Phuket News
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Snail-paced start for Phuket’s new co-payment scheme
Phuket officials have launched a new co-payment scheme to support small businesses, though early registration numbers remain lower than expected. The scheme, also known as Khon La Khrueng Plus, or half-half payment scheme, designed to support small businesses and ease the cost of living through 50% government subsidies on purchases, opened registration via the Tung Ngern system yesterday, October 15.…
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Box jellyfish sting scare hits tourists at Patong Beach
Lifeguards on a popular Phuket beach have reported a surge in jellyfish stings affecting tourists, with several victims requiring urgent hospital care. The incidents, which have involved the notoriously venomous box jellyfish, have left beachgoers with burning skin, rashes and in some cases, serious allergic responses. Lifeguards confirmed that the stings occurred both near shore and in deeper water. Some…
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Thai man arrested for stealing speedboat from Phuket pier
Police arrested a Thai man for stealing a speedboat belonging to a travel agency from the Asia Marina Pier on Sire Island, Phuket, on October 7. The travel agency, Phuket New Generation Travel (PNT), sought help from online communities and local media outlets to locate the missing speedboat, named Kantee. CCTV footage showed that the vessel was stolen at around…
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Phuket marks Austrian consul handover with honour and ceremony
Phuket hosted a diplomatic ceremony where Austria honoured a former consul and appointed a successor to strengthen ties in tourism, trade, and culture. Phuket marked a major milestone in Thai-Austrian relations on Tuesday, October 14, as long-serving diplomat Wanida Hongyok was honoured for her service, and Montawee Hongyok was officially appointed as Austria’s new Honorary Consul on the island. The…
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Phuket pushes ahead with AI traffic lights to ease jams
Phuket is moving forward with plans to use AI-powered traffic lights to manage congestion at busy intersections as part of a major transport upgrade. Artificial intelligence will soon take the wheel in managing Phuket’s chaotic traffic, as part of a major two-phase overhaul aimed at tackling congestion ahead of the tourist High Season. The Phuket Highways Department has unveiled a…
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Phuket transwoman assaulted and robbed by Polish client after sex service
A Thai transwoman called on Phuket officials to improve safety measures, claiming that a Polish man assaulted her and stole her bag after a sex service. The transgender victim reached out to the Phuket Time Facebook page today, October 15, to report the robbery. She shared a photo of the alleged Polish attacker along with a picture showing visible signs…
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2 foreign teens condemned for spray-painting Phuket building
Thai netizens condemned two foreign teenagers after they were caught in a viral video spray-painting the wall of a roadside accommodation in Phuket. The Phuket Times Facebook page shared pictures and a video of the teenagers today, October 15, with a caption that read… “Foreign teenagers climbed onto the roof to spray-paint the wall for video content. This happened last…
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Patong gets safety boost with new traffic barriers
Police in Patong partnered with a local foundation to provide new traffic barriers, aiming to improve safety and city image ahead of peak tourism season. In a joint effort to boost public safety and improve Patong’s image ahead of the High Season, the Patong Development Foundation has donated new traffic barriers to Patong Police. The handover ceremony took place yesterday,…
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Phuket’s shortest-serving governor axed after just 14 days
Thailand’s Cabinet has approved the sudden transfer of Phuket’s newly appointed governor, just weeks after he began his term, sparking public scrutiny. The Thai Cabinet has approved the sudden transfer of Phuket Governor Saransak Srikruanetra after only two weeks in office. Saransak, who began his term on October 2, is now officially Phuket’s shortest-serving governor. His shock exit was confirmed…
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Slow loris dumped on Phuket beach sparks wildlife crackdown
A slow loris, believed to have been used in illegal tourist photo operations, was rescued after being abandoned on Kata Noi Beach in Phuket. The animal was found left in a bag on the sand, prompting an official investigation by local police and wildlife officers. Karon Police Chief Police Colonel Khundet Na-NongKhai confirmed that officers are still pursuing the suspect.…
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Russian man allegedly stalks Phuket woman after being rejected
