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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12Go introduces Japan Rail Passes to enhance travel accessibility for international travellers
For those who have travelled throughout Thailand, 12Go is a well-known provider of various trips, though the platform itself has a much wider reach. Ranging from buses to planes, 12Go is undoubtedly a leading booking platform for travel throughout the...
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Sharks on order – Phuket seafood restaurants
PHOTO: Sunshine Sketcher “Sea food restaurants along Kata and Karon Beach are famous among tourists as prices of dishes are quite reasonable.” The IUCN is calling for every country to educate tourists to protect sharks before they become extinct. More sharks have now been discovered hanging in front of seafood restaurants along the Karon restaurant strip. Read more about recent sightings…
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Seven year old recovering after attack from wild dogs in Phang Nga
“The dogs have been captured and are no longer a danger to beachgoers.” Daily News is reporting that a seven year old boy is fighting for his life in Vachira Hospital Phuket after being mauled by a pack of dogs at a beach near the Sarasin Bridge, on the Phang Nga side. “D-Max” was just out playing with his friends…
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Boy seriously injured after mauling by dogs near Sarasin Bridge
A seven year old boy has been seriously injured after being attacked and mauled by a group of dogs near Sarasin Bridge. Sarasin Bridge connects Phuket with the Thai mainland. The seven year old boy is Yueanyong ‘D-Max’ Chairab. He was attacked by four dogs at a beach near Sarasin Bridge in Thanoon, Takua Tung on the Phang Nga side…
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Chinese tourists injured in Chalong ATV accident
Two Chinese tourists have sustained injuries after driving an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle – Dune Buggy) off the side of a hillside in Karon. Rescue workers heard about the accident on the Nark Kerd Hills in Karon at 4.20pm yesterday (Sunday). When they arrived they found the two injured female Chinese tourists. The pair were identified as 28 year old…
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OPINION – One, two, three bad incidents on Patong Hill within 24 hours
The bottom of Patong Hill, on the Patong side, has been the scene of numerous fatalities over the past 20 years. Following a steep decent and some tight windy turns, some vehicles simply come to grief. Residents and shops at the bottom of the hill have built barriers, walls and fencing to try and defend themselves from the parade of…
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Suspect dies in Phuket road incident after killing his wife – VIDEO
The car driver, who died in the crash on Phuket’s Bypass road yesterday, appears to have crashed his car intentionally after killing his wife. The car driver was killed after colliding with a pickup truck at a U-Turn in the road. The dash cam video from the man’s car appears to clearly indicate the driver’s intentions. Read more about the…
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43 foreign Phuket tourists saved after speedboat capsizes on way to Koh Phi Phi – VIDEO
VIDEO: อันดาวารี 43 foreign tourists from Phuket have been saved after water started pouring into a speedboat they were travelling in and capsized on the way to Koh Phi Phi. At 11.40 am yesterday a speedboat named ‘Apitsada 1’ with 43 foreign tourists and two Thai guides, left from Chalong Pier to Koh Mai Thon and Koh Phi Phi. When they…
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Chinese tourists caught on camera removing sea stars at Coral Island
An Asian tourist has been caught on camera showing a sea star on a beach at Coral Island. Siriwan Kawprasert, a local on the island, has reported to The Thaiger that many Chinese tourists have bringing sea stars from the sea to the beach. Locals have warned them to put them back where they found them. Khun Siriwan told The…
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Rawai locals protest against high Dengue rates in southern Phuket
VIDEO: Nicholas Spaethe Rawai and Nai Harn locals in southern Phuket, along with the Rawai Or Bor Tor Mayor Aaron Solos, protested this morning about the rise in Dengue Fever cases in the area. They say they are concerned about the high rates of contracting the virus in the south of the island and are calling on the provincial government…
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Dugong found dead at Phang Nga Beach
