding up the land title deed while waist-deep murky floodwater. The 45 year old…
- Sponsored
The Benefits of Having Comprehensive Car Insurance
The Thaiger presents the following deal on car insurance. Comprehensive car insurance has a number of benefits, the most important of which is that it protects you financially. If you don’t have insurance, you’ll have to pay for the losses yourself and deal with the aftermath on your own. If you’ve ever been in an accident, you’ll know how time-consuming…
- Thailand video news
Tourist areas struggle, Thai Air Asia in trouble | Good Morning Thailand LIVE | Ep.135
In today’s episode Jay, Tim and Natty talk about how Tourism has struggled and look at the different parts of Thailand, Air Asia’s struggle and cost cutting, China’s impact on Thai tourism and the upcoming changes to Thaiger Youtube.
- Thailand Weather Updates
Flooding rains hamper Koh Samui for 2 days
The rain has stopped in Koh Samui… For a few minutes. On the island, there has been at least a drizzle nonstop for the past 2 days, with fits of torrential downpour pelting anyone who braves the weather.A popular Facebook group, Thunder Road Reporters, is a community group that members snap photos and post live updates of road conditions they…
- Press Room
Cryptocurrency is now accepted at Silavadee Pool Spa Resort in Koh Samui
Press Release Silavadee Pool Spa Resort becomes the First Resort in Koh Samui to accept Cryptocurrency. Koh Samui, 2021 – Silavadee Pool Spa Resort is becoming the first resort in Koh Samui to accept cryptocurrency for hotel bookings worldwide. Miss Chonlada Soonthonvasu, Managing Director of Silavadee Pool Spa Resort said, “As the popularity of online booking channels grows, people are…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | November 1 Thai tourism restarts, Samui removes quarantine, digital hub | Oct 12
November 1 is the D-day for fully vaccinated tourists from at least 10 “low-risk” countries to be able to travel to Thailand without quarantine. And Thailand’s digital hub is about to get some more government thrown at it. A plan to impose a 500 baht “tourism tax” on foreign arrivals from next year has divided opinion among tourism operators. Tourism officials…
- Koh Samui News
Koh Samui to ease domestic entry restrictions
It’s going to be a little bit easier for domestic travellers to enter Koh Samui… at least for those with the vaccine. Starting Friday, those who are fully vaccinated and arriving to the island off the Surat Thani coast domestically will not need to undergo a Covid-19 test. Koh Samui Governor announced the easing of the domestic entry requirements. The…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | Australian released from death row, Samui restaurant raided | September 20
An Australian and Thai married couple, and an American man, on death row in Bangkok for trafficking crystal methamphetamine have all been released from prison. A reduction in import duty on cigars and alcohol looks to be in the works, as part of a government strategy to attract wealthy foreign residents and skilled professionals. Around 20 people, both Thai and…
- Thailand video news
Morning Top Stories Thailand | Night curfews, Samui party arrests | September 13
The nightly curfew for the 29 provinces classified as “dark red” zones for high Covid-19 infection rates will remain in place, at least until the end of the month. Police are warning foreigners to avoid the protests and rallies in Bangkok, as well as other areas of the country, saying that expats who join will face deportation and be blacklisted…
- Koh Samui News
Koh Samui partiers fined 10,000 baht, commuted 15-day sentence
In an update to our story yesterday regarding an illegal birthday party on Koh Samui that saw 48 partiers taken into custody, charges have apparently been filed against 44 party attendees. A report in Thai media said 44 of the 48 partiers at Maithy Pool Lounge & Restaurant inside a luxury resort in the hills behind Bangrak on the northeast…
- Koh Samui News
Samui relaxes re-opening rules following low tourist demand
The rules are being somewhat relaxed when it comes to the Samui Plus re-opening model, following disappointing figures. Ratchaporn Poolsawadee from the Tourism Association of Koh Samui says that from October 1, vaccinated tourists only need to spend the first night in a SHA Plus hotel, until they get the result of their PCR test. Prior to this, international tourists…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | Easing Covid restrictions, curfews, Covid infections drop | September 2
The PM has floated the idea of changing the nightly curfew in “dark red” provinces. Police in Koh Samui have arrested a Russian man on drug trafficking charges and seized illicit drugs including methamphetamine, cocaine, ketamine, and ecstasy. There has been 262 more Covid-related fatalities and 14,956 new infections recorded during the past 24 hours. The Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | 7 policemen arrested over killing of drug dealer | August 25
Thailand’s PM has ordered a full investigation into the apparent police killing of a drug suspect in Nakhon Sawan. Flights between Phuket and Koh Samui, that had originally been cancelled until the end of August, have now resumed. A 38 year old man was killed in a fire that broke out in his home in Pathum Thani, just north of…
- Phuket News
CCSA approves “7+7” island hop extension to “Phuket Sandbox”
The so-called “7+7” island hop extension to the “Phuket Sandbox” reopening scheme has been approved by the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, allowing travellers from overseas who are vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter Phuket, stay on the island for seven days, and then travel on a sealed route to specified destinations in Surat Thani, Krabi, and Phang Nga. Under the…
- Things To Do
Top 5 Spas in Koh Samui
An indulgent spa day can be just what you need to rest and recharge. Fortunately, Koh Samui has many pockets of calm, with wellness retreats on every corner. Whether you’re seeking a Thai or aromatherapy massage or just a simple day of pampering, we’ve selected the very best spas on the island. From smaller shops to luxury and exclusive resorts, these spas…
- Thailand video news
GMT | New record infections, Pattaya ‘Move On’, drones or fireworks? | July 29
Tim and Jay talk about new clusters around the country, idiots opening bars, the latest Samui cluster, vaccination centre crushes, the new ‘fireworks’ being used at big events, a lot of fuss about a Thai Air Asia Zoom call. And your comments from Thaiger Talk and YouTube. Thanks to our sponsors Shambhala from Boat Pattana.
