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.
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TAT article promoting ‘friendly waves’ gets slammed
Bad timing for the TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand) after they posted a feature on August 10 that promoted surfing off Phuket’s west coast beaches. Phuket is currently facing a crisis of confidence over the lack of adequate lifeguard services along its west coast beaches, battered annually by heavy seas and deadly rip tides and currents from the south-west monsoon.…
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Private sector proposes southern economic plan to mobile Cabinet
PHOTO: Emulating the French Riviera, but with better beaches. “The Andaman Riviera”? Emulating the famous French Riviera coast is part of a plan to promote the Andaman coastline, which includes Ranong, Phang Nga and Phuket as the star attractions and wrapping up other southern provinces into the new tourist precinct – just a part of recommendations to the mobile cabinet sitting…
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Chinese tourist drowns at Koh Racha
A male Chinese tourist, who ignored red flags, has drowned at Koh Racha yesterday (August 19). Chalong Police were notified at 1.40pm that a tourist was unconscious after being pulled from surf just off the island’s main beach. The tourist was immediately taken on a speedboat back to Chalong Pier. The tourist was later identified as 32 year old Zhang…
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More fake goods seized in Patong
Yesterday (August 17) police and soldiers raided a warehouse in Patong and seized more than 200 counterfeit goods. A team of officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) joined the raid at the warehouse of Lanta Souvenir in Patong’s OTOP Market on Rat-Uthit 200 pi Road. 28 year old Wut Boonkanpai was present and was acting as the shop’s…
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Central Phuket opens on September 10
The new Central Phuket is set to open its doors on September 10. The announcement was made at Centara Grand Beach Resort, also owned by the Central Pattana Group. The concept of the new shopping centre, twice as big as the current Central Festival, is ‘The World Comes To Play’. The new complex will feature 20 of the world’s biggest…
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Tourist numbers tumble as Chinese media expose entrenched safety problems
The fallout from July’s tragic boat accident are just now starting to bite as tourists, who would have been about to make a booking around the time the accident happened, decided to book an alternate holiday destination instead. Despite the bravado and PR exercises, many Thai business people are secretly worried about the big drop-off in numbers. The drop in…
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Hilton Phuket helping with English lessons for Kamala students
Markus Kosch, general manager of Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa, together with hotel management teams, recently visited a local school in Kamala to assist with English lessons for the day whilst providing sponsorship for the school valued at 100,000 baht. The donation was made to the Phuket Has Been Good To Us Foundation in May 2018 in order to…
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Five suspects arrested with illicit drugs
Five drug suspects have been arrested with methamphetamine pills, crystal methamphetamine and kratom. A team of officers led by Capt Teerasak Narasri from the Phuket City Police Station have arrested four suspects including 46 year old Tanet ‘Pok’ Saeton from Phuket at a house in Rassada. Police seized 534.8 grams and a parcel box. He has been charged with illegal…
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DSI crackdown on foreigners using Thai nominees: Law firm raided in Bangkok, Phuket and Samui
Four offices of the same investment advisory firm have been raided in Bangkok, Phuket and Samui. Coordinated raids on the offices of what appears to be a single advisory firm were conducted by the DSI (Department of Special Investigations), police and Board of Investment representatives. Pictures showed that the company is DFDL Thailand Legal and Tax. This company offers “investment advisory…
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Warning for boats going to sea until August 19
The Phuket Marine Office has made an official announcement for boats to be careful when going to sea from today, August 17-19, due to poor weather. The announcement was issued yesterday stating that “The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) has forecast that during August 17-19 the monsoon will cause waves up to four metres in the open sea.” “For navigation…
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Phuket 13 beaches get ‘star’ treatment from environment office
13 Phuket beaches have received certificates after passing environmental tests and qualification. 34 business operators in the Andaman provinces also received wastewater management certification. Phuket Vice Governor Thawornwat Kongkaew yesterday (August 15) presented the certificates at Pearl Hotel in Phuket Town to local administrative organisations for ‘star’ beaches and business operators for good wastewater management. “There are 13 famous Phuket…
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Rawai Cultural Street Festival to be held at Phromthep Cape
Make it a date: August 29 & 30. The Rawai Municipality will hold a Rawai Cultural Street Festival at the end of this month. Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos has announced that the Rawai Cultural Street Fair will be held from August 29-30 at Promthep Cape at the southern end of the island. Mayor Aroon says, “This festival is to encourage…
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Body found floating off Kata Beach identified as Surat Thani man
The body of a man who is believed to be from Surat Thani was found floating just off Kata beach yesterday (August 15). Back on Monday evening, Karon Police were alerted about a tourist who was missing. A search was launched and kept going until midnight. Read more HERE. Karon Police were then notified yesterday from locals that a body…
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Black-out in parts of Patong tomorrow
Some residents in Patong are being warned that the Patong Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has a scheduled blackout in parts of Patong from 9am to 5pm tomorrow (August 16). They say the interruption to electricity services is necessary to work on high-voltage power lines. The affected area include Sirirat Road from Phuket Simon Cabaret to the Front Village Hotel. The…
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Yanui the crocodile has her DNA tests today
Veterinarians from Mahidol University took blood from ‘Yanui’ the crocodile for DNA testing this morning. The results of Yanui’s precise species will have to wait for about two weeks. Today (August 15), at the Phuket Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Centre in Pa Khlok, officials and Veterinary staff visited Yanui to take blood samples for DNA testing. No microchip has…