PHOTO: DMCR A 300 kilogram dugong has been found dead on a beach in Takua Thung, Phang Nga, yesterday. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) is reporting that they have been notified from the national park officials in Phang Nga that a dugong was found dead near a cave at Koh Panak in Takua Thung in Phang Nga.…
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Motorbike rider dies in head-on between Patong and Kamala – VIDEO
PHOTOS: Phuket Traffic Report A motorbike driver has died as a result of injuries sustained when his motorbike collided, head on, with a mini van. The man was a UK citizen. Kamala rescue workers were notified of the incident on the Patong-Kamala road at 20.57 pm last night. The head-on collision happened just near the entrance to Nakalay Palm condo.…
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Coral damage from a sunken fishing boat at Koh Racha Noi – Phuket
PHOTOS: Thon Thamrongnawasawat More than 50 square metres of coral has been damaged after a fishing boat sank at Koh Racha Noi off Phuket. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources is reporting that they were notified about a fishing boat the sank at Koh Racha Noi yesterday. The fishing boat had sunk on January 18 after it was battered by…
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All day dining at The Patong Bay Hill Resort – Phuket
A tropical, luxurious resort nestled into the landscape of Hasibpee Hill, the Patong Bay Hill Resort overlooks the ocean and the Patong Beach neighborhood below. The resort offers sweeping sea and city views to accompany its suite-style accommodation, and features a wide variety of on-site amenities and a fantastic all day dining restaurant. The all day dining restaurant at Patong…
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Bus crash on Patong Hill takes out 12 other vehicles, passengers in bus shaken
PHOTOS: Phuket Traffic Report VIDEO: Provided by Newshawk Phuket The tour bus accident on Patong yesterday afternoon, the third such incident in the same spot within 24 hours, has caused three injuries and with vehicles damaged as the bus careered down the hill, out of control. There were 10 tourists on the bus who were shaken by the incident but…
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Chalong Police tracking down a foreigner caught on camera carrying a sea star
Chalong Police are trying to track down a foreign man caught on camera carrying a sea star along Chalong Pier. Chalong Police are checking CCTV footage at the Chalong Pier to find the foreign man who was caught on camera carrying sea stars in a plastic bag along the pier on Tuesday. Read more about the story HERE. Khanchit Klingklip, who…
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Thailand Tourism Forum 2019 – Reflections #1
PHOTO: Thailand Tourism Forum 2019 One of the key points made at the recently concluded Thailand Tourism Forum 2019 in Bangkok, was the country’s over reliance on mass tourism. Jesper Palmqvist of STR presented full year hotel data for Phuket which showed signs of recovery, yet highlighting the full impact of the drop in Chinese business after the July boat…
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Foreign tourist caught carrying protected sea star at Chalong Pier – VIDEO
PHOTOS/VIDEO: Khanchit Klingklip A foreign man has been caught on camera carrying sea star along Chalong pier yesterday. A Facebook user ‘Khanchit Klingklip’, a member of a nature resources volunteer network, yesterday posted photos and a video with a message reading, “6pm at Chalong Pier, a foreign man was carrying sea star inside a plastic bag. Why can’t he just watch…
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Truck crash on Patong Hill causes three hour traffic delays – VIDEO
PHOTOS: Kusoldharm Foundation The driver of a truck, blaming failed brakes, has collided with another truck along with cars, pickups and motorbikes on Patong Hill late yesterday afternoon. The incident caused about three hours of traffic mayhem, particularly for traffic heading out of Patong. The delay also caused bank ups right through Kalim as Kamala traffic was trying to get…
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African Swine Fever detected in pork products at Phuket Airport
“ASF cannot be transmitted to humans although scientists are wary that the virus is capable of mutating into other strains in the future.” Processed sausage and salami pork products have been seized at Phuket International Airport from a Chinese tourist. They were confiscated when they were found to contain a viral strain of the African Swine Fever (ASF). The Department…
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The 35 billion baht white elephant – Phuket’s light rail
“About the only thing feasible in this rendering is the blue sky.” Spending 35 billion baht on infrastructure that few will use, is planned on the least useful route and will cause mayhem for a 3-5 year build time is a waste of money. The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) is currently chatting to the private sector and…
