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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Airport expansion plans, exactly a decade ago
In the wake of this week’s AoT announcement about the two new airports – one for Phuket and Chiang Mai – it’s only ten years ago, exactly, that funding was announced for the expansion of Phuket International Airport. Digging into the archives the article from May 23, 2008, says that in 2009 the AoT was expecting 6 million passengers to…
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Swede, 24 found hanged on Patong Hill, Phuket
A 24 year old Swedish man has been found hanged on Patong Hill. Patong Police were notified of the incident at behind the tiger shrine (Pun Tuao Kong Chinese Shrine) on Phra Baramee Road, at the top of Patong Hill, yesterday (May 26). Police and Kusoldharm rescue workers arrived at the scene to find the body of foreign man, later identified as…
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New airports in Phuket and Chiang Mai will ‘ease congestion’.
There’s been mainly positive response to the news that the AoT have approved the construction of two new airports – one in Phuket and one in Chiang Mai. The Director of the Thai tourism department says the decision is an important part of the support needed for ever-growing tourist arrivals. Yuthasak Supasorn, says it is a good sign for the industry,…
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Coral bleaching found off Phuket
The marine ecology division of the Marine Biological Centre has reported on research about coral bleaching in the areas around Phuket. The first stage of coral bleaching has been found in some areas around Koh Payu (Ao Kung area), Koh Maithon, Koh Aew and Koh Hey. In some areas in the seas where the research was conducted the water temperature…
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Miss Grand Thailand 2018 heading to Phuket to raise charity funds
Miss Grand Thailand contest is heading to Phuket at the end of next month. This year’s charity event will be working with local Phuket students and buying new bike helmets to promote bike safety for the island’s young riders. Miss Grand Thailand contestants from 77 provinces around the nation will be in Phuket for charity activities from June 30 –…
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New airports approved for Phuket and Chiang Mai
After four years of false starts and rumours it looks like Phuket will now get a much-needed second airport to feed the island and the surrounding region. Yesterday’s announcement by AoT (Airports of Thailand) comes after extensive studies to examine the extension of the current Phuket airport runway which is hemmed in by Thepkasattri Road at one end and the…
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Phuket City of Gastronomy event June 1-5, 2018
The Phuket City of Gastronomy event is back for the fourth year and will be held in the first week of June in Phuket Town. A press conference was held yesterday (May 24) at Novotel Phuket Phokeethra Hotel in Phuket Town and hosted by the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) Chief, Dr Jirapan Taepan. Dr Jirapan says, “the event has been…
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Whale shark search continues around Phang Nga Bay
PHOTO: Searching Phang Nga Bay on Tuesday. Officials from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and the Marine Endangered Species Unit at the Phuket Marine Biological Centre continued looking for for the whale shark which was spotted caught in a fishing net a week ago. There were strong winds and waves up to one metre high hampering the search. Distance…
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National complaints filed against the TOT managing director
A complaint has been filed at the Damrongdhama Centre in the Phuket Provincial Hall today (May 24). About 10 staff members of TOT Public Company Limited Phuket Office, led by Adireak Tipmongkol, filed a letter to the Thai prime minister. The letter requests the dismissal of Monchai Noosong, managing director of the TOT, from his position. TOT is one of Thailand’s…
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E-Cigarette/Vaping shop raided in Wichit. Owner arrested.
A team of officers from the 5th Infantry Division of the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command have raided ‘JP Adventure’ shop in Wichit. Officers arrested a 37 year old woman, Sonklin Janmamuang. Officers seized 47 electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and 193 bottles of e-cigarette liquids. Officers also seized 6 cans of ‘baraku’. Each can contained 50grams. Sonklin was taken to Wichit…
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Damage found in the Ao Kung mangroves
Watcharin Thinthalang, Director of the Phuket Marine and Coastal Management Division of the Phuket Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) says, “Ao Kung mangrove forest is under the protection of local laws. Any digging, dredging or other actions for a marina or other development can only be done through proper legal processes and current laws protecting mangrove forest areas.” Today’s…
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Chinese delegation discuss Phuket safety issues
A meeting held yesterday (May 23) at the Pearl Hotel in Phuket Town, hosted by Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong. The meeting was to discuss the growth of Chinese tourism on the island and ways to ensure better safety whilst they’re visiting. Joining the Governor were the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Songkhla Mr Zhou Haicheng, the Director…
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Special Report: Saving Maya Bay
By Pattarawadee Saengmanee The island, Koh Phi Phi Ley, made famous by the movie “The Beach”, is due to get a complete makeover as part of a new project designed to protect the environment and the ocean. As I step out of the boat on the shore of Maya Bay, my brain goes into overdrive. Where, I ask myself, is…
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Officials call for help in the search for the whale shark
A team of officials, led by director of the Phuket Marine and Coastal Management Division of the Phuket Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Watcharin Thinthalang, have been following the issue of the whale shark caught off Phuket last Friday. “Before, the search for the whale shark covered an area 24 kilometres from the original position it was spotted. Now the…
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Andaman Hotelier and Tourism Fair 2018 to be held next month
A press conference, announcing this year’s Andaman Hotelier and Tourism Fair, was held yesterday (May 22) at ‘Public House’ in Central Festival Phuket. The event was hosted by the Phuket Governnor Norraphat Plodthong along with the Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand Phuket Office, Kanokkittika Kritwuttikorn and the chief of the Phuket Provincial Office of Tourism and Sports, Sirawee Waloh. The Andaman…
