British Ambassador Mark Gooding has visited Thai island Koh Samui for safety checks on the popular holiday destination on Wednesday.

The official introduced himself to local authorities and was briefed on security measures for tourists on the islands of Koh Samui, Koh Pha-ngan, and Koh Tao in Surat Thani province.

He said he came to inspect the safety regulations in place as tourism in Thailand picks up following eased travel restrictions, with rising numbers of Brits taking trips to the Southeast Asia country.

He also thanked Thai officials for providing 'good assistance' to the more than one million British tourists visiting Thailand before the pandemic.

However, Gooding also noted that many British tourists were violating local traffic rules by not wearing helmets when they hire motorcycles - leading to tragic 'GoFundMe' cases of injured Brits in hospitals.

The diplomat also pointed out the lax rental motorcycle industry, which allows foreign visitors to rent vehicles without a valid driver's license.

Chusak Ruying, Surat Thani deputy governor, said provincial governments including Surat Thani have been ordered to provide 'the best protection' for all tourists.

He claimed that many accidents were caused by the tourists' unfamiliarity with routes, causing them to become lost in forested areas or fall from heights. He added that some rowdy holidaymakers deliberately ignore the helmet mandate.

Gooding said he agreed with the measures taken by authorities. He said most of the accidents happened to young foreign tourists who don't have life insurance.

He said the British Embassy is prepared to encourage British tourists to follow the local laws, while also calling for stricter enforcement from Thai officials.