Ko Samui is an island off the east coast of Thailand. Geographically in the Chumphon Archipelago, it is part of Surat Thani Province, though as of 2012, Ko Samui was granted municipal status and thus is now locally self-governing. Ko Samui, with an area of 228.7 sqkm, is Thailand's second largest island after Phuket. In 2018, it was visited by 2.7 million tourists.