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Phuket officials urged to push ahead with ‘Smart Beach’ project
Pracha Asawateera, manager of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) Southern Branch says, “Phuket is now in the process of upgrading beach safety by using technology called the ‘Smart Beach’ project. CCTV cameras will be used as part of the safety efforts. More people are enjoying Phuket’s beaches but we don’t have enough lifeguards to look after them all the time.”…
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Phuket Governor inspects Chalong Circle in preparation for new traffic routing
Yesterday (May 22) the Phuket Governor, Norraphat Plodthong, with a team of officials in tow, headed down to Chalong Circle to inspect the progress (or lack thereof). Governor Norraphat says, “the Chalong Underpass is now 45% complete. Workers are now working to dig a tunnel under the actual Chalong Circle roundabout. So the roundabout will have to be closed and…
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Man found dead in Rassada lagoon
The body of a 66 year old man has been discovered in a lagoon in Rassada. Phuket City Police were notified of the incident at a lagoon inside a housing estate in Rassada by Kusodharm rescue workers at 5pm yesterday (May 21). Police arrived at the scene to find the man’s body who was later identified as Taweesak Kamkiet. His…
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Urgent measures ordered to protect marine animals
The Provincial Government are pressing all the right buttons and saying all the right things in the wake of the whale shark fiasco. A whale shark was caught in a fishing net last Friday. Video of the whale shark being lifted from the water and the fishermen trying to free it from the net by hauling the shark up on…
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Locals in Rassada agree with monkey birth control and moving to nearby islands
Today (May 22) a public hearing was held with the Tha Chin community in Rassada led by Director of the Natural and Wildlife Education Centre at Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area in Thalang Pongchart Chouehorm. More than 180 locals joined in the public hearing to discuss the monkey problem in the area. Five suitable islands off the coast of Phuket…
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Romeo, Romeo. What can you do for Ride4Kids?
What does it take to make the hair on your arms stand up? The goose bump moments; with all the hair standing at attention inspired with passion and hope. Meet Romeo, a 13 year old boy, who is a living breathing testament to living a life of hope and passion. The term ‘boy’ is draped rather loosely. Do not confuse his…
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Officials inspect alleged land encroachment in Kamala and Rawai
Officials from the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), led by deputy secretary-general Lt Col Korntip Daroj, have inspected two alleged land encroachments – one in Kamala and one in Rawai. Officials first inspected the Pak Bang public animal agistment reserve in Kamala which is claimed to be rented by foreigners for their own use. “The northern boundary borders with a coconut tree…
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One man, three boys arrested with crystal meth and hundred of methamphetamine pills
A team of the Phuket City Police led by Capt Teerasak Narasri have arrested 29 year old Anucha ‘X’ Damyang. Police sized 0.39 grams of crystal methamphetamine. He was charged with possession of Category 1 drug. The arrest came after police saw Anucha sitting on the side of the road in Soi Rassada Ramluek in Rassada. He looked suspicious. Police…
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Captains to face more charges in whale shark incident
The captain of the ‘Sang Samut 3’ fishing boat, Somsamai Meejom (the fishing vessel at the centre of last Friday’s whale shark catch) says, “We did not realise that the whale shark was caught in fishing net. Boat crews pulled the fishing net up and could feel that it was very heavy. We thought that we had caught a log.”…
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Whale shark search starts off Phuket
Yesterday (May 20) a team of officials led by Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Director-General Jatuporn Burutpat went in search of the whale shark that fisherman claim was alive after they freed it from their fishing nets. The searching covered 40 kilometres between Koh Lon, Koh Hey and Koh Bon. Binoculars, drones and echo sounding devices have been used…
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Four more drug suspects arrested in Phuket
A team from Phuket’s Provincial Police have arrested four suspects. Police first arrested 27 year old Adisak ‘Kae’ Boonsawang at an apartment in Soi Luk Kaew in Rassada. Police seized 25 of methamphetamine pills. He was taken to the Phuket City Police Station to face charges with possession of Category 1 drug with intend to sell. Police then arrested 50…
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DMCR officials inspect the coral areas in Paklok
Last week locals spoke out against the establishment of a new marina near Koh Hei in the Ao Kung area of Paklok (in between Ao Po and Boat Haven marinas). Conservationists and locals are worried that there will be damage to the coral if construction of a marina is started along with the dredging of a channel for boats to…
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Phuket community supporting Ride 4 Kids V2.0
Ride 4 Kids V2.0 for 2018 is in full swing. The event will run from from June 11 – 16. 20 riders and crew will be jumping in the saddle and riding 700 kms all in the name of charity – Phuket-Phang Nga-Krabi-Surat Thani-Khao Sok-Khao Lak-Phuket. Three charities will once again be supported this year, The Good Shepherd, Phuket Has Been…
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‘It is not the whale shark’s baby’ – Fishing boat captain
On Saturday (May 19) officials at the Phuket Fisheries Port In-Port Out Control Centre (PiPo) says, “There were 13 boat crews on Sang Samut 3 fishing boat on which Somsamai Meejom is the captain. They departed from the pier on May 11 and scheduled to return on May 22.” “We were informed that the boat will be back early on…
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Emerald Group says it will continue with its developments
(Translated from Thai) A press conference held at Dara Hotel on Saturday afternoon (May 19) was hosted by Emeral Development Group’s Sawit ‘Mai’ Ketroj. Mr Sawit says, “News about Phuket Future Group Co.,Ltd. real estate projects, which is one of companies in Emerald Group located at Kalim Patong, has damaged us. The news has affected the Phuket real estate business…
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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