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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Search underway for missing American woman in Phuket
A jet ski rental operator on Patong Beach in Phuket contacted the police yesterday after an American woman went missing, leaving the rented jet ski floating in the sea. The operator reported the incident to Patong Police Station at approximately 11.25am, yesterday, February 27, stating that the foreign woman, later identified as 38 year old American citizen Nina Ng, disappeared.…
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Phuket Airport to boost flight capacity to 35 per hour
The Thai Ministry of Transport has instructed the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand Company Limited (AEROTHAI) to enhance Phuket Airport’s flight handling capacity. By 2025, the aim is to increase from 25 to 35 flights per hour. Deputy Minister of Transport Monaporn Charernsri announced yesterday, February 27 that AEROTHAI is examining methods to boost Phuket Airport’s efficiency, one of Thailand’s busiest…
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Man seeks identity of foreign motorcyclist after hit-and-run in Phuket
Yesterday, February 26, a Thai man was a victim of a hit-and-run by a foreigner in Phuket as he was making a U-turn. The man took to social media to seek the identity of the foreign motorcyclist, urging those in the area to share their dashcam footage if possible. The Thai man urged the Facebook news page Newshawk Phuket to…
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Phuket crackdown: 11 arrested in nominee business scam
Phuket Immigration has launched a major crackdown on illegal nominee businesses, leading to the arrest of 11 foreigners and the seizure of substantial evidence. The coordinated raids targeted 15 suspected businesses across the island, exposing a network of foreign nationals allegedly using Thai nominees to operate prohibited enterprises. The large-scale operation was led by Police Colonel Kriangkrai Ariyaying, head of…
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Phuket hotel project halted after environmental concerns raised
A controversial hotel project in Cherng Talay’s Pasak Soi 6 has been halted after outraged residents pressured officials to review its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), citing concerns about transparency, zoning violations, and environmental damage. The proposed Nebu Hotel, set to be a seven-storey building on a small 1,200-square-metre plot, was planned in a Yellow Zone designated for low-density residential use.…
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Justice served: Phuket grants over 900k to crime victims
The Phuket Provincial Justice Office has approved 911,913.25 baht in financial compensation for 15 victims of crimes committed against them. The decision was made during a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall on Monday, February 24, chaired by Poolsuk Phengsang, the newly elected Provincial Attorney for the Protection of Rights, Legal Assistance and Enforcement. The meeting was the second session of…
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Billion-baht business bust: 2 Chinese arrested in Phuket
In a massive crackdown on illegal business operations, two Chinese nationals were arrested in Phuket for using Thai nominees to conceal ownership of multiple lucrative ventures, including restaurants, international schools, hotels, car rentals, condominiums, and luxury villas. The duo’s investments were valued at approximately 1 billion baht, with 4.1 million baht in cash seized during the arrests for further investigation,…
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Phuket meeting targets land disputes and environmental issues
Phuket’s top officials gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, February 25, to confront the island’s escalating land disputes and environmental challenges. The high-stakes meeting, led by Phuket Vice Governor Adul Chuthong, aimed to tackle the complex issues of land encroachment, overlapping claims, and environmental degradation, all of which threaten the island’s sustainability. The meeting was attended by heavyweights in the…
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Tourists attacked on Bangla Road, police hunt for security guard
A wild night on Bangla Road turned violent when two foreign tourists were brutally assaulted by at least one security guard, leaving them injured and shaken. The shocking incident occurred in the early hours of today, February 25, prompting a swift response from Patong Police who are now hunting for the attacker. The two victims were identified as 24 year…
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Eight Chinese nationals arrested for illegal work in Phuket
Thai police yesterday apprehended eight Chinese nationals illegally working as contractors at a construction site in Thalang district, Phuket. The operation, carried out by the Immigration Bureau in collaboration with local security forces, followed a tip-off from a concerned citizen. Upon arrival at the construction site in Thep Krasattri subdistrict, yesterday, February 24, police encountered over 10 foreign people. When…
