Phuket News
Discover the latest news and updates from Thailand’s most famous and beautiful island, The Thaiger’s hometown, having previously operated as the Phuket Gazette.
Our team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from Phuket, covering everything from local politics and business to lifestyle and tourism. Learn about the island’s stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and thriving expat community, as well as keeping updated on events, and attractions.
The Thaiger is your ultimate guide to staying connected with Phuket’s ever-evolving landscape. To keep up with the most reliable news source on the island, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.
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Sponsored Infinito helps hotels in Thailand with revenue management
Maximising revenue and profit–isn’t that the ultimate goal for every business in the hospitality industry? If you run a hotel, you might have heard that revenue management is an effective way to boost your top-line revenue. It involves using data...
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Israeli tourist injured after attack by Krabi man
An Israelian tourist has sustained head injuries after being hit with a glass bottle by a young Thai man last week, allegedly over an issue of ‘jealousy’ in Krabi. You guessed it, over a love-interest. Koh Phi Phi Police were notified of the tourist’s injuries following last week’s attack. Police arrived at a restaurant to find an injured male tourist…
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Body found hanging on the side of the road in Thalang
A dead body has been discovered the side of the road in Thepkasattri Road in Thalang. The body was discovered by a motorist passing by this early morning (September 17). Thalang Police were notified of the incident at 5.30am on Thepkrasattri Road, northbound. Emergency responders arrived at the scene to find a body of a man age around 45-50 year…
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Central apologises for damage to the new overpass walkway
PHOTOS AND VIDEO: Newshawk Phuket The management of the Central shopping centre has apologised to Phuketians following a storm that battered part of the new building yesterday (September 16). Sunday afternoon wind and rain storms caused damage on some of the fixings to the new overpass structure. No one was injured. “We apologise to every costumer that was faced with…
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Bus driver charged with reckless driving in Patong bus incident
PHOTOS: Kusoldharm Foundation A tour bus driver has been charged with reckless driving after steering his tour bus, carrying 23 Vietnamese tourists, through the roadside barriers on the side of the road yesterday (September 16). You’ll never guess what the excuse was… (roll the drums)… Brake failure. Kathu Police were notified of the incident just after the hairpin turn, heading…
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Tourists rescued from tour boat stranded off Koh Phi Phi
by Sitthichai Sikhawat Officials from the Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park in Krabi province and a private boat operator helped 14 Spanish tourists – including four children – return ashore after their boat engine broke down in rough sea between Koh Phi Phi Don and Koh Phi Phi Le yesterday afternoon (Saturday). The Marine Department’s Krabi office…
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Over 20 sea turtles dying off Phuket and Phang-Nga in two months
One of Thailand’s best known marine biologists is alerting us about the carnage for Phuket’s turtle population over the past two months. More than 20 sea turtles have landed on beaches in Phuket and Phang-nga, most of them dying with the rest being seriously injured and little chance of survival in the past two months. Thorn Thamrongnavaswasdi, Vice Dean of…
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Trash Hero Phuket in World Beach Cleanup Day
Trash Hero Phuket held their weekly beach cleanup on this year’s World Beach Cleanup Day. Trash Heroes started at 9am at the north end of Karon beach with a group of 220 volunteers. Many individuals and also local resorts in association with the PHA (Phuket Hotels Association), like Le Meridien and Centara Grand Resort, got their staff involved. Lots of…
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JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa supports International Coastal Clean Up Day
JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa supported the Annual International Coastal Clean Up 2018 on the #suituptocleanup campaign to cut down the amount of plastic and garbage entering the ocean for oceans worldwide. This global action began in 1986 by Ocean Conservancy Organisation to encourage worldwide awareness and action for the world’s ocean conservancy. The clean up happened on Mai…
