Phuket News
Phuket news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s top island destination. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Phuket news source.
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Phuket police seize 7,568 ya bah pills
PHUKET: Police seized 7,568 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills in Phuket and arrested 117 people in connection with drug offenses, statistics for the July 1 to 25 period show. Of the 117 arrested, 56 were held for possession of ya bah, 22 for sniffing glue or paint thinners, 29 for possession of marijuana; nine for possession of krathom, an indigenous plant…
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Phuket tourism leaders tour Suvarnabhumi airport
PHUKET, BANGKOK: Following the inaugural flight from Phuket International Airport (PIA) to Thailand’s new Suvarnabhumi Airport on Saturday, key representatives of Phuket tourism businesses and the Provincial Government called on the central government to expand the major domestic airports throughout Thailand.With some 20 VIPs and members of the media from Phuket on board, Thai Airways International (THAI) flight TG 1882…
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Rearing to go
KATA: The infamously steep stretch of Patak Rd climbing out of Kata toward Chalong claimed another victim today – a truck laden with concrete slabs.No one was hurt when the load slipped off the end of the truck, but it was a couple of hours before a crane, brought in to offload the cargo, cleared it all to the side…
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PGTV News Monday 31st July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this today features an update on the third annual Evason Phuket Raceweek, news on a new ferry service between Phuket and Koh Yao and looks at Muslim head scarves. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features a documentart about volunteers in Phuket. PGTV, produced by the Phuket Gazette, is…
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American fugitive held in Phuket
PHUKET (Gazette, Nation): An alleged pedophile wanted in the United States was arrested in Phuket yesterday morning after laying low in Thailand for five years.In cooperation with Interpol, United States Homeland Security and other agencies, Thai police tracked down and apprehended fugitive Charles Todd Stokes, 45, in a hotel room in Cherng Talay, Phuket Tourist Police Inspector Pol Maj Bundit…
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Duncanson keeps perfect record
PHUKET: Australian Scott Duncanson, a former junior world sailing champion, has a perfect record so far in this year’s Evason Phuket Race Week with five wins from the first five races.Duncanson, aboard the Phuket 8 Somtam Express in the sportsboat racing class, is ahead of another Phuket 8, Josh Lee’s Lee Marine Vino, with Wade Lewis’ Team Simpson Marine –…
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PGTV News Friday 28th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening meets the recently elected president of the Phuket Tourist Association and discovers their goals for the coming years, looks at Phuket’s pilot E-Government programme and learns more about Phuket’s Heroine’s Monument. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with Phuket photographer Dan Miles. PGTV, produced…
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Draft dive industry rules revealed
PHUKET: Provincial authorities have distributed to dive operators in Phuket a draft of new regulations governing the licensing of dive businesses. Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura has given the parties concerned seven days to reply with comments or suggestions about the regulations. The draft regulations, in Thai language, are divided into three parts. One part covers environmental concerns and protection of…
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Race Week gets off to flying start
PHUKET (The Nation): Good winds of up to 20 knots gave the third annual Evason Phuket Race Week a great start as the first day’s racing got underway off Rawai yesterday.More than 30 boats, a record number for the regatta, started in almost perfect sailing conditions off The Evason Phuket, with the wind averaging about 14 knots, gusting to 20…
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PGTV News Thursday 27th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening looks at the recently erected Kamala Tsunami Memorial, runs a story about an american caught with drugs, visits the new TAT Office and exposes credit card fraud here in Phuket. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with expats who not only speak Thai but…
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PGTV News Wednesday 26th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features updates on recent road shows to promote Phuket abroad, a story about the opening of the “Happy Home” in Patong, the results of recent local elections and we sample the wares of an egg and peanut lady. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features a documentary about…
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American, 64, held on drugs charges
PATONG: Kathu Police on Saturday arrested American Michael Feldstein, 64, for possession of illegal drugs, after a search of the man’s apartment uncovered a variety of “recreational” drugs – including ya bah (methamphetamine).Kathu Police Deputy Inspector Pol Lt Patak Khwunna told Gazette that Feldstein, an engineer, had been under suspicion for about a month before his arrest. At around 7…
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TAT opens new office in Phuket
PHUKET CITY: The Tourism Authority of Thailand opened its new Region 4 branch office on Saturday with an opening ceremony presided over by caretaker Tourism and Sports Minister Pracha Maleenont.The 14-million-baht office is a bright orange, two-story edifice built in the Sino-Portuguese style and located on one rai of government land next to Queen Sirikit Park on Thalang Rd. It…
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Banker warns of boom in fake cards in Phuket
PHUKET: A senior banker has warned that there has been a dramatic rise in the number of counterfeit credit cards and ATM cards in Phuket and other tourism centers, such as Chiang Mai and Haad Yai. Prayootd Tansrisuwarn, Senior Vice President of Kasikorn Bank’s Retail and SME E-Business Department, told the Gazette that gangs of con artists are using “skimmer”…
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Phuket to lead Thailand in e-government
PHUKET: An Internet website offering one-stop service from 15 private-sector and government bodies will be launched in Phuket in September, making the province the first in Thailand to offer such a service. The initiative, known as “One Click Finish All: One Stop Services”, is being designed by the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA).When operational the website will give access to…
