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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5 hidden healthcare costs in Thailand and how to avoid them
Thailand's healthcare system is affordable and supported by the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme, offering essential services to most citizens. However, hidden healthcare costs can surprise patients and lead to unexpected expenses. These include specialist fees, insurance gaps, emergency services,...
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Smart Bus takes the coastal route
Phuket’s new smart bus kicked off yesterday featuring two initial routes around the island. The route travels along Thepkasattri Road until it reaches Thalang where it takes a turn towards the coast through Cherngtalay and Bang Tao and on to Surin, Kamala and Patong. Then it continues along the coast to Karon and Kata, over the hill at Kata Noi…
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Outrigger Touch Rugby Season 2018 Finals
The 2018 Outrigger Touch Rugby Competition at Alan Cooke Cricket Ground The Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort once again hosted a well organised and incredibly competitive Touch Rugby tournament at the Alan Cooke Cricket Ground in Cherngtalay, during the month of March. Following on from the previous two successful seasons, five teams from Phuket battled it out on the playing…
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Jonathan Davies in Phuket for Charity
Welsh legend Jonathan Davies OBE in Phuket for Charity The Welsh former rugby football player, who represented his country in both codes, Rugby Union and Rugby League, is in Phuket – all in the name of charity. Jonathan Davies OBE, who was a goal kicking legend in both codes, also played club rugby in England and Australia. His love for…
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Rohingya boat people land in Thailand
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee A boat carrying 56 Rohingya landed before dawn yesterday in an area between Koh Ha and Koh Lanta in Krabi province, local officials said, adding that 19 children were onboard. The group was then held in Lanta district yesterday. Krabi’s Governor Kitibodee Pravitra confirmed that people travelling on the boat were Rohingya and that they were hoping…
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4 metre king cobra found in a Krabi toilet
A four metre long king cobra has been found in the toilet of a local man’s house. The owner of the house, Amnuay Ritthong, said that he was heading to the toilet, which is built next to his house, and spotted the snake next to the toilet before it quickly slithered inside the stall. He called Ao Luek Villa Rescue…
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Drugs crackdown at Sapanruam Community in Rassada
Police have arrested 5 people with drugs and electronic cigarettes. The Sapanruam Community in Rassada was the target. Police have long recognised it to be a drug trading area. Police initially arrested 67 year old Daeng Chuaysod at the community with 5 kilograms of Kratom leaves and 46 bottles of coughing syrup, 60 ml each. Then police arrested 21 year…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, March 30
NACC non-commital on Prawit’s watches | Maya Bay closes down over monsoon season | Songkran back-flip over water throwing from pick-ups | Calls to end the duty free monopoly at Thai airports | Yingluck & Thaksin show up together in Japan | More crackdown on illegal foreign teachers at international schools. As this is the final Thaiger Today episode for…
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Your Say – Closure of Maya Bay during the monsoon 2018
A decision to temporarily close Maya Bay to all tourists during the wet season from this June to September has been approved by the marine national parks chiefs. The move follows proposals from prominent academics and concerned locals to restore the coral reefs and ecosystem to allow nature to recover from the impacts of uncontrolled tourism during the rest of…
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New ferry service to link Phuket Airport to nearby provinces
File Photo The Harbour Department will build a new pier near Phuket Airport and open five ferry routes linking Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga according to the department chief today (Thursday). Jirut Wisaljit, director-general of the Harbour Department, said the new port and the “Andaman Ring Route” ferry service would reduce congestion at the Phuket airport and on roads in…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, March 29
NACC hands down decision on Prawit case today | Patong and Kamala are #1 in international affordable 5 star hotel survey | Snake under a taxi | French tourist dies after visit to Emerald Cave | Woman push back on calls for females to ‘dress appropriately’ during Songkran | Police juniors complain about their wages being docked for boss’s air…
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Police arrest the Patong motorcycle robber
The 27 year old motorcycle taxi, Anuruk ‘Ten’ Padungpon, who has already confessed to robbing a Turkish woman, 26 year old Biher Ucar, has now been arrested but denies the alleged attempt at sexual assault of the victim. This morning (March 28), police spoke to the media revealing the motorcycle taxi robber from Phang Nga. He was caught at his…
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Six sentenced to death over last year’s Krabi murder of eight family members
PHOTO: The Worayuth Sunglung family murdered over a Land Deed argument in Krabi last year The Krabi Provincial Court has sentenced “Bang Fut” and five others to death for the execution-style murders of eight members of the one family in Krabi that shocked the country last year. The ruling of the court was overseen by the Royal Thai Police commissioner…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, March 28
Dos and Don’ts for Songran this year | Red Cross calling for blood donations leading up to the Thai New Year holiday | PM confident of the election road-map timing | 2 drown off Songkhla | Report card for Phuket Airport, and it’s not good | Charges against bus company for last week’s Nakhon Ratchasima crash | Human rights campaigner…
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35 million make-over for the Charter Bank building in Old Phuket Town
The Sino-Portuguese mansion of Charter Bank is poised for a full renovation thanks to a 35 million Baht budget to turn it into a museum and to accommodate VIP guests of the island, aiming to attract more tourists to visit the place as well. “There are many buildings in the area of Phuket Municipality that are unique in Sino-Portuguese style,…
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Phuket Airport has a lot to fix – Transport Commission