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Island crackdown: Phuket ups the ante on illegal foreign workers
Phuket officials announced they are getting tough on the wave of illegal foreign workers casting a shadow on the island’s paradise status. A high-stakes meeting unfolded at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, February 24, spearheaded by Vice Governor Ronnarong Thipsiri. Power players in attendance included Worawan Waritphuttimeth, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Labour Office, and Phichit Singthongkam, Chief of the Phuket…
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3 Thais, 1 foreigner arrested for kidnapping 2 Vietnamese men
Police arrested three Thai men and one foreigner after the gang attempted to kidnap two Vietnamese men for ransom on Kho Simbi Road in Phuket at the weekend. Officers from Mueang Phuket Police Station were alerted to the kidnapping at 11.46pm on Saturday, February 22, by a friend of the Vietnamese victims. The two Vietnamese nationals, 40 year old Van…
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Hiss-terical escape: King cobra slithers into chaos during Kamala transfer
An encounter with a king cobra swiftly spiralled into chaos when the slithery reptile made a daring escape during its transfer to a new container in Kamala. The incident triggered an urgent and tense effort to recapture the elusive serpent on Saturday, February 22. The king cobra had been captured earlier that day at a hotel in Kamala by Kusoldharm…
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Phuket taxi driver threatened, suspects identified by police
Cherng Talay police officers identified two men accused of threatening a metered taxi driver after he picked up two foreign passengers at Boat Avenue, Phuket, earlier this month. The legal status of the aggressors remains undetermined. Phudit Sa-atphan, a legally registered metered taxi driver, publicly urged the police to intensify their efforts following his formal complaint on February 8. The incident…
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American woman caught smuggling crystal meth at Phuket airport
An American woman was arrested at Phuket International Airport for attempting to smuggle four kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine. Her travel route included a stop in Singapore, with her final destination being South Korea. The arrest occurred yesterday, February 23 at 8.30pm, following a tip-off received by Police Lieutenant Colonel Korapoompoj Phongsaiphiboon, deputy inspector of Sakoo Police Station in Phuket, from…
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Phuket aims for 500 billion baht in tourism revenue this year
Phuket is set to bring in a tourism revenue of 500 billion baht this year, as outlined by the Provincial Governor, Sophon Suwannarat. Last year’s tourism revenue was deemed successful, with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reporting that over 13.14 million tourists visited, generating at least 497 billion baht. Sophon highlighted this year’s goal of 500 billion baht, noting…
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Phuket scam victims rise to 5,500, losses hit 413 million baht
Over 5,500 people in Phuket were victims of scam calls and online fraud last year, with losses escalating to 413 million baht, as confirmed by Police Colonel Kritsada Manawongsakun, Director of the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) Region 5. Pol. Col. Kritsada stated that while the trend has been rising since 2022, there was a significant increase in scam calls…
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British man drops cocaine at Phuket Airport and causes a scene
A British man caused a scene at Phuket International Airport on February 18 after allegedly dropping a bag of cocaine while rolling on the floor in a frantic outburst. The suspect, who had arrived from Shanghai on Juneyao Air flight HO 1323, reportedly began shouting and rolling on the ground, drawing the attention of immigration officers. Footage shows him lying…
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Freedom Beach reclassified for business and ecotourism operations
Businesses and small vendors have been granted permission to operate on over 41 rai of Freedom Beach, following its reclassification by the Royal Forest Department as Recreational Forest. Deputy Director-General Bannarak Sermthong confirmed that the reclassification was publicly announced on January 31 and took effect upon publication in the Royal Gazette on February 19. Bannarak explained that the new designation…
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Phuket police arrest 13 Chinese tourists in illegal gambling raid
Phuket Provincial Police arrested 13 Chinese tourists involved in an illegal gambling operation in Phuket Town, supported by locals. The raid, led by Police Colonel Ekkalak Boonsangcharoen, occurred at the Phuket Poker Sports Club in Soi Poonphol at 11pm on February 20. The gambling venue, managed by a Thai national, was secretly catering to Chinese gamblers. During the operation, police…