- Covid-19 News
Koh Samui bar and club finds 16 Covid-19 infections
The Thaiger recently reported that some bars and clubs in Koh Samui continue to operate seemingly indifferent to Covid-19 restrictions in place without any masks or social distancing and during periods that nightlife was shut down nationally. Now the freedom from regulation on the island has come back to bite as 16 Covid-19 infections were found traced to one of…
- Tourism News
Hotels hope for increase in foreign tourists to offset slump in domestic demand
Hotels in Thailand’s normally busy tourist hotspots are hoping that a further re-opening to foreign travellers will offset the drop in domestic demand. The Bangkok Post reports that travel curbs have decimated domestic tourism in places like Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga. Kongsak Khoopongsakorn from the Thai Hotels Association says the Phuket sandbox scheme welcomed around 10,000 tourists in its…
- Koh Samui News
Slow start for “Samui Plus” reopening, only 33 seats booked for this month
While the “Samui Plus” reopening plan is set to start tomorrow, it might be more of a “soft” reopening. Only 33 airline seats are booked for this month and tourism officials say it will be a few months before the islands see an influx of international arrivals. Similar to the “Phuket Sandbox,” the scheme allows the trio of islands in…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya looks into September reopening despite uptick in Covid-19 infections
Despite the uptick in Covid-19 infections, Pattaya is planned to reopen to foreign arrivals, possibly in September, under a scheme similar to Phuket and the trio of islands off Surat Thani, where tourists who are vaccinated against Covid-19 can enter without undergoing a 14-day quarantine. Yesterday, Pattaya City Mayor Sonthaya Khunplume met with the deputy mayors and those in the…
- Tourism News
Bangkok Airways revises Koh Samui flights ahead of reopening
To prepare for the Samui+ reopening programme launching July 15, Bangkok Airways is revising its schedule to operate 3 inbound flights and 3 outbound flights daily between Koh Samui and Bangkok. The new schedule, released today and promoted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand in a press release this afternoon, will feature a morning, afternoon, and evening flight option beginning…
- Thailand video news
Good Morning Thailand | All about Samui, Covid update. Live from Cafe Waya
Today Tim and Able talk with James McManaman about Samui Plus, (Samui sandbox). The daily covid update. Welcome to the final day of our week long LIVE program @ Cafe Waya in Boat Avenue Cherng Talay, Phuket. Drop in and say hello! To follow Able, please visit her page @emceeable and @findyourvoiceasia on Facebook, instagram and Linkedin.
- Tourism News
Entry registration under “Samui Plus” reopening planned to open this week
The registration for entering Thailand under the slated “Samui Plus” reopening scheme is planned to open this week. Similar to the Phuket “Sandbox,” the programme will allow foreign tourists who are vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel to the trio of islands in the Gulf of Thailand off the Surat Thani coast. Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan, and Koh Tao are…
- Thailand video news
Good Morning Thailand | Samui quiet/flights/reopening, Thailand’s botched vaccine roll out
GMT heads off to Samui today to get the latest ‘on the ground’ reports on the suffering of businesses and possible reopening for the island. We also discuss the botched vaccine roll-out in Thailand… that’s not our words but the words of a number of Thai officials in leading rolls in the Thai health system. As usual we discuss your…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | Drive-thru vaccines, more vaccines on the way, Samui Sandbox? | June 9
The Thai government is ordering 20 million doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine, along with 5 million of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine. Public Health Ministry has instructed Thai hospitals to honour vaccination appointments, even though they may not have received the number of doses expected. Police have arrested a group of Burmese migrants and an alleged guide from…
- Koh Samui News
Samui tourism official calls for inter-provincial travel ban to flatten the curve prior to July re-opening
The president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui says the island is still pinning its hopes on a July 1 re-opening for vaccinated foreign tourists. Ratchaporn Poolsawadee remains optimistic, despite Thailand now battling a third wave of Covid-19, with Samui reporting 50 infections. He says vaccines are being rolled out out on Samui, although a number of doses have…
- Covid-19 News
Friday’s Covid-19 cases, province by province
Today’s provincial totals, as reported in the past 24 hours. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri (including Pattaya) and Prachuap Khiri Khan and Samut Prakan lead the way. Other prominent locations include Phuket with 30 new cases, Surat Thani, which includes the 3 Gulf islands of Samui, Pha Ngan and Tao, with 11, and Chiang Rai with 77. Infographic from NBT…
- Tourism News
Accelerated vaccination plan for Phuket, Koh Samui recommended by tourism sector
Those in Thailand’s tourism and airline industries are pushing for an accelerated vaccination plan for Phuket and Koh Samui as well as for those in those in the tourism sector. With Phuket set to reopen under the “sandbox” model in July, tourism and airline representatives also ask for a clear timeline for reopening the country to foreign travellers. In a…
