Phuket News
Discover the latest news and updates from Thailand’s most famous and beautiful island, The Thaiger’s hometown, having previously operated as the Phuket Gazette.
Our team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from Phuket, covering everything from local politics and business to lifestyle and tourism. Learn about the island’s stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and thriving expat community, as well as keeping updated on events, and attractions.
The Thaiger is your ultimate guide to staying connected with Phuket’s ever-evolving landscape. To keep up with the most reliable news source on the island, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.
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Blazing drama: Phuket boat blaze leaves captain burnt out
A fire erupted aboard a Phuket tourist boat leaving the captain nursing injuries and igniting a full-blown investigation. The Phuket Marine Office got the alarming call at 10.35am today, October 3, about the Flamingo Lady 2 tour catamaran going up in flames, sending shockwaves and panic rippling down the Andaman coast. The vessel, which had just dropped off 22 tourists…
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Phuket’s veggie fest: A taste of tradition that’s un-beet-able
The enchanting atmosphere of Phuket’s iconic Vegetarian Festival has officially started. Yesterday evening, October 2, the ceremonial raising of the Go Teng poles took centre stage at Chinese shrines across the island, heralding a nine-day celebration that promises to captivate both locals and visitors alike. At the heart of the festivities, thousands flocked to the Jui Tui Tao Bokeung Shrine…
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Chalong cops stage ‘active gunman’ drill amid festival fears
Shoppers at Chalong’s popular Robinson Lifestyle mall were left in shock as police staged a dramatic active gunman drill, simulating a gunman on the loose. A video, posted by Chalong Police on Tuesday, October 1, shows a man pulling up on a motorbike, wielding what looks like an assault rifle, before storming the mall in a mock mass shooting. As…
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Thailand’s wellness powerhouse: A health revolution in Phuket
BDMS Wellness Clinic has teamed up with Sri Panwa Phuket and Bangkok Hospital Phuket to create an unparalleled fusion of relaxation and medical excellence, as part of the ambitious Phuket Wellness Hub project. With wellness tourism projected to hit a staggering US$1.4 trillion (around 46 trillion baht) by 2027, and Thailand already ranking seventh globally with a market value of…
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Phuket outlines five-year sustainability development plan
Phuket advances with innovative efforts that integrate community-based tourism, gastronomy, and smart city solutions as part of a five-year development plan for sustainable growth. Suphon Suwannarat, the governor of Phuket Province, highlights the long-term vision. “We have a 20-year development goal for Phuket province, which is Phuket as a city of the new economy based on sustainable development to create…
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Phuket scoops top awards in time for Vegetarian Festival
Phuket is proving it’s not just a holiday hotspot but a global player in events, as it bagged two major honours at the 2024 IFEA/Haas & Wilkerson Pinnacle Awards in the US. The Thai island, renowned for its stunning beaches, was crowned World Festival and Event City, and its iconic Vegetarian Festival snatched the prestigious Grand Pinnacle award. These accolades…
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AoT seeks extension in 11.8 million baht corruption case
Airports of Thailand (AoT) has sought additional time to provide evidence to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) regarding allegations of corruption involving an 11.8 million baht (US$362,500) contract at Phuket International Airport. The contract, intended for posting stickers commemorating His Majesty The King, is under scrutiny for possible irregularities. The NACC’s Phuket office is examining budget allocation, median price determination,…
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Mother seeks justice after teen daughter attacked in Phuket
A mother has taken action after her 13 year old daughter was lured from their home and violently attacked by seven individuals in Phuket. The 40 year old mother, reported the incident to Wichit Police, detailing that it took place around 4.30pm on September 29. According to her, the daughter, Kai, was deceived by two acquaintances, identified as Fa and…
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Fire erupts at Phuket work camp, swift response averts disaster
A fire erupted at a work camp behind the Government Savings Bank in Phuket yesterday leading to a swift response from local officials. Police and firefighters were alerted to the incident around 11.14am, yesterday, September 30, by Samphan Somsakon, the owner of the house where the fire originated. Samphan explained that he had been charging a power bank inside the…
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Syrians arrested at Phuket Airport with fake passports
In a dramatic bust at Phuket International Airport yesterday, two Syrian men were arrested for attempting to enter Thailand with forged passports. The suspects, Abdulkarim and Mohamad, both aged 23, yesterday, September 30, travelled from Kuala Lumpur to Phuket on Batik Air Malaysia, flight OD540. They presented what appeared to be United Arab Emirates (UAE) passports—but they didn’t fool the sharp-eyed…
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Boozed-up Australian tourist grounded by Phuket Airport cops (video)
