Phuket News
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SUNDAY HEADLINES – All your local news in 3 minutes
Some rain overnight around the island and more of the sun/cloud/light winds predicted over the next week. Just like last year, the ‘usual’ high-season weather isn’t arriving in 2018. Here are today’s main news stories… Four crew drown after shipping incident in the Gulf Four crew from a Thai fishing boat have drowned after it was hit and sunk by…
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Phuket Headlines – November 1, 2018
PM says election delays ‘inevitable’ Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says he may have to delay the calling of elections because the Sub-Committee for Drawing Things was still trying to choose the best font for the ballot papers. He also noted that the media’s continuous barrage of questions about an election date gave him no time to call an election. Asked…
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Century old Phuket house to become VIP accommodation and museum
Phuket Governor, Norapat Plodthong, hosted a meeting planning to renovate the hundred year old Charter Bank House, which belongs to the Treasury Department, to become accommodation for VIPs who are visiting Phuket. The first draft plans are expected to be finished by January 15. The Governor has already filed a letter to the Ministry of Interior to use the location.…
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Krabi’s cleaning hero
A 67 year old woman, Mookda Janan, a local from Krabi, has volunteered to broom a kilometre of local street twice everyday for the past 5 years. She brooms the streets in the morning and evening and cleans the sala on the side road of Phetchakasem Road in Klongtom District impressing the locals and setting a great example. “I used…
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Phuket’s low season growth produces record tourism numbers in 2017
By Bill Barnett of c9Hotelworks.com For 2017 the island’s gateway airport posted 11.3% year-on-year growth to reach an estimated 8.4 million incoming passengers. This was mainly driven by a 20% surge in Mainland Chinese travelers to the island and a rising number visitors during low season of 11.2% compared to the same period in 2016. Passenger arrivals remain the key…
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Japanese tourist killed by boat propellor in Koh Similan
Just days after the Phuket Governor reported a clean sheet for marine boat accidents during the Seven Dangerous Days reporting period, a Japanese tourist has died during a trip to Koh Similan. 37 year old Yoshida Saori from Japan was scuba diving alone near Koh Tachai yesterday (January 4). She jumped from the boat when a big wave pushed her…
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Drugs crackdown on Naka Island
Nearly a hundred Phuket police arrested 6 alleged drug dealers on Naka Island after receiving reports from locals that they were selling drugs to tourists and threatening people by posting pictures of weapons on social media. A barrage of 95 Phuket police, bringing together Thalang Police, Muang Phuket Police, Kathu Police, Thachatchai Police and Cherngtalay Police arrested 3 drug dealers.…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, January 5
Prayut lashes out at media | Gentlemen can get their ‘bits’ lasered | Phuket Immigration website in ‘Thai’ language only | Tourists leave record amounts of garbage | Police nab drug ‘king-pins’ in Mai Khao | Malaysians arrested in BKK for phone scams.
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FRIDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Final day of the week and a lead into your standard, normal, hopefully quiet, weekend. Weather seems to be staying cloudy but the threatened rain has mostly held off this week. It may not be bright blue sunny skies but it’s still a great place to live! What’s happening around Thailand and Phuket today? Seven Dangerous Days – final reports…
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Himalayan vulture rescued by Phuket villagers
By Anotai Ngarndee Villagers in Phuket handed over a Himalayan griffon vulture on Thursday to a wildlife nursery station in Phang Nga, which they found in weak condition in the province. Theetat Dam-udom, chief of the nursery station, said the vulture was an adult weighing about eight kilograms with a wingspan of about three metres. The vulture was found in…
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Russian woman attacked on Koh Phi Phi
FILE PHOTO Police Region 8 Commander, Pol Lt Gen Sorasak Yenprem, has ordered an urgent investigation and search to find the man who allegedly attacked a Russian woman on Koh Phi Phi on the New Year’s night. The 28 year old Russian woman (name supplied but not being made public) was celebrating the New Year’s Eve with her mother on…
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3 big drug dealers arrested in Mai Khao
Thachatchai Police, together with military officers, arrested three big drug dealers from a network called ‘Ann Power’. One of them also happened to be the head of the network. The force raided the targeted area, the Kok Pae Community, through five different spots around the community and arrested the three drug dealers, including 40 year old Paiboon Rattanapak aka ‘Ann…
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UPDATE: 4 motorcycle thugs surrendered
The four members of a motorcycle gang who attacked 40 year old Romy Navio, who tried to stop them from hurting three other young men, have surrendered. Yesterday (December 3) at 2pm, the four, including 18 year old Nattawut ‘Fad’ Plighin, 18 year old Sarun ‘Yak’ Muenkla, 18 year old Panuruj ‘Tiw’ Sudpangyang and 18 year old Kajorn ‘Ben’ Raya,…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, January 4
‘Somtam Index’ shows Krabi most expensive | Deluge of new year drink-driving prosecutions causing paperwork nightmare | Tourist pest from Jungceylon was at it again the afternoon before | Thai auto industry doing well | Official stats after six days of ‘seven day’ reporting period | BKK cracking down on noisy vehicles.
