Mr. Tee Lawyer

Koh Samui New Road

Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report Preparation Project for the West–East Road Network Connection on Koh Samui
Koh Samui, has its main transportation route as the Ring Road around the island (Highway No. 4169), which is approximately 50 km in length. At present, one of the major issues is the inconvenience of traveling between towns on the island.
Due to long travel distances and various geographical obstacles, travel times are considerably lengthy. As tourism is the primary industry of Koh Samui, the island’s tourism sector has been unable to fully develop because the transportation system is not yet sufficiently comprehensive or well connected. Furthermore, in emergency situations requiring travel to government centers on Koh Samui, such as medical emergencies requiring immediate access to hospitals, transportation cannot always be carried out promptly.

The Ministry of Transport assigned the Department of Rural Roads to conduct a feasibility study for the development of the rural highway network on Koh Samui. The study was completed in 2022. According to the study findings, the road connection linking Highway No. 4169 from the western side to the eastern side of the island (W–E Corridor) was identified as the highest-priority project under the Koh Samui rural highway network development plan.

The proposed route would provide several important benefits, including improving traffic flow and reducing congestion on the island’s main road network. The route would also connect the western ferry pier area to the airport on the eastern side of the island and serve as an important access route to key tourist attractions, such as Buddhadīpankara Meditation Center and Wat Saket.

Project Route Map – New Road Connecting the West and East Sides of Koh Samui
The project aims to establish a more efficient transportation network on the island, reduce traffic congestion, and provide additional travel route options. 🛣️🚘
Route: Taling Ngam – Bo Phut 🏝️

Project details:

Road type: 4-lane roadway
Project starting point: Area near Wat Saket
Project ending point: Area near Sheraton Samui Resort

Source: Around SURAT THANI Update

The Department of Business Development (DBD) has introduced stricter measures to investigate high-risk businesses in order to prevent the use of Thai nominees by foreign investors. These measures have been effective since 1 April 2026 and aim to enhance transparency and fairness in business operations in Thailand.

The key focus is a serious crackdown on nominee arrangements. Authorities will intensify inspections of suspicious shareholding structures, and any irregularities may lead to strict legal action.

The measures include five main controls: expanding scrutiny of high-risk individuals (especially those whose financial status does not align with their shareholding), integrating financial data with other agencies, enforcing strict identity verification for directors and signatories, requiring in-person signing before lawyers or accountants to prevent proxy use, and reviewing individuals with a history of nominee involvement.

In addition, Thailand is moving toward a fully digital system. From 1 July 2026, paper-based corporate document requests will be discontinued and replaced by electronic systems. There is also a proposal to classify nominee arrangements as a predicate offense under anti-money laundering laws.

These changes will significantly impact business operators, particularly foreign investors and corporate service providers, who must strictly comply to avoid investigation and legal penalties.