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.
The Thaiger is your essential resource for staying connected with Thailand’s captivating blend of tradition and modernity. To remain in the loop with the country’s most trusted news source, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.
-
Sponsored
Infinito helps hotels in Thailand with revenue management
Maximising revenue and profit–isn’t that the ultimate goal for every business in the hospitality industry? If you run a hotel, you might have heard that revenue management is an effective way to boost your top-line revenue. It involves using data...
-
Phuket Immigration to open Saturdays
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Immigration Office is to extend its service hours by opening Saturdays from 8:30 am until midday and staying open during the lunch hour on weekdays.Pol Capt Krissarat Nusen of the Phuket Immigration Office told the Gazette that the new hours for the office, in Phuket City, came into force on Saturday (June 18).“From Mondays to Fridays…
-
Deputy PM checks on stalled relief funds
PHUKET: Six months after the tsunami, local people in the stricken areas are still asking the same question; “When will we receive our compensation?” The man given the job of answering that question, Deputy Prime Minister Vissanu Kreangam, appointed by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as chairman of the Tsunami Victim Administration, came to the region on June 18 for a…
-
Tsunami “causes rise in piracy’
PHUKET: The national commander of the Marine Police, Pol Maj Gen Suraphol Thuanthong, visited Phuket on June 18 to discuss ways of protecting vessels going through the Straits of Malacca from pirate attacks, which he said have become more frequent since the tsunami.Gen Suraphol explained, “We don’t really have accurate statistics, because not all cases are reported, but I think…
-
Police booth demolished after fire
PHUKET: A police booth at the intersection of Patipat Rd and Ranong Rd has been demolished after being badly damaged in a fire at 3 am on Saturday.Phuket City Police Station Superintendant Col Paween Pongsirin discounted rumours that the fire had been started by vandals, or by a bomb placed by gangsters. He told the Gazette it was thought the…
-
“Bike racer’ found dead in hotel
PHUKET CITY: The body of a 45-year-old New Zealander was discovered in a room at the Phuket Merlin Hotel on June 19, in what police believe was a case of suicide.Terrance Hicks, from Auckland, was found dead at 3 pm, surrounded by discarded pill containers, Pol Lt Thivakorn Kongpeth of Phuket City Police Station told the Gazette.Investigators estimate that Mr Hicks took…
-
May sees decrease in road deaths
PHUKET CITY: Official figures from Wachira, Thalang and Patong hospitals, as well as Phuket International and Ruampaet private hospitals show 10 people died in motorcycle accidents on Phuket’s roads during May.In addition, two people were killed in car accidents.The figures represent a decrease of 45% on those for April when 22 people died in Phuket – 18 on motorcycles and three in…
-
Japanese club together to boost Phuket
PHUKET CITY: The number of Japanese tourists visiting Phuket is recovering – albeit slowly because of misperceptions and feelings of guilt about visiting the tsunami disaster region. Now, to give the island’s image a boost in Japan, a “Japanese Love Thais” festival is to be held June 25 at the Royal Phuket City Hotel.Phuket Japanese Association President Kazushi Miyashita said…
-
Tsunami aid payouts top B1bn
PHUKET CITY: The new chief of the Phuket Provincial Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (ODPM), Boonchai Somjai, yesterday released figures showing that, so far, more than a billion baht has been spent in Phuket on helping people recover from the December 26 tsunami.K. Boonchai, who took up the position of Phuket ODPM chief on Thursday, said that aid from…
-
Gov airs ideas to boost Phuket
PHUKET CITY: Almost six months after the tsunami, Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura is hoping to turn the first anniversary of the disaster into a major public relations coup for the island.At his weekly CEO meeting, Gov Udomsak unveiled a “wish list” of promotional events aimed at attracting the world’s attention. An international beach volleyball competition, a property show, and cancellation of…
-
Change of plan delays completion of park
PHUKET CITY: Because of a change of plan, part of a 40-million-baht park being built in honour of HM Queen Sirikit remains a muddy wasteland five months after the main part was finished.Under the original plans, six rai of the 10-rai site, on the south side of Dibuk Rd, was earmarked for the Queen’s Park; three rai was set aside…
-
Visa fee exemptions aimed at wooing tourists
PHUKET CITY: Tourists from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan are being exempted from paying visa fees for Thailand as part of the ongoing attempt to revive tourism after the tsunami.In addition to the government waiving the 1,000-baht visa fee until October this year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is working with Thai Airways to put together a 3,500-baht mid-week…
-
Fake goods make a real good fire
PHUKET CITY: Some 180,300 items of counterfeit goods, worth an estimated 37 million baht, went up in smoke in a mass burning at the solid waste incinerator at Saphan Hin on Tuesday.Presiding over the incineration was Pol Lt Gen Boonrith Rattanaporn, Assistant Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, accompanied by Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura and Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwannasuppana.Also…
-
Rabbiting abbot
SARABURI: Ever wonder why clergy refer to non-clerics as “laypersons”? Perhaps it’s because those who are not in the priesthood seem to find it easier to get laid. But 59-year-old Phra Prapat Thammarat, Abbot of Wat Rongsaeng in Nongkhae District, apparently didn’t view his position as temple head as any reason not to bring his girlfriend back to his temple…
-
Tsunami alarm system nearly complete
PHUKET: Patong, Kamala and Karon will all have world-standard tsunami alarm systems once the tsunami warning satellite receiver at the Tsunami and Disaster Center (TDC) in Nonthaburi is online.The link is expected to be activated within the coming week.Chairat Sukbal, Deputy Mayor of Patong, told the Gazette that the tsunami alarm system at Patong is ready for connection to the…
-