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Foreign tourist jumps from moving tuk tuk in Phuket (video)
A foreign tourist jumped out of a moving tuk tuk on a road in the Patong area of Phuket yesterday, February 20. Details of his injuries and the reason behind his actions have not been reported. Phuket Hotnews shared dashcam footage of the unexpected jump yesterday. The incident occurred as a red tuk tuk travelled from the Patong area towards…
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Thai woman fined for letting foreigner drive tuk tuk in Phuket
A Thai woman faces a fine for allowing a foreign tourist to drive her tuk tuk in Phuket yesterday, February 20. The Facebook news page Phuket Times yesterday shared pictures of a foreign man driving a light blue tuk tuk along a Phuket road, accompanied by a caption criticising the foreigner for allegedly working illegally in Thailand. The caption read……
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Drug suspect arrested in Rawai sea gypsy village in Phuket
A 30 year old man was arrested during an anti-drug raid at the sea gypsy village in Rawai, Phuket, where officers seized a substantial quantity of illicit drugs. The operation was conducted by the Special Operations Unit of the Phuket office of the Department of Local Administration (DOLA), led by Akkara Suwatthikul. The raid followed intelligence reports suggesting that drugs…
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Firefighters battle wildfire at Laem Krathing, Phuket
Firefighters in Phuket are continuing efforts to control a wildfire that erupted at Laem Krathing in Rawai late last night, February 20, impacting approximately five rai of land. The blaze, which began at 8.20pm, rapidly spread over 500 metres of hillside terrain, challenging firefighting teams due to the difficult location. Emergency responders faced hurdles as fire trucks and large machinery…
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Speeding motorbike crashes into power pole on Phuket road
A young man was critically injured after losing control of his motorbike and crashing into a power pole on Thepkrasattri Road in Phuket early this morning. The accident occurred near the entrance of Soi Srisoonthorn (Soi RCA) in Village 5, Srisoonthorn, at around 2.40am, today, February 20. Emergency responders from the Kusoldharm Foundation and a medical team from Thalang Hospital…
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Blow and behold: British man’s nose for trouble at Phuket Airport
Drama unfolded at Phuket International Airport as a British man swapped sun, sea, and sand for cuffs at customs for cocaine possession. The 42 year old British man found himself in hot water after allegedly kicking off and creating a scene at Phuket Airport. Following his tumultuous antics, airport officers uncovered 4.11 grammes of cocaine on him, sealed in a…
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Phuket urges waste separation as incinerator shuts down
Phuket’s waste crisis is escalating as the island’s only public incinerator shuts down for a month-long renovation, forcing local government operatives to dump hundreds of tonnes of excess waste into overflowing landfills. Deputy Mayor Suphot La-ongphet visited the Phuket Solid Waste Disposal Centre at Saphan Hin on Monday, February 17 to discuss emergency waste management measures with municipal engineers and…
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Over 100 foreigners arrested in Phuket police blitz
Phuket police sent a strong message to law-breaking foreigners after arresting over 100 people and issuing 1,625 traffic citations in a sweeping week-long crackdown. The operation, running from February 10 to 16, targeted illegal businesses, visa violations, drug offences, and reckless driving, according to Phuket Provincial Police Commander Police Major General Sinlert Sukhum. The coordinated effort, involving Phuket Immigration and…
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Throttle down: Patong police clamp down on reckless riders
In a bid to curb chaos on the streets of Phuket, Patong police launched a major crackdown on reckless driving by foreign tourists, resulting in over ten motorbike rental operators facing fines. The operation, which swung into action on Saturday, February 15, saw the capture of numerous vehicles, with operators penalised for renting bikes to tourists without checking for valid…
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Burmese man arrested after attempted rape in Phuket
A Myanmar national has been arrested for the attempted rape of a 57 year old woman in Wichit after her son’s sudden arrival forced the attacker to flee. The horrifying incident unfolded at around 1pm on Saturday, February 15, when the victim, identified as Kai, was asleep in her home. The suspect, Soe Aung, allegedly broke in, restrained her, and…
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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