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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Woman stages an accident and lies to police about gold theft
PHOTOS: Newshawk Phuket A woman has confessed to lying to police about two thieves that snatched her gold necklace and bracelet on Sakdidet Road in Wichit. On Tuesday, ‘Newshawk Phuket’ reported that two thieves snatched the gold necklace and bracelet weighing around 30g of gold, worth 40,000 baht, on Sakdidet Road in Wichit. Patrol police arrived at the scene to…
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Final night of Vegetarian Festival in Phuket – Photo montage
The final night of the annual vegetarian festival in Phuket Town is one of the most exciting, out-of-control, intense and noisy public events in the world. It’s also very dangerous. But, somehow, the participants, mostly, remain unscathed by the sense-assaulting final night activities which sends the nine emperor gods back to their home in the skies. For three hours firecrackers…
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Maya Bay recovering says marine biologist
Marine biologist Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat says Maya Bay is starting to recover after many Blacktip reef sharks were found swimming around yesterday. Dr Thon has commented on a video showing the Blacktip reef sharks found swimming near the shores of Maya Bay yesterday, “I have seen them about 2-3 times in the past week that I have been there. This…
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Invacio going global: AI company based in Phuket taking their message to the UN
Invacio, an artificial intelligence company based in Phuket, is attending a development event in Geneva, Switzerland. Invacio Research Analytics a group subsidiary of Invacio founded by William J D West and led by Linleeya West (Thai – Swiss Educated) will be attending this auspicious event, organised at the UN headquarters in Geneva. Linleeya West sees this as a great opportunity…
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Leatherback turtles face extinction
by Pratch Rujivanarom It may be too late to save leatherback turtles from extinction in Thailand’s seas, as a legal deadlock prevents a conservation status upgrade to protect this critically endangered turtle species and three other rare marine animals. Wildlife conservationists are warning that the slow pace of stepping up the conservation of the leatherback turtle, whale shark, Bryde’s whale…
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Can Thailand lure the Chinese back?
After half a decade of incredible growth in Chinese tourism to Thailand, the numbers are now in a tail-spin as numbers drop off around the country. With annual rises of 20-50% per annum for half a decade there has been a big drop off in the last quarter (Q3) of 2018. This is the key statistic as compiled in two…
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Phuket Immigration wind up ‘Operation X-ray Outlaw Foreigner’ crackdown
Phuket Immigration officers say they’re committed to the national crackdown called Operation X-ray Out Law Foreigner, especially on overstayers. As a show of force yesterday, more than 252 officers from the Phuket Immigration Office, the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Thai Navy, the Phuket Provincial Police, Highway Police, Tourist Police and Marine Police assembled at the Phuket City Police Station.…
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Mai Khao’s ‘West Sands’ CEO being quizzed by police following last week’s death on Thepkasattri Road
PHOTO: Facebook.com – Paul John Mercer The British CEO of a luxury hotel along Mai Khao Beach in Phuket, is going to be quizzed by police in Phuket after running over and killing a roadside scavenger in his luxury Mercedes last week. Original report about the Wednesday morning incident HERE. The British expat is being investigated by Thai police after his Mercedes-Benz…
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Tour operators boycott visits to Similan and Surin islands to protest new restrictions
The tour operators have had enough of the winding back of tour boat operations and are now resorting to boycotting and ‘disrupting’ the tours in order to get their protests heard. About 50 tour operators in Phuket and Phang nga say they’re suspending boat trips to Similan-Surin islands in the Andaman sea (off the coast of Phang-Nga) today and tomorrow…
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Minivan driver escapes serious injury after colliding with an ice truck in Thalang
A minivan diver has escaped serious injury after colliding into the back of an ice truck yesterday in Thalang. Thalang Police were notified about the incident on Thepkrasattri Road, southbound, near the Srisoonthorn Temple (Wat Baan Pohn). Police and rescue workers arrived to find a minivan driver with the front almost totally destroyed. No passenger were inside the minivan at…
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Similans re-open with tight new restrictions
by Pratch Rujivanarom The number of visitors to the Similan Islands will be capped at 3,850 people per day as part of new tourism management reforms to preserve the pristine natural beauty of the islands and promote sustainable eco-tourism. When Mu Koh Similan National Park reopens today, tourists will discover some changes on the islands; they will find more tranquil beaches…
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Man’s body found at Bang Pae Waterfalls
PHOTOS: Newshawk Phuket Newshawk Phuket reported at 3.22pm today that emergency responders had been called to the Bang Pae Waterfall in Paklok to search for a 25 year old man from Pattani. He had gone swimming in the ponds at the base of the waterfalls, as many do, but vanished prompting the man’s friends to alert officials. At 5.07pm this afternoon…
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Two escape serious injury when a truck overturned in Kamala
PHOTOS: Kamala Police Two people have escaped serious injury after the truck they were travelling in over-turned in Kamala this afternoon. Kamala Police were notified of the accident around 2 pm. Police arrived to find the six wheeler truck over-turned on the side of the road. The truck driver was named by police as 37 year old Somchai Chueaput from Nakhon…
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Maya Bay coral “far from ready”
by Pratch Rujivanrom The corals at Maya Bay are not strong enough yet to withstand the influx of visitors. This latest from the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP) explaining reasons for the indefinite closure of the bay. Though the iconic tourist attraction in Krabi’s Had Nopparat Tara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park has been off limits for…
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Phuket Vegetarian processions continue – Day Three
The Phuket vegetarian street processions continue to amaze, thrill and scare spectators. Thais, expats and foreign tourists are enjoyed watching and participating in some of the processions on day three. The festival will run until October 17 this year. Read more about the launch of this year’s vegetarian festival HERE. Today was the third day of street processions around Phuket Town.…