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Phuket monkey sterilisation Stage Two underway
PHOTOS: The Phuket PR Office Southern long-tailed macaques, captured at Khoa To Sae have been sterilised today. 129 macaques were captured yesterday (September 13) at Khao To Sae in Rassada as part of Stage Two in the capture/steralise/release program. Read more about the capture of the monkeys HERE. A total of 250 monkeys at Khao To Sae and Khao Rang have been…
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129 Phuket monkeys caught for sterilisation
PHOTOS: Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area 129 southern long-tailed macaques have been captured (September 13) at Khao To Sae in Rassada for sterlisation. The start of the monkey sterilisation process began on June 12 after public meetings agreed that the island’s monkeys, in the public ‘hot’ zones, needed to be sterilised and re-homed in a systematic program. Stage One to capture,…
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Injured sea snake found on Patong Beach
PHOTOS: Nattakorn Ruengroj facebook / Kapook An injured sea snake has been found on Patong Beach. A Facebook user, Nattakorn Ruengroj, yesterday (September 13) posted pictures of the sea snake on his personal Facebook page stating that ‘this injured snake was found on Patong Beach’ Local fishermen say sea snakes are usually found in open seas and swimming on the water…
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No conclusion yet over Phuket hospital issue – police commander
Executives of Vachira Phuket Hospital have still not resolved a situation that got our control outside their emergency rooms this week. Several videos of the incident went viral on social media showing a man being prevented access to the hospital to be with a relative in the emergency area. A report was filed with police concerning the man’s behaviour whilst the…
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Phoenix might be raised today – VIDEO
PHOTOS AND VIDEO: The Phuket Marine Office Divers headed underwater again yesterday (September 13) to check attachments to Phoenix in readiness to bring the wreck up to the surface. The Phuket PR Office reports that… “a team of divers yesterday morning (September 13) went down 45 metres underwater again. The first diver team arrived at the boat at 10am to check…
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Four live, one dead sea turtle, washed up on Phuket Beach
PHOTOS: Bang Yat / Newshawk Phuket Four live sea turtles and one dead were washed up on Nai Yang Beach this morning (September 13). All of them were stuck in fishing nets. Sririnat National Park officers were notified this morning about the four lives turtles that were found on Nai Yang Beach. The five turtles were stuck in the one…
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Two weather systems cooking up a storm, heading our way
It’s the wettest month of the year and we’re about to get plenty of moisture over the next five days, according to the Meteorological Department. “For most of Thailand, the wettest months are usually August-October. However, the Gulf Coast of the southern peninsula (e.g. Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan) is affected by the south-west monsoon which can lead to heavy…
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Stage Two in ‘Project Monkey’ being rolled out in Phuket
PHOTOS: The Phuket PR Office Stage One to capture, sterilize and release some of the excess monkey population around Phuket has been a great success. Time now for Stage Two. Cages have been placed at the two main hills overlooking Phuket Town – Khao To Sae and Khao Rang – yesterday (September 12) to catch some more Phuket monkeys for…
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Vachira Phuket Hospital clarify a ‘failure to communicate’
Executives of Vachira Phuket Hospital have been forced to address the media following a video going viral on social media about a man being prevented access to the hospital to be with a relative in the emergency area. The Hospital explained the issue in detail saying that a patient’s relative was disappointed with the service and not being allowed to…
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Phuket now has a world class shopping hub
by Tim Newton The population of Thailand is around 70 million people. I think most of them were at the opening night of the new Central Floresta on September 10. As far as openings go this must have put a smile on the Central owners and management involved in bringing this new shopping experience to fruition – it was a…
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Officers and locals join in Phuket Provincial Hall fire drill
PHOTOS: The Phuket PR Office Phuket today (September 12) held a fire drill evacuation at the Phuket Provincial City Hall. The drill was led by the Phuket Vice Governor Sanith Sriwihok, government officers and local residents. Vice Governor Snith says, “the fire evacuation drill is aimed at preparing for any emergency fire situations for officers, staff and local residents. We should…