Dramatic footage has surfaced of a boozed-up Australian tourist being wrestled to the floor by armed police at Phuket International Airport in Thailand. The sauced-up traveller was waiting for his flight home on September 22 when chaos erupted after a waitress refused to serve him more alcohol at an airport bar. Clad in shorts and a T-shirt, the Aussie drunk…
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Concrete casualty: Driver crushed in Cherng Talay mixer mishap
In a devastating accident today at a Cherng Talay construction site, a concrete mixer truck driver lost his life when his vehicle overturned, trapping him underneath. Khannuch, from Phetchabun Province, met a tragic end after the ground gave way, causing his truck to topple into a 4-metre-deep pit. Cherng Talay police received an urgent distress call at approximately 11.10am and…
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Wire we in the dark? Heist leaves Phuket underpass powerless
In a shocking turn of events, brazen thieves have plunged the bustling Darasamut Underpass into chaos, swiping electrical wires from the control room and causing a temporary power outage earlier today. The sneaky heist came to light when a worker from the Phuket Highways Office alerted Wichit Police to the power failure striking the tunnel around 7.40am, today, September 30.…
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6 year old boy stripped naked and assaulted by 2 girls in Phuket
A grandmother is seeking compensation after a six year old Thai boy in Phuket was stripped naked and physically assaulted by two 12 year old girls. The girls claimed they were only playing a game of ghost exorcism. The 41-second video when the six year old boy was abused was shared on Thai social media on Saturday, September 28. In…
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Shock drama in Phuket: Man rescued after electrocution
Emergency services in Phuket leapt into action yesterday after a man was electrocuted and left dangling from a power pole in Soi Nai Thon 3, Sakhu. The alarming incident was reported to the Phuket Provincial Police emergency call centre around 9.10am, yesterday, September 29 via the 191 hotline. Officers from the Sakhu Police quickly rushed to the scene, situated outside…
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Foreign men vandalise Phuket restaurant, shatter windows and flee
Two foreign men vandalised a local restaurant in Phuket early this morning, September 30, shattering glass windows and causing distress among staff and nearby residents. The incidents occurred at the Birds Cafe Restaurant in Soi OrBorTor, Cherng Talay, and prompted a police investigation. The first act of vandalism took place at approximately 2.18am when a foreign man arrived on a…
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Phuket’s waste crisis worsens with tourist surge
Phuket grapples with a mounting waste crisis as tourism surges post-pandemic. The island’s waste disposal plant now receives 1,100 tonnes of garbage daily, a significant rise from 742 tonnes in 2022 and 961 tonnes last year, according to deputy governor Norasak Suksomboon. Norasak highlighted these challenges at the 25th Inter-Islands Tourism Policy Forum, where 150 global tourism leaders and policymakers…
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Kathu: Thai man shoots himself after affair argument
A 31 year old Thai man is fighting for his life in hospital after a shocking self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head during a heated argument with his wife over an affair at their Kathu condo last night, September 26. The late-night drama unfolded around 11pm, with police and rescue workers rushing to a condo on Phra Phuket Kaew Road…
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Pizza the action: Foreign man wreaks havoc at Phuket pizzeria
An unidentified foreign man went on a rampage in the Thalang district of Phuket in the early hours of this morning and physically assaulted the Thai owner of a pizza shop near Phuket International Airport. The Phuket Times reported on the incident today. The report included pictures of the injured Thai pizza shop owner, a damaged car and restaurant, as well…
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Phuket police cracks down on noisy bikes and rowdy teens
Phuket Provincial Police have ramped up efforts to tackle the nuisance of roaring motorbikes and unruly teens as the island gears up for the famous Vegetarian Festival and the peak tourist season. At a press conference held at Phuket City Police Station, Region 8 Police Commander Police Lieutenant General Surapong Thanomchit announced the ongoing campaign, spearheaded by Phuket Provincial Police…
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Ex-mayor of Kathu embroiled in corruption scandal
The former Mayor of Kathu Subdistrict Municipality has been indicted on corruption charges, with accusations of paying a road contractor before work was completed. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) Region 8 dropped the bombshell at a press conference yesterday, September 25 in Krabi, revealing widespread corruption across southern Thailand. Suchart Kruaykittanon, Assistant Secretary-General of the NACC, confirmed the charges. “The…
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Phuket water supply halted for essential repairs
Phuket residents face a water supply disruption in central areas from 9am to 5pm today, September 26 due to essential repairs, the Phuket Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) announced. The disruption is necessary to address reduced water pressure caused by a malfunctioning water pump raft. Affected areas include Srisoonthorn, Cherng Talay, Pa Khlok, Kamala, and Ratsada. Residents in these regions may…
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American man denies sexually assaulting 3 year old Thai girl in Phuket