The Transport Commission of the National Assembly of Thailand (NAT) visited Phuket International Airport to follow up on the current renovation and services at the terminal following numerous complaints from passengers, tour companies, media and other government departments. The team from the Transport Commission were welcomed by the Director of Phuket International Airport, Petch Chancharoen, who took them on a…
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Phuket Airport cleaner returns 600,000 Baht worth of valuables
The Director of Phuket International Airport, Petch Chancharoen, has officially thanked and made a presentation to a cleaner at the airport, Nattaya Prasanpan, who found and returned 600,000 Baht worth of valuables to a passenger. The cleaner found the valuables, including a Celine bag, 1,500 Baht in cash, a Mini Cooper car key, a Rolex watch, Prada card wallet, credit…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, March 27
Premchai being sued in civil case | New type of ‘start up’ visa on the way | Amorous Russians have left the country | Grab taking over Uber in South East Asia | Underwater gamblers in hot water | New Mae Hong Son flights from DMK | Arsonist lit fires on 10 vehicles in Chonburi | Road resurfacing magic in…
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Four Andaman provinces discuss logistics issues
The Transport Commission of the National Assembly of Thailand held a meeting at the Proud Phuket Hotel to discuss logistics development for Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga and Ranong with the governors of the 4 provinces. The Chairperson of the Transport Commission, Lt Gen Charaesak Anupap, says that the commission board have received many submissions from individuals, including operators and players…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, March 26
Driver point demerit system proposed (again) | Taxi driver found dead | Thai Government seeking exemptions over US tax tariffs | Serbian tourists fined over ‘innapropriate’ clothing at temple | Box jellyfish warning in waters off Trat | French tourist beaten up by 5 men in Pattaya | NGOs seek extension for registration of migrant workers | 35 passengers have…
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Krabi’s underwater gamblers in hot water
A group of four divers playing cards for money under water could be in trouble if they were really gambling under the sea in Krabi. But authorities think that it is probably just a prank filmed abroad even though Thai money is clearly visible. A video of the “card school” has been shared on Facebook. Four people with lots of ten baht…
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Road-resurfacing in Kathu leaves traffic hazard
Good news for people driving around the Kathu Ring Road (specifically the section going past the Loch Palm Golf Course entrance), the roads are being resurfaced from the entrance of Soi Namtok to near the entrance of Loch Palm Gof Course today (Monday). Bad news, the roadmakers have left a 8-12 cm gap between the surface of the road and…
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Phattalung man dies in van/bike crash in Kathu
A 25 year old man from Phattalung, Wanlop Pothongkham, cut in front of a van with his motorcycle and was killed yesterday (March 25). At the scene, on Wichit Songkram Road before Plus Condo 2, Kathu police found the van with the 43 year old driver, Somporn Kohsaman, parked on the left lane of the road with damage on his…
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A PHAB night of Glam, Glitz and Glitter
The Phuket Hotels Association, a nonprofit group of hoteliers focused on promoting a positive image for Phuket while supporting community-based projects, is hosting a benefit gala dinner on Saturday, 28 April 2018 to raise funds for 20 plus hospitality scholarships and traineeships for local residents. The Glam, Glitz and Glitter event will take place at the Latitude Marquee, Laguna Phuket…
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35 tourists jump off burning dive boat in Krabi
35 passengers escaped unscathed after a diving boat called ‘Chontara’ they were travelling in caught fire near an island in Krabi province late last night/Sunday morning. No injuries were reported. The diving boat with 35 passengers was on its way back from a diving trip from Lanta Island to Phi Phi Island just after midnight. Fortunately, a nearby boat was…
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Alleged Phuket gunmen arrested
The two gunmen who allegedly shot a local man in Rassada have been arrested but they still deny all charges. The hitmen, including 26 year old Warin ‘M’ Khemma and 26 year old Damrongrit ‘Boat’ Srijaturat, from Udon Thani, are believed to have shot local men Sinchai Kaewlipon and Jakkapan Saluay-Iam. After an investigation police claim that Sinchai owed the…
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Double fatality in Krabi bus crash
PHOTOS: มูลนิธิกระบี่พิทักษ์ประชา (Krabi Rescue) In what’s been a horror week on Thailand’s roads, two people have been killed and another six injured after a tour bus crashed into a pickup at an intersection in Krabi last night around 10pm (March 23). The double-decker bus was heading to Krabi Airport to pick up tourists. The accident happened in the Ao Luek…
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Tour bus drives over Kata Hill roadside
A Chinese tour bus careered over the side of a 10 metre deep last night. The driver has blamed the slippery road conditions last night. 15 Chinese tourists were injured. The accident occurred on the curve heading down Kata hill heading westward, just after the Karon PEA Office. Police found the 52 year old driver, Wisut Krasaeporn, and tourists climbing…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, March 23
Another bus crash of students in Ayutthaya | Ladyboys behaving badly in Pattaya | Phuket to become foam-packaging free| Top 25 toast destinations in Asia | Land Transport office wants to crack down on double decker buses | Thailand’s tourist numbers on the rise and rise.
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Governor rolls up his sleeves in a clean-up day at Phuket’s stray dog shelter
Phuket’s Governor, Norapat Plodthong, led a big group of officials and volunteers along with staff from Phuket’s Soi Dog Foundation to cleanup, paint and donate their time at Phuket’s Stray Dog Shelter yesterday (March 20). The Governor rolled up his sleeves and worked along with the other volunteers to give the shelter a well-needed publicly-funded home for Phuket’s strays. The…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, March 22
16 dead following bus crash in Nakhon Ratchasima | Prawit may be invited in for a ‘chat’, NACC | Pattaya attackers charged by police | No water splashing on main roads for Songkran this year | Another tour bus crash in Phang Nga and a fatal accident on notorious Patong Hill | Austrian drowns in Pattaya | Young British traveller…
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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