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Man shoots himself in Rassada, Phuket
The younger brother of a famous Phuket business man has shot and killed himself in Rassada. Phuket City Police were called to the scene at Soi Srisuchart View on Chalerm Phrakiet Rama 9 (Bypass) Road at 4.30pm yesterday. Police and medical staff arrived to find a parked Toyota pickup truck. In the back of the pickup truck they found the…
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Power outage to hit parts of Karon
The Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) says they’re going to have scheduled blackouts in Karon on October 16. Residents of Karon are being advised that there is a scheduled power outages on the day from 7am to 5pm as the PEA continues its work on high power voltage systems in the area. Areas to be effected are area in front…
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Regular boat checks being enforced on Phuket
Thailand’s Marine Department says it has assigned more officers to check boats at every port and pier on Phuket. It’s part of a campaign to tighten regulations for tourist boats and also improve marine security after the tragic boat accident that killed 46 Chinese tourists in July. According to a report filed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand Newsroom, the…
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UWC Thailand presents free screening of “SCREENAGERS”
In keeping with UWC Thailand’s (UWCT) commitment to helping students, parents and the wider community develop a ‘Good Heart, Balanced Mind, Healthy Body’, the school is hosting a complimentary showing of the internationally acclaimed film ‘Screenagers’ for families across Phuket on Friday, November 2 at 8:30am. In ‘Screenagers’, as with her award-winning documentaries on mental health, Physician and filmmaker Dr.…
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Thonglor Pet Hospital enters Phuket market
by Kwanchai Rungfabaisarn Thonglor Pet Hospital has announced that it has bought a majority stake in a Phuket facility, marking the company’s expansion into the South. The company said it had formed a joint venture for the investment deal with Chalong Phuket Pet Hospital, which has operated in Chalong Beach on the resort island for more than 16 years. Thonglor…
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Phuket boys return tourist’s cash and belongings
PHOTOS: Newshawk Phuket Yesterday two Phuket boys did the right thing and returned a small bag to Police after they found it at Khao Kard – an Ao Yon viewpoint in Wichit. Wichit Patrol Police were delivered the bag by 14 year olds Peerayut Chaitin and Arneen Yukunthorn. They are both studying at Phuket Wittayalai School. Police say the boys…
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Airport tips for cheapies – Bangkok
Heading out of Bangkok and looking for a few financial short-cuts? Getting to the airport, Don Mueang or Suvarnabhumi, needs a bit of planning. To get to Don Muaeng from the Bangkok on time a taxi is probably going to be your best bet. If it’s in one of the peaks the taxi can take the ‘top floor’ route which…
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Phuket vegetarian festival processions kick off
The famous, or infamous, Phuket vegetarian street processions have started. Thais, expats and foreign tourists enjoyed watching some of the processions during this morning’s rain. The festival is held until October 17 this year. This year’s Phuket Vegetarian Festival was announced in the Royal Thai Government Gazette as a ‘Phuket event of cultural heritage’. Read more about the launch of…
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Pedestrian killed in Thalang after being struck by Mercedes Benz
A pedestrian has been killed in a road accident early today in Thalang. Thalang Police were notified of the incident early this morning on Thepkrasattri Road in Thalang. Emergency responders arrived to find body parts scattered on the road. The person’s head was separated from the body. A trolley carrying garbage was found scattered nearby. Thalang Police reported that a…
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Overnight stays cancelled for Similan Islands
Environmentalists and marine biologists have scored another win for the local eco-system with the closure of the Similan Islands to overnight stays. Concern over degradation of coral reefs and the marine ecology of the Similan Islands, caused by polluted water discharged into the sea, is prompting the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation to prohibit overnight accommodation on…
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Go Teng poles raised, Phuket Vegetarian Festival underway
Vegetarian Festival participants raised Go Teng poles at every Chinese shrine in Phuket yesterday afternoon. The 2018 Phuket Vegetarian Festival is now open and underway. Phuket Governor Pakkapong Tawipat attended the pole raising at the Jui Tui shrine to allow the Jade Emperor, one of the Nine Emperor Gods, to descend from the heavens – marking the start of the 2018 festivities.…
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Suspect drove off Patong Hill after killing wife
A man, who bashed his wife’s head against the wall, killing her, sustained serious injuries after driving a car, colliding with a motorbike and careering over the side of Patong hill yesterday around midday. The man has been identified as 42 year old Bancha Jaijan from Nan in northern Thailand. Kathu Police were notified that a woman had been killed at…
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Two injured in midday Patong Hill collision
Two people have been injured in a Patong Hill accident today. Kathu Police were notified of the accident just before noon. Police and rescue workers arrived to discover a Toyota Vios sedan 80 metres down then side of Patong Hill in a rubber plantation. The driver was stuck inside the car. Rescue workers had to free him before transferring the…
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Two suspects surrender to police
Two suspects, involved in the weekend’s Thalang murder, have surrendered to Chalong police after arrest warrants were issued. Read more about the crime that shocked the Thalang community HERE. The two suspects have been named as 20 year old Sutat Saarddee from Nakhon Si Thammarat while the driver’s name is 21 year old Jeerapong Jongchitklang from Nakhon Ratchasima. The arrest…
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Maya Bay compromise: “We’ll meet halfway”
The scientists say Maya Bay must remain closed until it has recovered from the rampant tourist ‘love’ and protective walkways and new landing piers can be constructed on the other side of Koh Phi Phi Ley. Tour operators say they’re going to suffer with the loss of the region’s most popular tourist attraction from their daily schedules. Krabi tourism stakeholders,…
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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