News
Stay up-to-date with the latest news from across Thailand and beyond with The Thaiger. Our dedicated team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from this stunning part of the world, covering a diverse range of topics, including local politics, business, culture, and tourism. Keep yourself informed about the Kingdom’s rich history, stunning landscapes, and thriving expat communities, as well as updates on events, attractions, and transportation.
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If you’re an expat living in Thailand, you’ve likely experienced the complexity of navigating healthcare abroad. With Black Friday rolling in, it’s the perfect time to secure a health insurance plan that provides peace of mind and a safety net...
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Try your best at Laguna Tri-Fest
PHUKET: This year’s Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest (CLPTF) will once again see world champions compete for a slice of the race’s 25,000-euro prize purse. Following the success of its inaugural event in 2013 and the second edition last year, the iconic multi-sport, week-long event is set to take place again, with the 22nd Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT) on November 22…
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Filipino fugitives to be deported
PHUKET: Two of the Philippines’ most wanted’ fugitives were handed over to Phuket Immigration last night for deportation, Lt Col Jamroon Plaiduang confirmed today. Joel Reyes, former governor of Palawan, and his brother, Mario JR Reyes, former mayor of Coron, were arrested in Phuket on Sunday. The pair are wanted for the 2011 murder of environmental activist Gerry Ortega (story…
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Navy tables limits for island tourism
PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy tabled the idea of limiting the number of tourists to islands in the Andaman region, including Phi Phi Don, in order to promote environmental sustainability. “We are concerned that not enough is being done to preserve our nation’s environment, which is essential to the tourism industry,” said Sayan Prasongsamrej, commander of the Royal Thai Navy…
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China’s ‘fake’ Apple stores thrive ahead of new iPhone launch
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community China’s ‘fake’ Apple stores thrive ahead of new iPhone launch Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: On a bustling street in China’s southern boom town of Shenzhen, more than 30 storescarrying Apple Inc’s iconic white logos peddle pre-orders for the new iPhone, a gadget that has become…
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China-based social media to unlock door to FIT Chinese
PHUKET: Key Opinion Leaders (KOL) and Chinese-based social media applications are the key to unlocking access to the high-end Free Independent Travellers (FIT) for Phuket, experts told a packed room at the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Thailand seminar last week. The in-bound Chinese market for Thailand is booming with more arrivals between January and June this year than all…
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Indonesia starts legal action against 4 companies linked to SE Asia haze
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Indonesia starts legal action against 4 companies linked to SE Asia haze Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Indonesia has ordered four companies to suspend operations for causing forest fires thatsent smoke across a large swathe of Southeast Asia, an Indonesian Environment Ministry official said on Tuesday.…
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Thailand adopts new six-month multiple-entry tourist visa
PHUKET: In a move to boost tourism and drive the economy, Thailand has officially announced that it will start offering six-month multiple-entry tourist visas (METV) starting November 13. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official website notes that the visas will cost 5,000 baht and will grant travellers multiple entries during a six-month stay, for up to 60 days per entry.…
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Ammonia leak scares Rawai locals
PHUKET: After a string of complaints, municipality officials found that a water plant in Rawai had been leaking ammonia into the main canal on Sunday. Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos received complaints from locals on Saturday, claiming that they suffered itchy eyes and sore noses after a strong ammonia smell was allegedly coming from The Crystal Drinking Water plant. “By the…
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Andara’s new project bags 4 awards
PHUKET: Further entrenching the Andara brand on the island is the sweeping of four awards for the developer’s latest entry in Kamala, Andara Signature Resorts and Villas, at the Thailand Property Awards 2015 last week. Building up on the huge success of the 26 Andara Villas and 37 Andara Residences, the new phase was named Best Villa Development (Phuket); Best…
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Missing IUU vessel now chased internationally
PHUKET: The ongoing search for the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing vessel that slipped through the fingers of Phuket officials earlier this month (story here) is now the subject of an international pursuit, confirmed Vice Admiral Sayan Prasongsamrej, commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command yesterday. “As soon as we received the report that the vessel had…
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Local cycling team takes top honors
PHUKET: The Phuket-based cycling group Team Fourteen won the 40 kilometer Team Time Trial held in Surat Thani on Sunday. Daniel Amby, Greg Dick, Sunny Teerasak and Jonathan Fowler completed the out-and-back flat course in a time of 54:40 with an average speed of 44.23km/h. A total of 29 teams from throughout Thailand competed in the event, which was sponsored…
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Officials reveal plans for Surin beachfront makeover
PHUKET: Cherng Talay Administration Organization (OrBorTor) President Ma-ann Samran has revealed his dream project for Surin’s beachfront after the current land encroachment cases have been settled. “Originally I planned to have a public park, activity space and a walkway, as well as a stadium,” Mr Ma-ann said. “The plan was submitted to the governor several months ago with an estimated…
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Video Report: Phuket guides demand action
PHUKET: About one hundred tour guides descended upon Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong today, demanding that they be allowed to partake in the investigation into illegal tour guides and that the governor evaluate the performance of the current director of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) Phuket Office. “We are following up on promises made last year about foreign tour…
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Property Watch: Pitfalls in Thai property market
PHUKET: Inevitably I have seen a fair amount of unethical and immoral behavior in Phuket connected to my work and the experiences of clients. This, combined with the huge changes in the Phuket business, infrastructure, development and demographics, has led me to conduct a quick mental check on where we stand in Phuket when it comes to morals, and how…