A Thai woman accused a Russian man in Phuket of stalking, harassing, and threatening to harm her after she rejected his romantic advances. The woman, who works at a café in Patong, said she felt unsafe and decided to share her story with the Phuket Times Facebook page yesterday, October 14. She insisted that she had never encouraged the Russian…
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Indian man wanted for attacking Phuket transwoman and stealing 10,000 baht
An Indian man remains at large after attacking a Thai transwoman in her rented room in Phuket and stealing 10,000 baht in cash from her yesterday, October 13. The Thai transgender victim took to social media and shared her story with local news outlets to warn others and help locate the Indian suspect. In an interview with the Phuket Times…
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Phuket police hunt foreigners after Patong Beach fireworks incident
Police in Phuket are actively searching for two foreigners suspected of igniting fireworks that exploded hazardously on Patong Beach yesterday, on October 11, causing minor injuries to a beachgoer and damage to property. The incident, which took place around 12.15am, was reported to the Phuket Provincial Police Commander by Patong Police. Initially, Patong lifeguards detained two Omani nationals, Al-Amri Basim…
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Phuket cracks down on vapes with schoolyard smoking ban
Phuket officials launched a campaign in local schools to ban smoking and vaping, aiming to protect students’ health and raise community awareness. The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) has launched a new campaign to make local schools entirely smoke-free and e-cigarette-free, starting with five pilot institutions. The initiative was officially rolled out at Baan Mai Riab PPAO School (Tantikowit Bamrung),…
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Wrong-way rider killed in fatal Phuket motorbike crash
A man has died following a head-on collision between two motorbikes in the Pa Khlok area of Thalang, Phuket, as the island’s road death toll continues to rise. The crash occurred around 4.30pm on Thursday, October 9, on the Mueang Mai–Pa Khlok Road, directly in front of the SuperCheap store. Thalang Police received the emergency report and dispatched officers and…
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Foreigner escapes blazing car inferno on Phuket roadside
A foreign man was hospitalised after his car caught fire on a roadside in Phuket, prompting a late-night emergency response from local firefighters. The incident unfolded around 10.50pm on Thursday, October 9, on Wiset Road in Rawai, when residents spotted a Ford sedan engulfed in flames along the roadside and quickly alerted emergency services. Rawai Municipality firefighters dispatched two water…
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Phuket man shoots wife in drunken rage at family home
A man was arrested in Phuket after allegedly shooting his wife during a drunken argument at their home, prompting a late-night police and rescue response. Phuket City Police were alerted to the incident at 11.40pm yesterday, October 9, by the 191 Emergency Call Centre, reporting that a woman had been shot at a residence on Sri Suthat Road. Police Lieutenant…
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Phuket seaplane plan aims to jet-set luxury tourism sky-high
Officials and private stakeholders met in Phuket to discuss a proposed seaplane project aimed at boosting luxury tourism and improving regional connectivity. A bold proposal by Thai Seaplane Co Ltd aims to introduce seaplane operations in Phuket Bay to boost the island’s luxury tourism sector while meeting strict environmental standards. The public forum, held yesterday, October 9, at a multipurpose…
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Phuket police race donated eyes to airport for transplant
Traffic police in Phuket escorted donated eyes from a local hospital to the airport for an emergency transplant operation in Bangkok, ensuring timely delivery. Phuket City Traffic Police carried out a high-speed medical escort yesterday, October 9, to ensure the safe and urgent delivery of donated eyes from Vachira Phuket Hospital to Phuket International Airport. The life-changing operation was part…
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Tourist rescued from Ratsada boat mishap, unlicensed captain held
A foreign tourist was rescued by marine police after falling off a tour boat in Phuket, prompting the arrest of the unlicensed captain operating the vessel. Officers from the Phuket Marine Police sprang into action on Tuesday, October 7, after a foreign female tourist fell off a tour speedboat in Ratsada, on the island’s east coast, narrowly avoiding serious injury. The incident occurred at around 10.30am while…
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Phuket MP slams outdated booze ban laws and calls for reform