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Phuket-Koh Yao ferry service launching soon
KOH YAO: Sea Canoe Thailand Co is to launch a new ferry service between Phuket, Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai next month, with two round-trip crossings a day, beginning August 13.The company has invested 6.5 million baht in the project, to be served by a 200-seat ferryboat, the Pachcharat One. The ferry will leave Mah Noh pier on…
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PGTV News Monday 24th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features updates on local accident statistics and the airport transport problems, a story about the minimum wage and a trip to a butterfly farm. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features a documentary on beliefs and superstitions. PGTV, produced by the Phuket Gazette, is aired daily on…
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Kathu voters elect new OrBorJor member
KATHU: Charnsak Phummak has won the Phuket Provincial Council by-election held in the Kathu area of District 2 on July 22. K. Charnsak now becomes a member of the council until the end of its four-year term in March, 2008.The by-election was held to replace former council member Boonma Eabsub, who resigned on June 1. Of 7,371 eligible voters in…
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Kamala tsunami memorial unveiled
KAMALA, PHUKET: Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop this morning officially unveiled the tsunami memorial in Kamala.Kamala was one of the two towns in Phuket worst hit by the December 26, 2004, tsunami, the other being Patong.The memorial, which forms the centerpiece of a new park in the town, is a 10-meter-high metal sculpture called Jitt Jakawan (Heart of the…
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PGTV News Friday 21st July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features an update on the proposed Tsunami Memorial in Khao Lak which has received official approval, a look at how mob tactics may have worked to prevent further road accidents in Khor En, and we look at how english is being taught to officials to help them in their daily tasks. In addition to these…
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Road deaths dip in June
PHUKET: Sixteen people died in traffic accidents in Phuket in June, according to official figures obtained from Vachira Phuket, Thalang and Patong government hospitals. This was slightly less than the monthly average of 18 deaths for the year to date.Of the 16 dead, 15 died in motorcycle accidents. The remaining death came in an accident involving a bicycle. During the…
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PGTV News Thursday 20th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features an update on the proposed Chalong-Patong highway, a look at how mobile phone numbers will be increased to ten digits, music from a famous Tibetan monk and musician and a story about how changing a flower’s name made it popular. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show…
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Gov calls meeting for dive industry regulation
PHUKET: Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura will convene a public hearing to discuss impending changes aimed at regulating the island’s dive industry, some members of which have come under suspicion of evading taxes and employing foreign nationals without work permits.Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Nivit Aroonrat told the Gazette on July 18 that the Governor has accepted the general concept of…
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PGTV News Wednesday 19th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features the latest information on the earthquake and tsunami in Java, a report on a large drugs bust in Phuket, advise on getting a dog and a trip to the Saphan Hin Flower fair. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features a documentary about hydroponics and gardening…
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Mobile phone numbers to change
PHUKET: Mobile phone users will be giving their thumbs a serious workout between September 1 and November 30 as the country switches from nine-digit mobile numbers to 10-digit ones.The change, which will not apply to land lines, will be brought about by adding the number 8 after the initial zero. For example, a mobile number beginning with 01 will be…
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Gov backs Chalong-Patong highway
PHUKET CITY: Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura has thrown his weight behind a proposal to build a 206-million-baht six-lane highway linking Patong with Chalong.At a meeting held today at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, Governor Udomsak explained that the highway would be 4.5 kilometers long and would follow the route of the current two-lane road leading to Wat Luang Phu Supha in…
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Police arrest school-run mum, seize 6,000 ya bah pills
PHUKET CITY: Police yesterday stopped a 25-year-old woman after she dropped her daughter off at Kajornkietsuksa School on Pattana Rd, and searched her car. In it they discovered 3,000 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills. She was also found to have 63,000 baht in her possession.Pol Col Phuwadol Vudduccanok, Deputy Superintendent of Phuket City Police Station, yesterday named the woman as Aroonporn…
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More direct flights to Phuket
PHUKET: The island’s tourism industry received a shot in the arm this week with the announcement by one of Denmark’s largest travel agencies that it will add two additional direct charter flights to Phuket weekly, starting in November, because current flights are already fully booked. Krabi received good news as well, with Singapore-based low-cost carrier Tiger Airways announcing that it…
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Jungceylon underway again
PATONG: After a lull of five months, construction of the huge Jungceylon mall project in Patong is once more underway, with the mall’s new owners saying that much of it will be open for business in November or December.Suchad Chiaranussati, Managing Director of Recap, which in February bought 95% of Phuket Square, which in turn owns Jungceylon, said that the…
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PGTV News Friday 14th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening finds features a story about four new libraries being built in Phuket, a look at two fairs and the Hotel exhibition and a tasty visit to one of the island’s Thai cooking schools. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with a local transexual. PGTV,…
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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