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 The 5 best luxury villa rentals in Koh Samui by The Luxury Signature
Koh Samui has long been known as one of the world’s finest luxury travel destinations. Its pristine beaches, lush landscapes, and crystal-clear waters create an idyllic setting that attracts travellers seeking an escape from the everyday grind. And opting to...
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Transcending trouble: Thai transwomen tussle with tourists in Phuket
A video has gone viral in Thailand of two Thai transwomen physically assaulting some foreign men in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket. Police admitted that the transwomen may be sex workers, and the attack may have been sparked over a service fee dispute. The video fracas was shared by the Instagram account @phuketinsta last week with a caption in Russian…
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Phuket authorities seek dissolution of Swiss man’s Green Elephant Foundation
Phuket‘s provincial authorities, led by Governor Sophon Suwannarat, are seeking the dissolution of the Green Elephant Wildlife Foundation. Swiss expat Urs Fehr registered the foundation, which is now under investigation after a series of controversies. The announcement came after Governor Sophon’s return from promoting Phuket at the International Tourism Bourse (ITB Berlin 2024). His first official action was a meeting…
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Phuket authorities given 3-day deadline to investigate beach access blockage
The Phuket authorities face a three-day deadline to probe the ownership of a land plot belonging to a private company in Phuket that obstructs public access to Laem Nga Beach. This directive was given by Vice Governor Sattha Thongkham on Friday following a demonstration by approximately 500 individuals at the blocked beachfront property the previous day. The protesters demanded that…
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Phuket governor calls for probe into Laem Nga beach blockade
Phuket Vice Governor Sattha Thongkham demanded a probe into the barricading of privately owned land at Lemg Nga, located at the northern edge of Koh Siray, which has obstructed public access to Laem Nga Beach. This directive came on the heels of a protest by local villagers on-site on March 7. The locals voiced their demand for the restoration of…
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Australian fugitive nabbed in Phuket for visa overstay
Phuket Provincial Police apprehended a 26 year old Australian fugitive who had been lurking in a hotel near the Sri Kor Intersection in Kathu, Phuket. The Australian man, whose identity remains undisclosed by authorities, committed a double crime of visa overstay and bill evasion, spiralling from a tangled web of incidents dating back to January 31. The tale began with…
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2 foreigners in Phuket caught running businesses without licences
Phuket Provincial Tourist Police arrested two foreigners for running their businesses, a money exchange shop and a travel agency, without licences. The arrests stem from a crackdown on illegal foreigners and their businesses following the Swiss man scandal. Prompted by the conflict between the Swiss man and the Thai doctor, as well as complaints from locals, all Phuket police departments…
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Swiss man’s visa revoked after physical assault on Thai doctor
The Immigration Bureau revoked the visa of the Swiss man involved in the physical assault on a female Thai doctor near Yamu Cape in Phuket last week. The Thai doctor, 26 year old Tarndao Chandam, filed a complaint against Urs Fehr after the Swiss man attacked her on Saturday, February 24 when she and her friend sat on the steps…
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Restaurant encroachment threatens Hua Hin’s sandy shores
Yamu Beach in Phuket may have just played second fiddle to an encroachment crisis engulfing the pristine sands of Hua Hin. Evidence surfaced on the Prachuap News Facebook page, showcasing a long line of eateries and guesthouses that have sunk their claws deep into Hua Hin’s main beach. Witnesses describe a scene akin to invasion, with some structures extending a…
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Russian roulette: Cops put brakes on illegal workers at Phuket car shop
Officers from the Provincial Police Region 8 yesterday continued the recent crackdown on illegal foreigners by charging two Russian men for working at a car rental shop in the Cherng Talay sub-district in the Talang district of Phuket province. The Russian business owner also faced a charge for hiring foreigners without work permits. The investigation is on the back of locals…
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2 Russian women arrested for providing sex services in Phuket
