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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Sponsored 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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Top 5 Phuket (and Thailand) hotel trends for 2019
by Bill Barnett Moving through high season in 2019, hoteliers are starting to look for strategies for the rest of the year in order to not be reliant only on volatile mass markets. The following is C9 Hotelworks read on key trends for the year. Pressure On Demand – Good Hotels Perform, Others Left Out Diving into the numbers, the reality is that…
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Phuket’s aircraft selfies to be moved from end of runway
PHOTO: Teerasak Saksritawee Phuket airport authorities are looking to restrict photography of aircraft from the northern end of Nai Yang beach, at the western end of the single Phuket International Airport runway. The beach has been a popular photo opportunity for visitors but is causing additional aviation safety concerns as the photography and airport traffic increase. Phuket Airport deputy director…
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Water restrictions on the agenda again as Phuket’s dams get low
The Phuket Water Authority, swinging wildly between ‘water restrictions’ and ‘there is plenty of water’, now says that water restrictions are again on the cards in a raft of suggestions being put to the Phuket Governor. The chief of the Provincial Waterworks Authority, Graisorn Mahamad, has raised the prospect of water restrictions (again) following the PM Prayut Chan-o-cha ordering water…
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Search continues for man who jumped from Sarasin Bridge in Phuket
The search for a Phuket man who jumped off the Sarasin Bridge yesterday is continuing. Kokkloi Police in Phang Nga were notified of the man who jumped from the Sarasin Bridge (southbound) yesterday early afternoon. Police and rescue workers arrived to find his Honda motorbike parked on the side of the bridge road. Nearby they found a pair of shoes. Rescue…
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Government considers blanket alcohol bans on April 13
There’s a 24 hour ban on alcohol on the weekend preceding AND the actual election weekend this month. And next month is Songkran with the Government mooting possible blanket bans on Songkran day, April 13. This year the Government says they want an alcohol ban on the biggest annual holiday for Thais. It’s also part of the week when there…
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UPDATE: Arrest warrant issued for Patong taxi driver killer
An arrest warrant has been issued for the taxi driver who shot dead a fellow driver in Patong yesterday morning. The Patong Police were notified of the incident at 10.20am at a taxi stand on Phra Metta Road in Patong. Read more about yesterday’s daylight murder HERE and an update HERE. The Phuket Provincial Police Investigator Chief Col Akanit Danpitaksard says, “At…
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Two more king cobras caught in Kathu, Phuket – VIDEO
PHOTOS: Pannakorn Pongpao/Kathu Rescue Foundation/Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation Two 3-5 five metre king cobras have been caught at a Burmese worker’s house in Kathu, close to where another of the large reptiles was caught last weekend. Read more about the first snake caught in and around the camp HERE. Kusoldharm Rescue workers were notified that a king cobra was discovered by a…
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Phuket hotels under pressure to perform
by Bill Barnett C9 Hotelworks Despite registering a record high 9 million passenger arrivals at the island’s gateway international airport in 2018, performance data is indicating that a slowdown in its double-digit growth rates over the past few years is on the horizon for Thailand’s resort destination of Phuket. While airport arrivals grew 8% year-on-year, the gains posted were at…
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Taxi driver shot dead over taxi queue disagreement in Patong
A taxi driver has been shot dead in Patong this morning. The Patong Police were notified of the incident at 10.20am at a taxi stand on Phra Metta Road in Patong. Patong Police report that the suspect’s shooter was 48 year old Paradorn Puchaiyan. The injured 46 year old Songpon Suwansa-ard was taken to Patong Hospital where he was pronounced…