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THURSDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your news in 3 minutes
Settling into the routine for 2018. Traffic was busy this morning, a sure sign we’re returning to work and doing our best to avoid the high-season tourist traffic. Here’s today’s main new stories… Thai auto industry getting behind electric cars The Thai automobile industry say they finished 2017 with sales rebounding reporting that a large number of new models helped…
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Dead body found floating near Koh Phi Phi
At about noon today (January 3), Koh Phi Phi police received a report about a dead body floating in the sea near Phi Phi in Lo Dalum Bay. Police say the body appears to be a western woman of about 30-35 years wearing jeans shorts and a blue bra. No trace of harassment or violence was found on the body.…
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Drunk female tourist refuses to pay bill at Jungceylon
A video has posted on a popular Phuket Facebook page that showed an altercation between a female tourist and several people outside a Fuji Japanese restaurant in Jungceylon. The video shows a woman, apparently from Europe (some say Norwegian), arguing with security as a crowd of shoppers gather. Amid claims that the tourist is drunk the poster of the footage…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, January 3
Changes to universal healthcare system | Super Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan | Latest death toll from Seven Dangerous Days | DSI uncovered 9 billion baht of unpaid taxes on imported cars | Governor visits Rassada Pier | Idiot arrested over random gunfire on NYE.
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WEDNESDAY NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Sort of back to normal today, whatever that means. The news never stops and there’s plenty of it around today. Let’s see what news stories are in our inbox this morning… PM urges big effort on final day of reporting period PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha is urging officers to strictly enforce traffic laws and provide security for people on the…
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Governor visits Rassada Pier to inspect improvements
Phuket’s Governor, Norapat Plodthong, along with a team from the Provincial offices, visited Rassada Pier this morning (January 2), to encourage the staff and promising to upgrade the security and services at the pier. Rassada Pier is one of the most important piers in Phuket, apart from Chalong Pier and Ao Po Pier, and welcomes more than a thousand passengers…
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TUESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your news in 3 minutes
Another public holiday today. The Government announced last year that they’d add an extra day to the new year holidays this year in an effort to relieve the rush of traffic as people head home and back for the new year break. Police will be out in force today checking on drunk drivers at checkpoints around the island. Government offices…
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New year’s eve diving tragedy in Koh Phi Phi
FILE PHOTO A tragic accident off Koh Phi Phi yesterday (December 31) where a 25 year old Indian tourist, Alok Kumar Shukla, was attempting his first scuba dive. According to the scuba company running the tour, the incident happened during the pick up following the group’s first dive. “The customer returned to the boat already and got out of his…
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Happy new year in Old Phuket Town
The Amazing Thailand Countdown 2018 around Old Phuket Town was hosted by Governor Norapat Plodthong together with the Phuket Mayor Somjai Suwansuppana. There family-oriented festivities included a walking street with local food, clothing, accessories, street performances and a list of entertainment on stage before the crowd count down to the new year at the intersection of the old Standard Chartered Bank.…
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MONDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
PHOTO: The statue of Phra Buddha Navaratchabophit out of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration headquarters yesterday. Happy New Year! Patong’s new year celebrations drew unprecedented crowds to see in 2018. From midnight to 2am there was a gridlock with zero movement of traffic along the beach road (Thaweewong Rd) as revellers streamed off the beaches and back into the town. Police…
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2017 – Phuket’s year in review
2017. What a year. As the clock is about to click over into 2018 we look back at another busy year on the island. From scams to bus crashes, corrupt officials to shootings, boat crashes to lifeguard contracts, we remember the biggest news stories on the island for the past 12 months. January The year started with the first of…
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SUNDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Last day for 2017. But it’s the middle of the ‘Seven Days of Danger’ and the road carnage continues despite an all out effort of Thailand’s police to stem the flow. Not surprisingly, drunk-driving is still the leading cause of deaths on our roads. PLEASE be safe tonight, make arrangements ahead of time for your safe return home after celebrations.…
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DAY TWO REPORT – Seven days of danger
A total of 92 people were killed and 1,107 were injured during the first two days of seven-day monitoring period for people travelling during the long New Year holidays. On Friday, which was the second day of the so-called “seven dangerous days” new year holidays, 576 road accidents happened, killing 49 people and injuring 609, said Karun Sakulpradit, permanent secretary…
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Thailand Yacht Show. Returns to Ao Po Grand Marina February 22 – 25, 2018
It is that time of the year where we make resolutions; promises about the year to come and how we will approach it. Rather than ploughing through a northern hemisphere winter to get to the gym or sourcing for fresh fruits during a juice cleanse, why not enjoy the best of the southern tropical lifestyle and head to the Thailand…
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SATURDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
A weekend, a new year’s weekend and a long weekend with Monday and Tuesday public holidays this year. Welcome to your Saturday. The threat of rain is still there but enjoy the sunny bits in between. Here’s the main news stories circulating today… Extra public holiday on Tuesday This year the Thai Government has declared one extra day – next…
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Woman attempts to smuggle in over a kilo of cocaine at Phuket Airport
A woman from Ivory Coast, flying in from Doha, was arrested at Phuket International Airport after an airport X-ray found more than one kilogram of cocaine that she’d swallowed, wrapped in small plastic packets. The 27 year old was stopped by officials at the Phuket international airport after landing on a flight from Doha. She was escorted to a room…
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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