An American man, suspected of sexually assaulting a three-year-old girl in the Rawai area of Phuket, firmly denied the accusations against him. However, police are adamant they have gathered enough evidence to warrant his arrest. The child sex abuse case came to light when a Thai man named Bao found the three year old girl crying in pain outside her…
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Eco-friendly castaway: Phuket hosts 25th ITOP Forum for sustainable island tourism
Phuket proudly hosts the 25th Inter-Islands Tourism Policy (ITOP) Forum, welcoming representatives from island destinations across the globe from September 24 to 27. With over 150 leaders and policymakers from tourism hubs such as Bali (Indonesia), Hainan (China), Jeju Island (South Korea), Okinawa (Japan), and Zanzibar (Tanzania), the event aims to foster collaboration and share strategies for sustainable tourism development…
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Police launch raids on popular nightlife venues on Bangla Road
In a bold move to clean up the streets of Patong, police and health officials are back in action, targeting Bangla Road’s nightlife hotspots with surprise drug tests. The high-stakes operation saw staff at multiple entertainment venues undergo random tests, aiming to ensure drug-free working environments in the heart of Phuket’s party scene. Patong Police, led by Chief Police Colonel…
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3 year old Thai girl sexually assaulted by foreign man in Phuket
An unidentified foreign man allegedly sexually assaulted a three year old Thai girl at her home in the Rawai district of Phuket in the early hours of Monday, September 23. The young victim suffered severe injuries to her private parts. A Thai man who lived near the victim’s home shared the story of the three year old victim with the…
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Phuket’s tourism boom set to break records this year
After a rocky few years post-Covid, Phuket is poised to smash its highest-ever revenue records in 2024, even if tourist numbers don’t quite hit pre-pandemic levels. Longer stays, higher spending and a shift in visitor profiles are key to this tourism boom, according to Rangsiman Kingkaew, Vice President of Strategy and Planning at the Phuket Tourist Association (PTA). Speaking at…
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Phuket’s roads get a makeover in time for Vegetarian Festival
Phuket Town is in a race against time to ensure its roads are smooth and festival-ready before the Phuket Vegetarian Festival kicks off next week. The city’s top brass is pulling out all the stops, with Deputy Mayor Suphot La-ongphet leading the charge on a series of urgent road resurfacing projects across key streets. Suphot was spotted inspecting Yaowarat Road…
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Pickup truck fire sparks alarm on Karon beachfront
A pickup truck fire sparked alarm among locals and tourists along the Karon beachfront yesterday, September 23. The blaze broke out around 12.10pm near the Thavorn Palm Beach Hotel. Firefighters from Karon Municipality, along with traffic police, swiftly responded, rushing to the location of the fire. They found a white Nissan pickup truck, registered in Phuket, with flames and smoke…
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Monsoon leaves Patong Beach littered with trash and plastic waste
Patong Beach has become heavily littered with trash and plastic waste as the southwestern monsoon continues to batter Phuket’s west coast. A large section of the beach was found covered in debris on Sunday afternoon, September 22, highlighting an ongoing environmental issue. A local expatriate, having lived in Phuket for approximately five years, described the situation along the northern part…
Phuket is a province in the south of Thailand. Phuket's beaches face the Andaman Sea allowing the west coast beaches fantastic sunsets right throughout the year. If you're looking for news in Phuket, go to thethaiger.com/phuket Or follow our instant news in our Facebook pages.
The good news is that Phuket is famous for its foodie scene with an enormously diverse range of local and international foods - Phuket and southern favorites, street food along with international choices catering for the 12 million visitors to the island each year. Thaiger follows Phuket news and information 24 hours a day with regular updates.
Phuket is only 'just' an island with a 300 metre bridge linking it to Thailand's mainland. We're always reporting in the news that the channel beneath is frequently dredged to maintain Phuket's status as an island. On the other side of Sarasin Bridge is the Province of Phang Nga.
Getting to Phuket is easy as the island has land, air and sea connections. Phuket is also used as a take-off point for local island trips as Thailand's largest island is surrounded by over 30 pristine islands. Koh Phi Phi and the famous Maya Bay are always in the news and would be the best known of the island's just off Phuket's shores.
Phuket is an island and a province. It's the largest island in Thailand – 48 km north to south, 21 km east to west.
It's about 20% smaller, in area, than Singapore but much less densely populated. Whilst the island nation of Singapore boasts a population of nearly 6 million, Phuket has a permanent population of around 400-450,000 (but varies a lot with the influx of tourists and a workforce that is always changing). Most of Phuket remains jungle and tropical rainforest despite an acceleration of development over the past 20 years.
Unlike some of Thailand's other popular islands (that are in the Gulf of Thailand), the news is that Phuket is located in the Andaman Sea.
Phuket is 878 km north of the equator.
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