Phuket gets boost at Le Mans
LE MANS, FRANCE: The message that Phuket is still a tropical paradise, and very much open for business, will be taken to a worldwide audience of motor racing fans next weekend, emblazoned along the side of one of the powerful cars racing in the famed Le Mans 24 Hours race.The car has been entered by Kruse Motorsport, whose Team Director,…
-
Chalong police in corruption probe
PHUKET CITY: Pol L/Cpl Panya Dee-On and his superior officer, Pol Lt Col Peerapan Meemak, of Chalong Police Station, have been temporarily transferred to police regional headquarters in Surat Thani pending investigation of allegations that they accepted a bribe from Supa Nilwadee, a female construction foreman in Rawai.Thai TV station iTV on Wednesday last week broadcast footage showing L/Cpl Panya…
-
Belgian beauties help tsunami victims
PHUKET: Bang Tao Beach has had more than its fair share of glamor in the past few days as Miss Belgium Beauty 2005, Cynthia Reekmans, along with models Sasja Beullens and Kathleen Claes, posed for fashion photographer Henk Van Cauwenbergh in the shooting of the annual Showbizz calendar.Brigitta Callens, Miss Belgium 1999, and make-up artist, told the Gazette that the Showbizz…
-
Similan Islands closure reminder
PHUKET: The Head of the Similan Islands National Park has issued a reminder that the national park remains closed for the monsoon season, after a diveboat chartered for government research sank during a storm. Witthaya Hongwiangchan said that, as was the case every year, the park is closed from May 15 to November 15. He explained, “The southwest monsoon causes…
-
Airport boss uneasy over zero landing fees
PHUKET (Gazette/The Nation): The Director of Phuket International Airport has expressed reservations over a proposal to waive landing fees until the end of this year in an attempt to boost post-tsunami tourism.Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Thepsuthin told reporters last week that lifting landing fees at Phuket and Krabi airports could help in the recovery of tourism in the two…
-
Governor lays out strategy for war on “taxi mafia’
PHUKET CITY: Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura has unveiled more plans for cleaning up taxi and tuk-tuk services and reducing the influence of the island’s “taxi mafia”.The Governor said the number of “limousines” allowed to operate from Phuket International Airport should be limited to 50-60 vehicles. All should be Mercedes Benz cars, Toyota Camrys or Volvos, no more than five years old,…
-
Dragonair to close Phuket office
PHUKET: In another indication of the sad state of tourism on the island, Hong Kong-based Dragonair has announced that it will close its Phuket City office, on Phang Nga Rd, on June 15.Sutthisak Pungtamawatthanakun, Manager of Dragonair Phuket, explained that flights between Hong Kong and Phuket were suspended on January 5 due to the “post tsunami effect” and that unrest…
-
Writer recalls last moments of doomed diveboat
PHUKET: Gazette diving writer Chris Cruz has described the dramatic moments before the dive boat he was on capsized and sank during a heavy storm on Tuesday, leaving a Thai woman dead.The 24-meter Bubble Blue, with 18 people on board, was several hours into the seven-hour journey from Chalong port to the Similan Islands when it was caught in bad…
-
Phuket to host gay festival rejected by Singapore
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura has given the green light for the province to host Asia’s largest gay and lesbian festival, the Nation Party, after the organizers’ application for a license to hold the annual event in Singapore was turned down. The three-day festival will now be held in Phuket, starting November 4.The festival, organized by the website Fridae.com,…
-
No leads in mystery woman’s murder
PHUKET CITY: Police have yet to identify an Asian woman found murdered near Sri Suchart Grand View 2 housing estate, off the bypass road, on March 22.Pol Maj Aikasit Pinkaew told the Gazette that, because of the condition of the corpse when it was found, investigators were not even sure whether the woman was Thai. Police believe she died three…
-
Maid of money
PHUKET CITY: A woman who, in a three-year spree, allegedly robbed at least 15 homes of as much as 570,000 baht apiece, has been caught in a police sting.The woman, named as Jirapa “Ying” Pasomsub, 34, from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, got into the homes by answering advertisements for a maid. Once in a home she would work for a few…
-
Diveboat sinks: one dead
PHUKET: One person died when a diveboat capsized and sank 40 kilometers off the coast of Phuket in a storm this morning.The 24-meter liveaboard boat Bubble Blue, from the Khao Lak-based dive business of the same name, was travelling from Phuket to the Similan Islands to carry out a survey of coral reefs when it was hit by a four-meter…
-
Storm forces flights to turn back
PHUKET: Driving rain and strong winds forced several scheduled flights to abort their landings at Phuket International Airport this morning.An officer at Phuket International Airport, who spoke to the Gazette on condition of anonymity, said that the strong winds forced pilots of four flights to abort their landings at the airport because they were not confident that it was safe…
-
Pelé and Cantona to visit Phuket
PHUKET: The island will play host on July 28 to a charity beach soccer match, which will be attended by soccer giants Edson Arantes do Nascimento – better known as Pelé – and Eric Cantona.The announcement was made by Somsak Thepsuthin, Minister of Sports and Tourism, who visited the island to watch the Phuket round of the 1st ASEM (Asia…
-
Monk war
NONG KHAI: A dispute over alms collection routes turned violent when three novices from Chansamakee Temple were set upon by an armed gang of monks and novices from a rival temple. Police were notified of the “Monk War” on the morning of May 29. Arriving on the scene at the Kokmang-ngao community in Tambon Meechai, they found 17-year-old novice Vitthaya…
-
209 arrested in May for gambling
PHUKET CITY: Gambling topped the Phuket Provincial Police list of arrests made between May 1 and May 30, with 209 people taken into custody.Of the arrests, 10 were for involvement in illegal lottery operations while the other 199 were held for what the police describe as “other” gambling.Possession of illegal drugs resulted in 80 arrests – down from 93 in…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.