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Some restrictions lifted for superyachts in the region
PHOTO: katarocks.com Thailand is poised to ease rules on bareboat charters as well as introducing new measures to attract more luxury and super yachts into the region. The new measures were laid out in a presentation called “Highlighting Strategies for Attracting Yachts and Improving Safety at Sea” held at the 2019 Thailand Yacht Show and Rendezvous in Phuket. Gordon Fernandes,…
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Suspect hands himself in to police, denies charges in Saphan Hin shooting
A suspect has handed himself in to police after an arrest warrant was issued over a Saphan Hin shooting last week. The suspect is denying the charges. A Thai man was shot dead near Saphan Hin in eastern Phuket last week. An arrest warrant was issued for the suspect shortly after as police went hunting for the suspect identified by…
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Legal action taken against people who removed beer cans from beer truck accident scene
PHOTOS / VIDEO: Thanakrit Asulyakul / Mana Sombat / Kanlaya Singkangrang / Kritsada Mueanhawong Legal action has already been taken against four people who ‘removed’ beer cans after a truck carrying boxes of beer cans overturned in Phuket on January 11. A logistic company representative has filed a report with police after more than 80,000 beer cans, valued at more…
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Police hunting for driver in hit and run – Patong
WARNING: Extreme graphic content Patong Friday, January 18, 2.06am – Police are trying to locate the driver of this hit and run silver sedan in Patong. If you have any information please contact the Tourist Police or Patong Police – 1155 or 191 (Thai) VIDEO: Newshawk Phuket https://www.facebook.com/thethaigernews/videos/288527705179718/
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Police searching for the killer after shooting near Saphan Hin
A Thai man has been shot dead near Saphan Hin in eastern Phuket earlier today. The arrest warrant has already been issued for the suspect. The Wichit Police were notified of the incident on Rattanakosin 200 pi Road near Saphan Hin at 3.40am this morning. Police and rescue workers arrived to find the body of 30 year old Teerasak Saeong…
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Danish tourist dies in Phuket road accident
A male Danish tourist, driving a motorbike, has died after colliding with a truck in front of a market in Kathu. The Kathu Police were notified of the incident on Phra Phuket Keaw Road in front of the new outdoor Vintage Market in Kathu at 3am yesterday morning. Police and Kusoldharm rescue workers arrived at the U-turn to find the…
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Australian woman deported for overstaying visa by over 100 days
PHOTOS: Facebook/Claire Johnson An Australian woman, who was caught overstaying her visa by 111 days, will be released from detention and deported by Thai authorities tonight. She came to the media’s attention on Monday after sending urgent messages to a friend saying that she was being taken to a detention centre and that “they are taking my phone”. 46 year…
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What to do if a pet tests positive for Rabies
PHOTO: PR Department An announcement about animals in a Rabies Outbreak Zone. These are things that pet owners must do when it has tested positive for rabies. • Pet owners must follow Animal Epidemics Act 2015. • No person may move an infected animal or carcass specified in such announcement into, out of, through or within such zone unless they…
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Australian man found hanged outside home in Thalang
An Australian man has been found hanged outside his house in Thalang. The family of the victim told police that the man had been suffering from extreme stress brought on by financial concerns. He was worried that he might not be able to afford their school tuition and was further affected by his children’s lack of attention and time spent…
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International Hip Hop sensation at Sugar Club Phuket
Sugar Club Phuket is hyped to host the Thailand premier of US Hip Hop sensation Rae Sremmurd, live on Tuesday, January 22. Ever since Rae Sremmurd exploded onto the scene with SremmLife bangers “No Flex Zone”, “Unlock the Swag” & “No Type”, Hip Hop parties just haven’t been the same. Brothers Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi may be relative new-kids…
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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