Samui LocalPlus

News publication covering Ko Samui, Surat Thani, Ko Phang Ngan, Ko Tao & Samui

10/04/2026

𝐏𝐡𝐮𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐕𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧

Phuket police arrested a Thai van driver over the r**e of a 20-year-old Ukrainian woman yesterday, April 6. The suspect, identified as 43-year-old Sukan, confessed to the crime and tested positive for drugs. The case follows recent incidents involving public transport drivers accused of sexual assault, highlighting the need for improved safety measures.

Read more: https://samui.localplus.city/2026/04/10/phuket-van-driver-confesses-to-raping-ukrainian-woman/

Photo: via DailyNews

10/04/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐧𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬

Thailand is moving to require international tourists to obtain travel insurance before entering the country, as rising unpaid medical bills and accident risks place increasing pressure on the public healthcare system. The impact is already being felt in major tourism areas, with hospitals absorbing high costs from uninsured foreign patients each year. Officials are gathering data to assess the scale of the issue and design appropriate measures, with mandatory travel insurance seen as a potential solution to protect public finances and improve safety for travelers.

Read more: https://samui.localplus.city/2026/04/09/thailand-to-require-travel-insurance-for-visitors-amid-rising-unpaid-medical-bills/

09/04/2026

𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐗 𝐇𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝟒𝟎% 𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐞𝐭 𝐅𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬

AirAsia X is raising ticket prices by up to 40% as soaring jet fuel costs linked to the Middle Eastern conflict put fresh pressure on airlines across Asia. The carrier said higher oil prices have become its most serious challenge, with jet fuel costs doubling in recent weeks, forcing the airline to pass on part of the burden to passengers.

Read more: https://samui.localplus.city/2026/04/09/airasia-x-hikes-ticket-prices-up-to-40-amid-soaring-jet-fuel-costs/

Photo: via AirAsia

09/04/2026

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐛 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐞-𝐇𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐔𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐬 𝐀𝐈-𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲

Mr Tan shows off a robot which is currently being trialled. The robot is aimed at helping driver-partners save on delivery time. Grab is accelerating its shift beyond transaction-based services to become an "intelligent everyday guide", evolving from a super-app into a more integrated, AI-driven companion.

Read more: https://samui.localplus.city/2026/04/09/grab-expands-beyond-ride-hailing-unveils-ai-powered-products-to-boost-worker-efficiency/

09/04/2026

𝐇𝐮𝐚 𝐇𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐔𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐢𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧

Hua Hin Municipality Council convenes a meeting to announce security measures and policies for the upcoming 2026 Songkran festival, emphasizing enhanced suppression efforts, traffic discipline enforcement, and strengthening cooperation among police to ensure the safety and comfort of residents and tourists.

Read more: https://samui.localplus.city/2026/04/09/hua-hin-authorities-unveil-comprehensive-songkran-safety-plan/

09/04/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢 𝐏𝐌 𝐀𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐆𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐬

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul highlighted the significance of simple gestures in strengthening family bonds during the National Elderly Day event. He emphasized that families are the foundation of society and that strong family ties contribute to a strong nation. The government is committed to enhancing welfare and fostering supportive environments for families and older people, aiming to counteract the reduced personal interaction and emotional connection in modern lifestyles.

Read more: https://samui.localplus.city/2026/04/09/thai-pm-anutin-urges-simple-gestures-to-strengthen-family-bonds/

Photo: Bangkok Post

09/04/2026

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐨 𝐋𝐭𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝟕,𝟕𝟎𝟎 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡

State-run Transport Co Ltd has pledged to maintain fares through April 19 and deploy over 7,700 buses to manage the annual Songkran travel rush, ensuring no passengers are left stranded. The company is fully prepared to handle the annual surge in travelers returning to their home provinces for the Thai New Year, aligning with transport ministry policy.

Read more: https://samui.localplus.city/2026/04/09/transport-co-ltd-pledges-fare-stability-deploys-7700-buses-for-songkran-rush/

Photo: Bangkok Post

09/04/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝟐.𝟏𝟒 𝐁𝐚𝐡𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰

Thailand will cut diesel prices by 2.14 baht per litre starting tomorrow, April 9, marking the first-ever reduction in fuel prices. The move, led by Energy Minister Akanat Promphan, aims to ease the cost of living and support the economy amid global uncertainty. The price cut is expected to lower retail prices at petrol stations nationwide.

Read more: https://samui.localplus.city/2026/04/09/thailand-cuts-diesel-prices-by-2-14-baht-per-litre-starting-tomorrow/

Photo: via Facebook/ กระทรวงพลังงาน

09/04/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢 𝐕𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐮𝐳: 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝

Thailand mourns the loss of three crewmembers from the Mayuree Naree vessel, following an attack in the Strait of Hormuz. The country's foreign minister, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, is set to visit Oman to express gratitude for their assistance and discuss maritime safety and navigation freedom. Meanwhile, Thailand awaits clearance for nine more vessels to pass through the strait, with a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran potentially facilitating their transit.

Read more: https://samui.localplus.city/2026/04/09/thai-vessel-attack-in-strait-of-hormuz-three-crewmembers-confirmed-dead/

09/04/2026

𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐢 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐑𝐮𝐧𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬

Chiang Mai has declared three more districts as disaster areas due to ongoing forest fires, bringing the total to nine districts affected. Despite the smoke haze, flights continue as visibility remains above safe operating limits.

Read more: https://samui.localplus.city/2026/04/09/chiang-mai-declares-three-more-districts-disaster-areas-amid-runaway-forest-fires/

Photo: Forest Fire Control Division

09/04/2026

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝'𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 "𝐊𝐡𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐚 𝐊𝐡𝐫𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐠" 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧

The Finance Ministry has confirmed the next phase of the "Khon La Khrueng" co-payment scheme will start in May, with an expanded reach aimed at easing the financial strain on households amid ongoing economic pressures. Lavaron Sangsnit, permanent secretary for finance, said the forthcoming round would cover more beneficiaries than the previous phase, which covered about 20 million people. The precise number, however, will depend on the budget allocation to be determined by the Budget Bureau.

Read more: https://samui.localplus.city/2026/04/09/thailands-finance-ministry-expands-khon-la-khrueng-scheme-to-ease-household-financial-strain/

Photo: Bangkok Post

09/04/2026

𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐚 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝟑𝟔 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐝

Chinese partygoers were detained for drug tests and immigration checks after a police raid on an after-hours club in Pattaya early Thursday morning. The raid, involving about 40 officers, targeted the Tomorrow Land Club off Pattaya 3 Road, where 36 Chinese tourists were found using karaoke rooms. Although no narcotics or illegal items were initially discovered, police are awaiting drug test results and will examine the tourists' immigration status.

Read more: https://samui.localplus.city/2026/04/09/pattaya-police-detain-36-chinese-tourists-for-drug-tests-after-club-raid/

Photo: Amporn Sangkaew