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Drunk woman recovered from lagoon in Rassada
PHOTOS: Tan Promedic Phuket Police have reported that a drunk woman walked straight into a lagoon in Rassada last night. Rescue workers helped to bring her back to shore before she drowned. She was rambling about wanting to see a mythical creature. Kusoldharm rescue worker were notified at 10.30pm that someone had walked into the lagoon in Soi Paneang in…
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Three Chinese arrested for working as photographers in wedding shoot
Three foreigners have been arrested for illegally working as pre-wedding photographers and assistants in Chalong . Officers arrested three Chinese for illegally working as pre-wedding photographers at the Wat Chalong yesterday. The arrest follow officers receiving a tip-off that there were foreigners doing photos shoots for pre-wedding pics at the popular Chalong Temple. There were three couples who were having…
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Rawai luxury villas on ‘pause’ along Ao Sane beach
PHOTOS: Chatchanon Na Thalang Rawai Municipality have put a halt to the construction of the controversial luxury villas being constructed on the cliffs overlooking Ao Sane Beach. The municipal building officers say a pool and spa were found under construction, in contravention with the approved plans. Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos says, “the construction of four buildings, including a pool, is…
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Wanted Russian arrested after hiding in Phuket for four years
PHOTOS: Immigration Bureau A Russian man, wanted over illegal financial business dealings after hiding in Phuket for four years, has been arrested. The Immigration Bureau says that the suspect, 36 year old Alexey Dolzhenkov, a Russian national, was arrested last week. Immigration officers allege he was a broker who operated illegal financial businesses in the Russian language, from Phuket. They claim he…
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Russian woman dies after falling from fourth floor in Patong
PHOTOS: Patong Police A Russian woman has died after falling from the fourth floor at a hotel in Patong earlier today. Patong Police were notified of the incident at the hotel on Ratchapatanusorn Road at 2.15am. The foreign woman was identified by police as 27 year old Elena Kusovnikova, a Russian national. Her body was on the ground in front…
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Motorbike driver dies after collision with minivan in Thalang – VIDEO
A motorbike driver died soon after colliding with a minivan at a U-turn in Thalang yesterday. The Tha Chatchai Police were notified of the incident at 1.08pm yesterday on Thepkrasattri Road in Mai Khao. Police and emergency responders arrived to find the silver minivan waiting for police. Nearby they found a man, later identified as 55 year old Kreangsak Sanaewit,…
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Three fined for fishing illegally in the Mu Koh Similan National Park
PHOTO: DNP Three men have been fined after they were found catching fish in Mu Koh Similan National Park area in Phang Nga yesterday. Private fishing is illegal inside the marine national park area. The head of the Mu Koh Similan National Park Ruamsin Manajongjaroen says that yesterday three men were fined after being discovered catching fish in the national…
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44 baby leatherback sea turtles headed to sea in Phang Nga – VIDEO
PHOTO: DMCR A third group of baby leatherback sea turtles have now hatched on Kuekkak Beach and headed out to sea for their new life off the Takua Pa district in Phang Nga. A first batch of 48 baby leatherback sea turtles survived and headed straight for the Andaman Sea once they got their bearings on Kuek Kak Beach in…
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Five metre king cobra caught in Kathu
PHOTOS: Pannakorn Pongpao/Kathu Rescue Foundation/Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation A five metre king cobra has been caught at a worker’s house in Kathu. Kusoldharm Rescue workers were notified of the king cobra discovered by a worker next to his house in the Kathu – Nakoh road in Kathu last night. Nokoh Road runs behind the Loch Palm Golf Course, between Kathu and…
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The Patong Bay Hill Resort – where your holiday begins!
