Koh Larn speedboat operators brawl over passengers, prices

A brawl erupted between two groups of speedboat operators on Koh Larn, Thailand, on August 27, reportedly stemming from a long-standing dispute over passenger competition and price undercutting. The conflict was captured on video and shared on social media, displaying men arguing and exchanging punches on a beach road at Tawaen Beach in Na Kluea subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province.

The operators involved were said to be serving the Pattaya to Koh Larn route, with one group based on Koh Larn and another originating from Pattaya. The two sides had been in contention for some time before the altercation. Following the incident, some Koh Larn operators expressed concern over the violence, stating that disputes between operators were damaging the island’s reputation and called for better regulation by Pattaya City officials to prevent further conflicts and safeguard the island’s tourism image.