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Female arrested for theft, including lottery tickets and tablets
Police have arrested a female who has stolen money, lottery tickets, a gold necklace and electronic tablets over the past few months. A team of the Phuket City Police arrested the 20 year old Lattiyakorn Sangdam from Songkhla at a housing estate in Wichit. Police seized an iPad, 2 gold necklaces worth around 8,000 baht, 2 Samsung tablets, and 350…
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Bangkok’s MRT given the green light to run Phuket and Chiang Mai light rails
Bangkok’s subway operator. the MRTA (Mass Rapid Transit Authority) has been given the green light to invest in the proposed Phuket/Phang Nga and Chiang Mai light rail services. The MRT is also going to run the service when the services are eventually constructed. The cabinet has approved some of the basic details of the project that will give the MRTA…
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Minivan driver seriously injured in Patong hill accident – VIDEO
A minivan driver has been seriously injured after allegedly falling asleep at the wheel whilst traversing Patong hill early this morning. (September 11). Patong Police were notified of the incident at 4.45am alerting them to the crash on Phra Baramee Road near the Patong City sign. Police and Kusoldharm rescue workers arrived to find a minivan that had careered through…
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Phase 3 funds for Phuket’s underground cable project requested
300 million baht has been requested for a new underground cable project ‘Phase 3’ along Thepkrasattri Road from the Rajabaht Intersection to Saphan Hin which is part of the longer-term project to convert Phuket Town into a ‘living museum’. The Phuket Provincial Public Works Town and Country Planning are requesting the funding for the next phase to move unsightly overhead cabling…
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Phuket underwear thief caught on CCTV – VIDEO
PHOTOS AND VIDEO from Newshawk Phuket CCTV footage shows a man stealing underwear from washing machines. A facebook username ‘Jassika Brownie’ yesterday (September 9) posted a video clip with a message reading ‘be careful when you take your clothes to wash in a coin washing machine. All women’s underwear has disappeared. This happened in Laem Hin.’ CCTV footage shows that…
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‘Smart Bus, Smart Passenger’ introduced for Phuket’s local buses
PHOTOS: Radio Thailand Phuket Load up the free App and track Phuket’s local Po Thong buses in real time. Well that’s the idea. The Global Positioning System (GPS) has been installed on 10 of Phuket’s local buses. These GPS local buses will be launched by the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) in October. The Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) Chief…
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The new Central Floresta is open
10.40am Monday, September 10, 2018. The new, highly-anticipated (by locals) Central Foresta opens it doors for the first time. Opposite the ‘old’ Central Festival, located at the Darasamuth Intersection, the new Central Floresta creates a ‘central’ shopping destination for the island to match anything in Thailand. The new Central Floresta combines the highest-end luxury brands with Peranakan-themed food halls, floating…
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Body found floating off Phang Nga
A body was found floating off Phang Nga on Friday (September 7) and is currently being checked for identification. Meanwhile, the search continues off the coast of Phang Nga for four fishermen after their boat overturned last Tuesday (September 4). Raead more about the fateful boat-trip HERE. On Friday (September 7) a body was found by local fishermen one mile offshore. Officers…
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Phoenix to be raised soon – VIDEO
PHOTO AND VIDEO: The Phuket Marine Office The Phoenix is ready to be raised as soon as the weather conditions are good enough. Officials say the equipment is all ready. It’s already been more than a month since the Phoenix salvage operation began. So far the wreck remains resting on the bottom of the Andaman Sea, 45 metres underwater. Read more about…
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A Mandarin for Phuket
PHOTO: The Mandarin Hotel Sanya Island One of Asia, and the globes, leading luxury hotel brands, Mandarin Oriental has inked a deal for a Phuket property. Mandarin Oriental, Phuket will be located on one of the undeveloped beachfront sites still to be found on ‘Millionaire’s Mile’ on the west coast of Phuket island. It will occupy 9.5 hectares of land in…
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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