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Water to be shut off in Chalong tomorrow
The Phuket Water Authority (PWA) has announced that water supply in some areas of Chalong will be shut off from 9am tomorrow (August 16) until repair works can be completed. Water will be shut off while work is being carried out on main pipes at the entrance of Soi Tanuthep on Chao Fa West Road in Chalong. Areas to be affected…
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Phoenix will rise again… today
Divers and engineers attempting to bring Phoenix up to the surface yesterday say they were struggling with strong underwater currents yesterday (August 14). So the anticipated rise of the Phoenix had to be postponed. They say they were hoping to attach the last hook yesterday morning but the currents were making things difficult for the underwater salvage team. The boat was expected…
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New Phuket governor arrives October 1
The New Phuket Governor will start to work on the island on October 1 while the current governor Norraphat Plodthong will be finishing at the end of next month. The cabinet has approved the new Phuket governor to replace current Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong who will be retiring this September 30. The new Phuket governor, Pakkapong Tawipat, is the current…
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University students arrested with 14K methamphetamine pills
Eight suspects have been arrested with over 14,000 methamphetamine pills and 104 grams of crystal methamphetamine over the past two days. Two of them are senior university students. 28 year old Tanapat Naoprai and Sarocha Horgiean were living at a house in Rawai. Both are senior law students of a university in Phuket. Officers seized 14,000 methamphetamine pills from their…
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One rescued, one dead, one missing in Phuket surf
Nai Harn lifeguards have rescued a male Chinese tourist from the surf whilst another female Chinese tourists was later found dead on the beach. Another one was also reported missing at Karon beach yesterday (August 13). Lifeguards at Nai Harn Beach were notified at 7pm after finishing work that two swimmers were having trouble in the surf. Two lifeguards went…
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Rise of the Phoenix – sunken tour boat to be raised today
Attempts to salvage the Phoenix have been struggling with the recent strong winds and waves. It’s hoped that the boat will be raised by the end of today (August 14). The owner of Phoenix failed to recover their boat after it sank on July 5, which resulted in 47 Chinese tourists drowning. The company that owns the boat will now be sued for…
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The battle of Phuket’s boat shows
Phuket’s next boat show season has hit stormy seas with the proposed new Thailand Yacht Show Rendezvous being ambushed by a revitalised ‘PIMEX’, now called the Phuket Yacht Show.
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Speedboat explodes into fire in Phang Nga
A parked speedboat which originated in Phuket has caught fire in Phang Nga today (August 13). One injury has been reported. The Takua Thung Police in Phang Nga were notified of the incident at 10.30am on Ao Man in Takua Thung. The speedboat captain told police that they were travelling with 20 middle eastern tourists and departed from Laem Sai…
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Chalong Police warn of beach thief at Nai Harn
Chalong Police are warning about a Nai Harn Beach thief after a tourist’s bag was stolen over the weekend. The Chalong Police were contacted after a Chinese tourist’s bag was stolen at Nai Harn Beach. Police say that the tourist reported that there was three mobile phones, 5,000 baht cash and a passport inside the bag. The Chinese tourist went into…
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Phuket’s bank robber surrenders to police
Thursday’s Thalang bank robber has surrendered himself to police this morning (August 11). Police found that the suspect is also a known gold snatcher. Read about the armed bank robbery on Thursday HERE. Yesterday police tracked down the 27 year old suspect’s home in a housing estate which is not far from the bank. Police continued the search at his…
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Twinpalms hotels & resorts celebrate their 14th anniversary
PHOTO: Collard Studios One of Phuket’s home-grown brands, Twinpalms is inviting members, guests and residents to join the revelry at Catch Beach Club on Saturday, September 22, to mark 14 years of offering luxury hospitality and entertainment on Thailand’s largest destination island. Bang Tao Beach will once again be adorned with party- goers beautified in white clothing (as is the…
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“Phuket, a little piece of paradise” – US News & World Report
PHOTO: thailandtravel.agency Whilst the annual south-west monsoon continues to kick up dangerous surf along its west coast, the southern island of Thailand has picked up another award. The island has been named the ‘Second Best Beach in the World’ by business publication US News & World Report. Phuket beat Maui, Kauai and Costa Rica in the world standings, according to the…
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Police are hunting for a Phuket bank robber
Phuket Police are now hunting for a suspect who has robbed a bank and got away with 26,900 baht cash in Thalang this morning (August 10). Thalang Police were notified of the incident at the Government Hosing Bank on Thepkrasattri Road, 300 metres north of the Heroines Monument in Thalang. The incident happened just after the bank opening time. Police…
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Ban for jet-skis and parasail rides continues until August 14
If you were planning to head down to the west coast today for a quick jet-ski dash and parasail ride, forget about it, they won’t be operating. The Acting chief of the Phuket Marine Office yesterday announced a ban for jet-skis and parasail ride operators using Phuket’s west coast beaches until August 14. The Phuket Marine Office Acting Chief, Wiwat…
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‘Yanui’ believed to be a mixed-breed crocodile
Expert believes that Yanui, the much-travelled crocodile, is a mix crocodile. However more DNA tests are being conducted. Today (August 9) at the Phuket Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Centre in Pa Khlok, Montri Sumonta inspected Yanui crocodile. Khon Montri is an expert in the field, stationed at the Marin Research and Development Station in Ranong. The ‘Yanui’ crocodile (named by…
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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