Nestled into the hills above Phuket’s popular Patong Beach, the modern Patong Bay Hill Resort is a luxurious resort which overlooks the ocean and the eclectic neighborhood below. Welcome to Patong Bay Hill Resort Set in a beautifully landscaped garden, Patong Bay Hill Resort is set amongst the natural, tropical environment of Patong’s Hasib-pee Hill. The resort offers majestic panoramic…
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Drunk pickup driver kills one, injures two others in Chalong
A drunk pickup truck driver has collided with cars and motorbikes at a traffic light in Chalong. One person has died, two others are injured and six vehicles are damaged. Chalong Police were notified of the incident at an intersection on Chao Fa East Road near Wat Tai (Ladthiwanaram Temple) at 1.50pm yesterday. Chalong Police and emergency responders arrived to…
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Wanted Russians walk into Pattaya immigration office
Two Russians wanted on an arrest warrant originating in Phuket have been found and arrested hiding in Pattaya. Immigration police had no trouble in locating 48 year old Artur Stotskii and 34 year old Iaroslav Scherobatyk. The pair made it very easy by showing up for visa extensions at the Chonburi Immigration Office on February 18. The January 16 arrest…
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Foreign motorbike racer arrested in Patong
PHOTOS: Patong Police Patong Police yesterday arrested another foreign motorbike racer driving erratically around Patong’s roads. Police report that they arrested the man who was driving his motorbike at high speed and doing ‘wheelies’ (front wheel raised off the ground) yesterday. “He doesn’t care for other people’s safety and was annoying other road users. He was been taken to Patong…
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Brush fire near the Khao Rang view point – VIDEO
VIDEO: Newshawk Phuket A bush fire spread quickly around Khao Rang, overlooking Phuket Town, near the main view point yesterday. Fire fighters were notified of the incident by a restaurant operator on Khao Rang at 3.30pm. Emergency responders arrived at the Khao Rang summit with two fire engines. The brush fire was already well underway on the south-western slopes underneath…
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Flights delayed and cancelled at Phuket Airport – Closure of Pakistan airspace
Flights have been affected at the Phuket International Airport, a knock-on affect from the closing of airspace over Pakistan. Latest in the tensions between India and Pakistan HERE. Thai Airways resumes flights. Read about that HERE. The Phuket International Airport has announced flights that have been affected at the Phuket International Airport. Delayed flights… AEROFLOT airlines flight SU278/279 from Moscow…
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Python rescued from water drain cover in Wichit
PHOTOS: Phurita Cho / Kusoldarm Foundation A two metre python has been rescued after getting stuck in a water drain cover in Wichit yesterday. Kusoldarm rescue workers heard from locals that the python was stuck in the water drain cover near the Wichit Police Station. A specialist snake catcher from Kusoldarm Foundation, Poonsab Saeueng, along with other rescue workers arrived at…
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Grass fire destroys motorbikes in Rawai
A localised grass fire has spread destroying four motorbikes parked in front of a rental house in Rawai. No injuries were reported. Chalong Police were notified of the fire in Soi Suksan 2 on Wiset road in Rawai yesterday afternoon. Seven fire engines arrived at the scene where the fire was ablaze. Strong easterly winds made the fire spread quickly.…
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Firearms and drugs seized in southern provinces crackdown
A huge stash of iIllegal firearms and drugs have been seized this month in an upper southern province crackdown. There was a press conference held at the Police Region 8 headquarters in Mai Khao today to show and tell. Region 8 Police Deputy Commander Maj Gen Wanchai Eaksorapit says, “There has been a major crackdown this month in Surat Thani,…
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Construction of luxury condo development in Kata continues despite local protests
The Owner of the luxury condominium in Kata has confirmed that that the land is legal and the construction will continue, despite protests from locals and business competitors. Business operators and community in Kata Noi marched in protest about the construction of the luxury condo development. Read more about the protest HERE. Manasanan Nararattanawee, managing director of Kata Beach Company, the…
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Chinese tourist rescued after choking on water in Koh Similans
PHOTOS: DNP A female Chinese tourist was rescued after choking on water at Koh Payu, in the middle of the Similan National Park island group, yesterday. The head of Similan Natioanl Park Ruamsin Manajongjaroen says that national park officers were notified about a Chinese tourist, 63 year old Gou Shifeng, who had got into difficulty whilst swimming at Koh Payu…
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Body of missing Burmese man found in reservoir in Chalong
The body of a Burmese man, who had been missing since Sunday night, has been found. Two Burmese men were swimming in a lagoon in Chalong late on Sunday afternoon. Searching was stopped at midnight on Sunday and resumed yesterday. Read more about the missing man HERE. Searching continued yesterday from noon. At 6.45pm the body of the Burmese man was found…
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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