A Phuket MP criticised Thailand’s alcohol laws after a religious holiday ban caused confusion over who can sell booze, calling for urgent legal reform. Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee has criticised the country’s alcohol laws for causing confusion and chaos, particularly during religious holidays, and called for urgent reform to support Thailand’s tourism and nightlife industries. Chalermpong blasted the long-standing Entertainment…
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RTN plane blunder shuts Phuket runway, delays 70 flights
A military aircraft’s landing gear failure forced Phuket Airport to shut its runway, disrupting dozens of flights and prompting an emergency response. Phuket International Airport was brought to a standstill yesterday, October 8, after a Royal Thai Navy (RTN) aircraft suffered a landing gear malfunction during touchdown, forcing a temporary closure of the runway and affecting 70 flights. According to…
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Navy aircraft blocks Phuket Airport runway after landing gear malfunction
A Thai Navy aircraft blocked the runway at Phuket International Airport today, October 8, after experiencing a landing gear malfunction during landing. No injuries were reported. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) The incident occurred at 11.14am, prompting airport authorities to issue an urgent announcement and temporarily close the runway to ensure…
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Nine arrested in Phuket for illegal cockfighting and gambling
Nine individuals have been detained in Phuket following a crackdown by officials on an unlawful cockfighting and gambling operation in Koh Kaew. The Phuket Provincial Administration Special Operations Unit targeted a migrant worker camp located in Moo 4, Koh Kaew, at 4pm on October 5. The intervention was prompted by reports of illegal cockfighting, gambling, and drug use disrupting the…
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Foreign man scams Phuket exchange shops with fake pound banknotes
Several money exchange shops in Phuket collectively lost nearly 40,000 baht to a foreign man who exchanged counterfeit banknotes. The Phuket Times Facebook page reported that it received multiple alerts from exchange shops across the island and issued a warning to the online community today, October 6, to prevent further victims. A photograph of the foreign suspect was included in the…
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Phuket motorbike rider arrested after threatening taxi driver with fake gun
A motorbike rider in Koh Kaew, Phuket, was arrested after threatening a taxi driver with what appeared to be a gun, prompting a police investigation and multiple charges. The incident took place around 1pm on October 5 and was captured on a dashcam. The footage circulated online, leading Phuket City Police Chief, Police Colonel Chatree Chukaew, to order officers to…
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Myanmar national fatally stabbed in Patong altercation
In Patong, a Myanmar national was fatally stabbed during a confrontation on October 3. Patong Police were alerted to a rental room in an alley off Soi Klong Bang Wat, Ratchapathanusorn Road, at 7.02pm. They discovered 38 year old Zaw Min Win outside his accommodation, suffering from severe stab wounds and lying in a pool of blood. Rescue workers from…
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Phuket urges October blood donations to honour Thai kings
Phuket’s regional blood centre is urging residents and tourists to donate blood this month in honour of Thailand’s revered monarchs and special events. The Phuket Regional Blood Centre (PRBC) has released its full schedule of mobile blood drives across Phuket, Phang Nga, and Krabi, urging locals and tourists to donate throughout October. The campaign honours the legacies of King Chulalongkorn…
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New Phuket governor kicks off term with youth unity project
The newly appointed governor of Phuket headed to a neighbouring province to join a youth event promoting unity, culture, and leadership through shared experiences. Phuket Governor Saransak Srikruanetra travelled to Phang Nga on Thursday, October 2, to join more than 100 youths from Thailand’s southern border provinces as part of the 45th San Jai Thai Su Jai Tai project. The…
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Body of missing Chinese tourist found off Phuket’s Nai Harn
The body of a young Chinese tourist was found off a Phuket beach after he went missing while swimming, prompting a large-scale search by rescue teams. The body of 21 year old Yuan Wenyi was pulled from the sea, two days after he vanished while swimming at Nai Harn beach. Yuan disappeared on Wednesday, October 1, while swimming near the…
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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