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A Decade Ago: Water woes, camel toes
PHUKET: Water woes – how many times has the Gazette used that headline in the last ten years? Well, it soaked through page one again as Phuket’s sole public reservoir in 2005 was ‘down to [its] last few drops’. Not too long ago, when those of us currently on the island were knee deep in flood waters, we found out…
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New 3D smartphone app aims to help tourists – but not in Phuket
PHUKET: Thailand’s Tourist Police launched a new smartphone application last week in hopes of improving service and convenience for tourists – but not for those on the tourist island of Phuket. The augmented reality application, ‘Thailand Tourist Trips and Tips AR Book’, enables tourists to use their smartphones to learn about the basics of Thai culture; to get tips on…
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First Person: Helping Patong’s growth
Preechavude ‘Prab’ Keesin, 39, a Patong native, is best known as the Managing Director of the Pisona Group. He attended Kasetsart University in Bangkok where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. He now holds a PhD in public administration from Phuket Rajabhat University. Here he talks about the changes needed for Patong to move forward and meet the demands…
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Phuket air pollution warning lifted
PHUKET: Officials have lifted an air quality health warning for the island after the haze caused by Indonesian wildfires decreased yesterday. “Air pollution levels dropped to an average of 94 micrograms per cubic meter for the last 24-hour period,” Pornsri Suthanarak, director of the Regional Environmental Office, told the Phuket Gazette. On Saturday, air pollution on the island maintained levels…
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“Stinky Squid’ shroom to bring good luck, says local
PHUKET: Locals believe that the rare ‘stinky squid’ mushroom they discovered in a jasmine pot after making merit in Chalong yesterday morning will bring them good luck. “My family and I had just returned to from Wat Chalong, and I was watering the plants when I saw the mushroom. It looked so weird to me: it was like a squid…
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Island View: Market for creativity
PHUKET: Having just moved to Phuket Old Town from Bangkok a couple of months ago, the huge difference between the great metropolis and this petite community is unavoidably on my mind. Of all its charming features, particularly the Sino-Portuguese architecture which harks back to the island’s long history, it is the Lard Yai Sunday Walking Street market which really delights…
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Illegal Phuket gun dealing conducted in closed Facebook groups
PHUKET: Closed groups on social media platforms are facilitating a boom in illegal factory built and homemade firearms, confirmed the head of the Phuket City Police this week. “A decade ago, people would need the know-how or a special connection to get their hands on a firearm. But now, with Google and YouTube, as well as social media, such as…
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Haze prompts officials to issue health warning
PHUKET: Phuket officials issued a health warning today, after air pollution on the island maintained levels above the public safety standard for the last 24 hours. “Phuket’s air pollution level has continuously been above 120 micrograms per cubic meter for a 24-hour period,” Pornsri Suthanarak, director of the Regional Environmental Office, told the Phuket Gazette. According to their research, Phuket…
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No health warning issued for Phuket haze
PHUKET: The Regional Environmental Office has yet to issue a health warning for the thick Indonesian haze that settled over Phuket today. However, the current air conditions on the island have raised concern among experts despite it being deemed safe. “We are monitoring it very carefully,” Pornsri Suthanarak, the director of the Regional Environmental Office told the Phuket Gazette. “We…
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Locals take road safety measures into own hands
PHUKET: Four local men used money from their own pockets to help fix dangerous sections of the bypass road near the Samkong underpass construction site yesterday. Kanin Raksaraj, Jiradet Sawatjan, Somsak Juapsri and Suthisak Srikong bought two bags of asphalt, costing 350 baht, to fix the road. “We have seen so many accidents happen over and over again on the…
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Movie museum to break ground in November
PHUKET: The island’s first-ever “movie museum” is expected to break ground in November, according to local officials. “The Department of Tourism will be leading the project,” Santi Pawai, director of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Phuket office, told the Phuket Gazette today. “The contract has been signed and the work is expected to start in November and be completed…
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Police: New governor likely to act on Surin Beach encroachment
PHUKET: Police expect Chamroen Tipayapongtada, who will be the governor of Phuket as of October 1, to strongly back their efforts to evict a number of Surin Beach clubs and businesses that are allegedly encroached on public land. “I don’t think it will take long once the new governor takes charge. He was previously a vice governor for the province…
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Patong requests expansion of entertainment zone
PHUKET: Nightlife venue operators have requested an expansion of the Patong entertainment zone in a letter to the Ministry of Interior that also requested a change for the closing time of their bars and clubs. The letter, which was supported by the Kathu District Office, Patong Entertainment Business Association and a number of private nightlife venue owners, was sent after…
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Lifeguards issue warning against marine activities
PHUKET: Lifeguards issued a marine activities warning to tourists and island residence following the death of a teen fisherman whose body was recovered yesterday evening (story here). “Rough seas claimed another life this year. I urge everyone to avoid marine activities of any type, especially swimming and fishing, during these current weather conditions,” said Kata-Karon Chief Lifeguard Uten Singsom. Mr…
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Phuket lifeguards recover missing teen’s body
PHUKET: Lifeguards have recovered the body of a missing teen off Kata Beach yesterday evening. Boonchiaw Thongdonmuang, 18, was fishing with friends on a rock outcrop known as ‘Laem Fa‘ when he was struck by a large wave and taken out to sea Wednesday afternoon (story here). “His body was brought to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where relatives identified him,” confirmed…
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Business Buzz: Don’t forget the database
PHUKET: Almost every business these days has at least some form of website and social media presence. What still amazes me, though, is how few are creating a database – which is actually their biggest asset. Simple Marketing 101 suggests you need potential customers to make a sale. And the easiest way to get potential customers is to create a…
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