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 Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes
Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...
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Phuket Sports: Ironman Lieto “Fully Booked!” on double Laguna Phuket Mission
PHUKET: The reputed fastest cyclist in triathlon, Chris Lieto, is heading back to Phuket to compete in the Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT) and Ironman 70.3 this year. The American hopes to make up for the disappointment of his Phuket debut last year, when he crashed out on a rain-soaked 70.3 bike course. Renowned as the fastest American Ironman and one…
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Phuket Poll: Do record-breaking events really achieve their goals?
PHUKET: Following the Go Eco Phuket record-breaking Dive Against Debris reef cleanup operation, in which more than 500 participants in 14 boats collected an amazing 15 tons of debris, the Phuket Gazette asks its readers if they believe that such events have a deep impact on the issue at hand? To have your say in our latest poll, click here.…
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CCTV short circuit sparks Phuket antiques shop fire
PHUKET: An in-store CCTV system monitor is believed to have started a fire at an antiques and souvenir shop in the Phuket tourist area of Kata, destroying goods valued at more than half a million baht. Chalong Police duty officer Chianchai Duangsuwan was informed that a fire had broken out at the Sawasdee shop on Taina Road at 10:45am on…
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Phuket Sports: Pacquiao expected to sign contract to fight Thailand’s Buakaw
PHUKET: Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao (54-4-2, 38 KOs) is expected to sign a contract tomorrow agreeing to take on Thailand’s most famous fighter, Sombat Banchamek, commonly known as Buakaw, in a special fight planned for December 21. Narong Hengtrakul, one of Thailand’s most renowned international matchmakers for both conventional boxing and Muay Thai fights, will meet Pacquiao in Manila tomorrow to…
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Weather warning for Phuket ahead of cyclone landfall in Vietnam
PHUKET: The Thai Meteorological Department today issued a “torrential rain” warning for much of Thailand as tropical cyclone Gaemi in the South China Sea is expected make landfall over central Vietnam this weekend. “This will affect Thailand during October 4-8,” said the warning, issued by TMD Acting Director-General Somchai Baimoung. The outfall from Cyclone Gaemi is expected to combine with…
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“I thought we had the power to go far….”
“I thought we had the power to go far in this tournament but, with a young side, you get good performances and you get some average ones.” PHUKET: England captain Stuart Broad is understandably disappointed after his team were knocked out of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka. The defending champions lost to Sri Lanka by 19-runs to miss out…
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Mayor Pian blasts Phuket land probes as “hypocritical’
PHUKET: Following the inaugural meeting of the newly elected Patong Town Council yesterday, Patong Mayor Pian Keesin blasted the effectiveness of the current spate of ongoing and ever-increasing Phuket land investigations.“I want to see real law enforcement on this issue. Land in Phuket needs to be preserved and its development planned with a long-term view,” Mayor Pian, who was born…
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Live Wire: Is Phuket smart enough for the iPhone 5?
PHUKET: Last week I talked about the iPhone 5, how it compares to the Samsung Galaxy S III, and the problems that people from Toledo to Tashkent are going to have deciding which one to buy. Here in Phuket, we have one HUGE question that doesn’t concern much of the rest of the world – and it’ll be a key…
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Korean tourist snorkeling death ruled as “drowning’
PHUKET: Hospital staff in Phuket have confirmed that “drowning” has been listed as the official cause of death of the 29-year-old Korean tourist found dead while snorkeling at Phi Phi Island on Saturday. An International Department officer at Vachira Phuket Hospital confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that the Jungkook Kim, initially named by Tourist Police as “Jury Kuk Kim“, was…
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New Phuket governor announced
PHUKET: The Thai Cabinet has officially named former Phayao Governor Maitree Intusut as the new Governor of Phuket.The Cabinet agreed to the proposed list of governor appointments and transfers for 19 provinces at a meeting today, two days after former Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha retired on Sunday.Sommai Prijasilpa, Phuket’ senior vice-governor, has been filling in as Acting Governor in the…
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Breaking News: Tiger Disco charged over inferno deaths
PHUKET: The operators of Tiger Discotheque have been charged with negligence causing death and physical and mental injury to others, as well as with trading after hours, Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan has confirmed to the Phuket Gazette. The blaze that broke out at the nightclub, just before 4am on August 17, while hundreds of patrons were still inside the…
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New Phuket police chief targets tourist safety, drugs
PHUKET: Phuket’s new Provincial Police Commander, Maj Gen Chote Chawanwiwat, has vowed to make drugs and tourist safety his top priorities. Gen Chote was installed as Phuket’s top cop yesterday after arriving from Narathiwat in Thailand’s troubled Deep South, where he served as provincial police commander. His first order to the police chiefs of every police station on the island…
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Phuket FC captain “safe’ after car flips, slams into ditch
PHUKET: Phuket FC alternating captain and starting striker Watcharapong “Pae” Jun-ngam was involved in a serious accident following last night’s football match against Sri Racha. Lucky to be alive, he is reported to be safe with no serious injuries. “Pae has got some minor scratches, but he is safe. He was examined by hospital doctors and he has not suffered…
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Phuket Sports: Sunshine heralds the first 2012 dinghy series event
PHUKET: The Phuket Dinghy Series, launched in 2010 by the organizers of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, returned over the weekend ending yesterday. The series comprises three weekend events at different Phuket locations in the lead-up to the King’s Cup. Santi Kanchanbandhu, a member of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee, explains what the Phuket Dinghy Series is: “We…
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Phuket Sports: Racing to find adventure in Krabi
PHUKET: The popular sport of Adventure Racing is expected to bring 120 teams from around the world to compete in “The Sheraton Krabi Trophy” on November 3. The race is part of the the Amazing Thailand Adventure Race Series and will start and finish on the magnificent Klong Muang Beach where the Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort is located. Race Director…
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Crab army marches on Phuket streets
PHUKET: Phuket Town residents received a shock yesterday as they witnessed an invading army of crabs marching through the streets in the direction of the nearby mangrove forest and sea. Fortunately, the rare phenomenon was not an alien invasion by the crab-men from outer space. The totally natural event, which occurred at about 7pm, involved thousands of mangrove crabs making…
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Phuket Sports: Marlins reel in the Islanders
PHUKET: The Islanders fell back into into the five-team relegation zone following a 1-0 loss last night to 3rd place Sri Racha Suzuki FC. Despite a wide margin in league points, the competition, played in front of 3,100 fans, was evenly matched with the Sri Racha “Blue Marlins” enjoying only slightly more possession than Phuket. Indeed, it was looking as…
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“I have no doubt in my mind….”
“I have no doubt in my mind that he was with me today all day,” Sergio Garcia said of Ballesteros.PHUKET: Europe claimed the Ryder Cup after staging an amazing fightback on the last day.The American Team went into the tournament yesterday leading 10-6 and only requiring four points from a possible 12 on offer to win the cup. Europe won…
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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