Police arrested two Russian women at a hotel in the Katu district of Phuket on March 4 for illegally providing sex services. Officers from Patong Police Station investigated the illegal activities being offered by foreigners in the area. Upon discovering that these illicit sex services were being provided by Russian women, the officers proceeded to search for their contact details.…
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Foreign man kicks up a storm over discriminatory bike rental policy in Phuket
A foreign man brought to light a discriminatory practice at a foreign-owned motorcycle rental shop in Phuket. The shop refused to serve his Thai wife and other Thai customers, justifying their decision by alleging that Thais frequently engage in motorcycle theft, complain excessively, and are unable to meet the necessary deposit requirements. The foreign man, using the account BlacksmithSolid2194, took…
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Update: Villa owner’s violent act leads to demolition in beach assault scandal
Following the assault scandal of Swiss national Urs Fehr, aka David, Phuket Peninsula Estate Co., owner of beachfront villa No. 23, took a startling step today, sending a backhoe to erase the encroaching structures, including the contentious stairway. Before their obliteration, these steps had witnessed a fateful encounter on February 24. Swiss national David allegedly kicked 26 year old Dr…
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Belarusian tourist lost in Phuket jungle found unharmed
A Belarusian tourist, who had got lost while on a jungle trek in the Layan area of Phuket, was found safe and sound. Phuket Tourist Police confirmed the news this morning, stating that the man emerged from the ordeal unharmed. The individual, whose name was not disclosed in the police report, arrived in Thailand on February 18. He initially spent…
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Swiss national’s visa status under review following Phuket assault
The visa status of a Swiss national, embroiled in an assault case in Phuket, is set to undergo review by the immigration police, according to Deputy Phuket Governor, Adul Chuthong. The Swiss national, known as Urs Fehr or David, whose visa is due to expire on March 13, is the operator of several Thai businesses and has a registered foundation…
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Phuket road tragedy: Two vendors killed by speeding car
A road tragedy in Phuket claimed the lives of two street vendors when a car, driven at high speed by an airline employee, collided with their motorcycle. The incident happened early in the morning on a local road in Thalang district. At approximately 6.16am today police and emergency responders were dispatched to the scene of a fatal collision on the road…
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Chinese tourist’s beach drive ends in Phuket sand trap (video)
A Chinese national on holiday ignored a warning sign advising against driving on the beach and subsequently ended up getting his car stuck in the sand at Kamala Beach in Phuket province. A local posted a video on his Facebook account, à¸à¸²à¸¡à¸´à¸•à¸£ à¸à¸²à¸¡à¸ à¸à¸´à¸ªà¸¥à¸²à¸¡, at about 8am yesterday, March 3, showing a green Jeep partially submerged in the water at…
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Swiss man targeted by Phuket locals demanding beach access restoration
A Swiss man living in Phuket has been the target of a protest by over 500 locals and activists who gathered on Yamu beach in Thalang district. The protest took place on Sunday, following an incident in which the Swiss man allegedly assaulted a doctor. The masses demanded that the man be expelled from Phuket and that public access to…
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Foreign mafia concerns raised in Phuket by UTN deputy
In the stunning tourist hotspot of Phuket, a concerning situation has surfaced. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, the Deputy leader of the United Thai Nation, has brought to light allegations of foreign mafia gangs operating within the area. This revelation comes after a recent visit to Phuket, during which Thanakorn conducted an inspection and collected information about the matter. Phuket, known for its…
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Update: Locals demand justice in Swiss expat alleged assault case
Residents of Phuket are set to converge on Yamu Beach in Thalang district today, enraged by an incident involving a Swiss expat accused of kicking a local woman for simply sitting on steps near his beachfront villa. The Swiss expat, 45 year old Urs Fehr, also known by the name David, purportedly delivered a kick to Dr Thandao Chandam, a…
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Beach blunder: Swiss man and wife regret assaulting Thai doctor in Phuket (video)
An underfire Swiss man and his Thai wife apologised to a Thai doctor for physically assaulting and insulting her after she innocently sat on the steps to their beachside villa. The foreign man claims the incident was an accident, stating that he mistakenly identified the victim and her friend as a previous Chinese trespasser. The Thai doctor, 26 year old…
