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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The holiday season is here, bringing warmth, joy, and a chance to reflect on the year gone by. As an expat in Thailand, this Christmas is a great time to invest in something that truly matters: health. Whether for you...
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Two arrested with meth pills and ‘ice’ at Phuket Town hotel
Yesterday (May 27) a team of Phuket City Police led by Capt Teerasak Narasri arrested a 22 year old woman Chenuya ‘Kim’ Thepsing from Lampang and 26 year old Naruebet ‘Net’ Paparnsit from Trang at a hotel room on Patipat Road in Phuket Town in relation to possession of drugs. Police seized 227 methamphetamine pills and 6.63 grams of crystal…
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Crackdown on illegal motorbike racing
A team of officers from the 5th Infantry Division of the Royal Thai Army, the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command and the Phuket City Police on Friday night (May 25) conducted a crackdown on illegal, noisy, disruptive and modified motorbikes at Saphan Hin, Phuket Town – a popular place for motorbike racers to gather. Officers arrested 70 motorbike drivers and 47 passengers. Police also seized…
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Drug dealer arrested in Phuket parcel drugs and dress delivery
Chalong Police have arrested 39 year old Wiwat ‘Wat’ Choosong at a tattoo shop in Saiyuan, Rawai. Police seized 51.5 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 998 methamphetamine pills, Kerry Express parcel boxes and a white dress. Wiwat was taken to Chalong Police Station where he was charged with possession of Category 1 drug with intent to sell. The arrest came after…
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Fire destroys market in Phuket Town
Fire fighters at the Phuket City Municipality were notified of an incident on Phang Nga Road last night (May 27) around 10.30pm. Fire fighters arrived at the scene on Phang Nga Road. Only one minor injury from the fire which took two hours to bring under control. More than 80 shops were damaged. Most shops had already closed for the…
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Murderer surrenders after Rassada stabbing
On Saturday (May 26) at 9.50pm, 25 year old Watchara ‘Wat’ Plipon surrendered himself at the Phuket City Police Station. He also brought a knife along with him. On the same day at 5pm, Phuket City Police were notified that a man had been stabbed at a house in Rassada, east of Phuket Town. Police arrived at the scene to…
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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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Wanted gunman arrested in Satun over triple shooting in Phuket
A Phuket family of three was shot on April 9 resulting in injuries after their neighbour got angry over their dog’s barking. Gunman, 36 year old Panpakorn ‘Aon’ Suwannarit, fled with the gun. Arrest warrant weren issued on April 10 for Panpakorn who was accused of intentionally trying to kill plus illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and carrying gun in…
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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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Koh Sirey locals want to keep the monkeys as a tourist attraction
“This area is a local attraction for both Thai and foreign tourists. Monkeys haven’t interrupted locals. Only the government office near the monkey viewing point was damaged.” A public hearing was held yesterday between the Sirey community, led by Pongchart Chouehorm, Director of the Natural and Wildlife Education Centre at Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area in Thalang and Prarob Hanchang,…
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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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Whale shark fishing boats prevented from leaving port
Lt-General Jaruwat Waisaya, Chief of the Office of Legal Affairs and Litigation, has ordered officials to question every person involved in the ‘whale shark’ incident last Friday. Two fishing boats were captured on video by a nearby diving boat trying to free a whale shark that was caught up in one of their fishing nets. The crew wrangled with the big…
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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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Saving the Lifesavers
Phuket’s lifeguards, the ones who protected our coast for many years and now out of work, want to get back to work. They fear we’re about to have a very bad monsoon season ahead.
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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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‘Stargazer’: Helping to create a stronger future for our Thai community
CC’s Hideaway in Kata proudly presented its fourth annual Phuket talent contest “Stargazer” on April 21, 2018. The contest brought together Phuket’s expat and Thai communities to experience a unique contest which brought together a wide range of singers, bands, dancers, acrobats and actors, but also to support the work of the Life Home Project Foundation. CC’s Hideaway is committed to support…
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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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Open letter: Phuket Lifeguard Crisis – from The International Surf Lifesaving Association
Heading into this year’s monsoon, the issue of safety along Phuket’s west coast comes sharply into focus. The role of lifeguards on our beaches has been pivotel to saving lives and providing a safer environment for foreign swimmers who are not in tune with the wave conditions and rips (many of them can’t even swim!). The negotiation games played each…
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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…
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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