As much of a paradise as Koh Samui is, it's not exactly 'Heaven on Earth,' so to speak. Sure, from its magnificent beaches to other natural wonders, there are many parts of the island one would consider 'heavenly,' but reality may argue otherwise. Most especially when it comes to the issue of crime. It's no secret that many parts of Thailand are known for their crime rates and Koh Samui is no exception. But what is the reality of the situation on this island? Are the crime rates here so high that it takes away from the paradisical splendor of the destination? These are the answers you're looking for.
Koh Samui's General Crime Rate
Although many places in Thailand are notorious for their high crime rates, it's safe to say that Koh Samui is not one of them. As of 2021, the island enjoys a low general crime rate at 38.89%. Not only is it considered low, but it's also considerably lower than those in
Phuket and
Bangkok. However, just like those aforementioned places, Koh Samui's rate of increasing crimes is actually quite high. It's now 62.50%, making it a cause for concern for many locals and tourists on the island. It still pays to be more careful and aware while exploring the destination.
Koh Samui's Highest-Rated Crimes
With that said, which highly-rated crimes should those in Koh Samui worry about? Well, according to
Number.com, people on the island should be most aware of corruption and bribery. They're at a combined 69.44%, making it the highest-rated crime in Koh Samui. The silver lining to this is that they're not violent crimes but they do lead to violence in way, shape, or form. Moreover, the nature of such crimes puts those who are
working here at risk. One never knows how corruption and bribery can affect their career. It pays to be vigilant in these sorts of situations.
Source: Adirach Toumlamoon
Koh Samui's Other Common Crimes
In the second place of Koh Samui's highest-rated crimes, drug dealing has a rate of 65.62%. Though far from the nature of the highest-rated crimes, this doesn't come as that much of a surprise. It's pretty common for places like Koh Samui, one of Thailand's top tourist destinations, to have a huge drug problem. Tourists who want to 'let loose' while on vacation here tend to do drugs and they're mostly the targets of dealers and pushers on the island. And as the third-highest-rated crimes in Koh Samui, vandalism and theft have a combined rate of 46.88%. Though it's considered moderate, it's still a cause for concern, especially for unsuspecting tourists.
Koh Samui's Safety Rate
Despite all of that, it's worth noting that Koh Samui's safety rates too. Right now, the island enjoys a high safety rating of 91.67% during the day. Not only is this considered high, but
very high. It even pairs well with the low general crime rate of Koh Samui too. So this means that when you want to explore all the different
neighborhoods on the island, you'll practically have little to worry about. But it still pays to be more aware of surroundings nonetheless. Especially at night since Koh Samui's safety rating drops to a moderate 55.56% come nightfall.
Koh Samui's Areas to Avoid
For the most part, it's safe to say that the island of Koh Samui is not that dangerous. As far as places you ought to avoid are concerned, they're mostly nightlife hubs on the island. It's no secret that even Koh Samui is notorious for its nightlife scene, which is often infested with sketchy characters with seedy intentions. From streetwalkers to pickpockets, it's better to avoid nightlife hubs in Koh Samui overall. Moreover, with regards to
the island's public transport, some taxi and tuk-tuk drivers tend to scam unsuspecting tourists too. Be wary of them when you need to commute here.
Though it shouldn't take away from the fact that Koh Samui is a paradise of an island, the crime rate here is truly worth paying attention to. This place isn't the safest in the world but it's also not as dangerous as many might make you think it is.
As long as you go for a
luxury home located within one of the safer parts of Koh Samui, you have very little to worry about!
