SURAT THANI, THAILAND – A rapid rise in fuel prices pushed ferry operators serving Thailand’s tourist islands to raise fares twice in two weeks.
Second fare hike within 14 days
The Seatran Ferry company, one of the main operators serving the islands, had already increased prices on 14 March, adding 10 Baht to each ticket. After fuel prices jumped by 6 Baht per litre on 26 March, the operator moved again, introducing another rapid adjustment. The second increase followed in what the company described as record time.
“We have to pass on the increased costs,”
said the company. For passengers, this meant a total of 60 Baht more within just two weeks.
What the crossing costs now
On the Don Sak (mainland) – Koh Samui route, the new fare rose from 180 Baht to 210 Baht per passenger, an increase of 30 Baht at once. Travellers to Koh Pha-ngan faced an identical jump, with prices climbing from 250 to 280 Baht. In both cases, the surcharge amounted to 30 Baht per trip.
Vehicle transport also became more expensive. Motorcycles now cost 270 Baht, while cars are charged 670 Baht for the crossing. Larger vehicles face even higher rates, depending on size and distance.
Suppliers caught in the middle
The price surge hit hardest those who depended on the ferries every day. Kriangkrai, a delivery driver, transported products from markets in Surat Thani to customers on Koh Samui on a daily basis. Rising operating costs put his business under intense pressure.
“My daily transport costs have risen massively,”
said Kriangkrai.
“I have to raise my delivery prices just to make ends meet at all.”
On top of that, residents in Surat Thani were grappling with fuel shortages.
“You drive from petrol station to petrol station just to get any fuel at all – and that uses up even more fuel,”
said Kriangkrai.
Bangkok also becomes more expensive
The upward price spiral extended beyond the islands. In the capital, passengers were also set to pay more for boat travel. Operators on the Saen-Saep canal and the Chao Phraya River had already announced fare adjustments.
From 30 March, they planned to increase fares by 2 Baht per trip. The rise was moderate compared with the island ferries, but it underlined how far the fuel price surge had spread into everyday life.
What this means for holidaymakers
Travellers planning trips to Koh Samui or Koh Pha-ngan now had to factor higher ferry costs into their holiday budgets. For return journeys, the additional charges added up quickly. Prices could climb further if fuel costs continued to rise.
“We do not know how fuel prices will develop in the coming weeks,”
warned a spokesperson for the ferry operator. Another fare increase could not be ruled out.
Budget-conscious travellers received little certainty from early bookings, as prices were adjusted at short notice. Those with flexible schedules were advised to monitor announcements from the ferry companies closely.
The next steps
The Thai government came under growing pressure as households struggled with soaring fuel costs. The tourism sector also feared losing guests deterred by rising travel expenses. So far there were no signs of any reduction in fuel prices.
Experts instead warned of further increases. For ferry operators, the only option was to align fares with operating costs. For both tourists and locals, that meant one thing: crossings to Thailand’s so‑called dream islands had become an expensive undertaking.