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Phuket on course to become a top eco-industrial city by 2027
Earlier today, Phuket Provincial Hall played host to an informative workshop, aimed at fostering a comprehensive understanding of the plans to transform Phuket into a renowned eco-industrial city. This initiative was overseen by Phuket Vice Governor Sattha Thongkam, to disseminate knowledge on ideal methodologies for environmental preservation, protection, and restoration across diverse sectors. The workshop is deemed instrumental in aiding…
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Swiss man denies assaulting Thai woman, attributing incident as accident (video)
A Swiss man denied physically assaulting a Thai female doctor for sitting on the steps of his luxury villa in Phuket, saying it was an accident when he stumbled on the stairs, causing his foot to accidentally kick the doctor’s back. The 26 year old female doctor, Tarndao Chandam, took to social to share that a Swiss man, later identified…
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Phuket parasail operator shells out 400,000 baht to injured Chinese tourist
A Thai parasailing operator agreed to pay a Chinese tourist 400,000 baht in compensation after she broke her leg in a parasailing accident on Karon Beach in Phuket on Saturday, February 24. The operator blamed the accident on a change in wind direction and insisted they adhered to strict safety measures. The Chinese woman, Nadahan, took to social media to…
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Swedish man arrested for fake euro currency caper in Phuket
Police arrested a Swedish man in the Patong sub-district of Katu district, Phuket province, after discovering that he exchanged money using fake euro banknotes. Patong Police Station officers received a complaint from an employer at the Violet Money Exchange 2 on Saen Saai Road that a Swedish man was exchanging money using counterfeit euro notes at 1.50pm on February 26.…
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Foreign couple condemned for sex antics on Phuket beach (video)
An allegedly outraged Thai voyeur shared a video capturing a foreign couple having sex on Patong Beach in Phuket on social media platforms. Locals condemned their act and demanded authorities to take action on the matter. The video of the foreign couple was shared on social media by a Thai motorist-cum-voyeur who rode a motorcycle past the scene. The incident…
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Chalong council proposes 132 million baht infrastructure projects
The bustling municipality of Chalong, in Phuket, held its inaugural council meeting of the year. On the agenda, a series of extensive projects requiring a hefty 132 million baht in funds were proposed. One of the standout projects includes an ambitious 28 million baht plan to revamp the well-trodden Soi Palai. The meeting was held at the municipal offices of…
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Phuket MP warns of fire risks amid soaring 38°C heatwave
As the mercury soars to a scorching 38°C in Phuket, local MP Somchart Techathavorncharoen has sounded the alarm, warning residents to take measures against potential fire outbreaks. This warning comes as the city braces for a heatwave that is predicted to last from today, February 28 to March 1. Somchart Techathavorncharoen, the Move Forward Party (MFP) representative for Phuket District…
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Thief nabs 127,000 baht worth of goods from tourists on Koh Samui
A brazen thief from Phuket got more than he bargained for when he attempted a hotel heist on Koh Samui, leaving two foreign tourists in dismay and authorities in hot pursuit. The Bo Phut Police, in a swift operation, apprehended 44 year old Prayat Lisem following reports from a distressed Polish couple, aged 32 and 30. The couple woke to…
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Myanmar millionaires’ property buying spree in Thailand skyrockets
Myanmar’s affluent elite have emerged as the unexpected champions of Thailand’s luxury property market, outspending even their Chinese and Russian counterparts. According to real-estate moguls Colliers, high-spending buyers from Myanmar have been swooping up lavish properties across Thailand’s bustling urban landscapes, becoming the new darlings of the country’s real estate realm. Karlo Pobre, the astute deputy managing director at Colliers,…
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Phuket taxi rider denies sexually assault of German woman
A German woman filed a complaint against a Thai motorcycle taxi rider in Phuket, accusing him of sexual assault. The suspect denied the allegation, claiming that the foreign woman hugged him throughout the ride. The victim, a 37 year old German woman, reported the sexual assault to the Mueang Phuket Police Station yesterday, February 26. The foreign victim said the incident…
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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