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.
-
Sponsored
Last chance for Thaiger readers: Get 10% off your health insurance—Offer ends in 5 days!
Did you know that treating a broken leg can cost around 200,000 THB for uninsured patients, and a three-day hospital stay for conditions like dengue fever averages 40,000 to 80,000 THB in Thailand? While healthcare in Thailand is more affordable...
-
Road Rage: Teen shoots at truck in Phuket Town
PHUKET: A teenage motorcyclist was arrested on Saturday evening for shooting at a 6-wheeled truck in the heart of Phuket Town. The 18-year old reportedly shot at one of the truck’s wheels in anger after, he claims, it nearly ran him over. “We had a report about the shooting on Srisana Road in Phuket Town at 4pm,” said Phuket City…
-
New Phuket Air Terminal: Transport Minister acknowledges barrage of angry complaints
PHUKET: A stream of harsh complaints about the new terminal at Phuket International Airport prompted a visit by Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith on Saturday. Long lines, delays, the lack of essential equipment, insufficient and confused personnel, and angry passengers have all marred the opening days of the new facility (story here). Mr Arkhom acknowledged that airport staff were dealing with…
-
New look for Laguna Phuket Triathlon
PHUKET: This year’s Laguna Phuket Triathlon has a new look and a new bike course for the international athletes heading to the island to compete in a 1.8-km swim, 50-km bike ride and 12-km run at the Laguna Phuket resort on Sunday, November 20. The organizers celebrated the triathlon’s 23rd anniversary by unveiling its fresh new look for participating athletes…
-
Russian tourist dies at Karon
PHUKET: A Russian tourist died Saturday afternoon, shortly after bring pulled out from the waves by rescue workers at Karon Beach. “Police received reports about 3:30pm that Urosov Roman, 43, had been pulled from the water near the Naka statue,” said Karon Police Captain Weerayuth Thansirisukhaworakul. Mr Roman’s wife, who declined to be named, told police she was lying on…
-
Teen thief nabbed for Phuket Town car break-ins
PHUKET: Police arrested a 16-year-old boy yesterday who they allege is behind a string of car break-ins and robberies in Phuket Town. On August 27, the suspect reportedly smashed the window of a Chevrolet and stole about 50,000 baht in cash and other belongings from inside the car. Another car was broken into and 6,000 baht cash was stolen from…
-
New bridge to Koh Lanta approved
KRABI: Construction of a bridge linking Koh Lanta with the mainland in Krabi has been approved by the central government, it was announced last week. The new 1.5km bridge is to stretch from Hua Hin Pier on the mainland to Klong Maak Pier on Lanta Noi. The crossing will facilitate the approximately five million tourists visiting the island annually, who…
-
Three injured in Yamu boat fire
PHUKET: Three men were injured when their speedboat caught fire off Yamu Pier in Pakhlok at about 9:15 this morning. One of the men sustained serious injuries, including a broken leg and burns across 40-50 per cent of his body, according to emergency responders. The three-engine speedboat, registered to CC Blue Marine, reportedly caught fire while the three crew members…
-
Pole position for speeding Phuket driver
PHUKET: A Phang Nga man landed himself in Thalang Hospital after losing control of his Toyota Yaris while speeding along Thepkrasattri Road this morning. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle and slammed backwards into a lamppost on the Northbound curve of the island’s main thoroughfare near the Sai Kaew Beach entrance in Mai Khao, shortly before 10am. Rescue…
-
Local airlines ban use of Samsung Galaxy note 7
PHUKET: Several international and domestic carriers, including Thai Airways, Nok Air, Thai Lion air, Bangkok Airways and Air Asia, have banned the use of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 mobile phones on board their aircraft, following reports of the device ‘exploding’ surfaced after its launch last month. Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT), which operates the Kingdom’s major airports, including Phuket International…
-
Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2016 schedule announced
PHUKET: The controversial Phuket Vegetarian Festival, one of the most widely-celebrated events in Phuket each year, is being held from October 1-9 at various shrines and locations throughout the island. Held in the ninth month of the lunar calendar, the festival features a host of events and draws large crowds to Phuket each year (story here). The Phuket City Municipality…
-
Australian schools to lure Phuket students
PHUKET: The Australian Education Assessment Services (AEAS) and CETA Worldwide Education are hosting the ‘Australian Boarding and Day Schools Exhibition 2016’ at The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa on October 2. The exhibition will showcase at least six Australian schools, including Avalon College, Billanook College, St Catherine’s School, St Leonard’s College, Trinity Grammar School and Wesley College. The event…
-
Passenger recalls Phuket runway accident
PHUKET: Mongkunkit Phongnarisorn sat in a window seat aboard the Thai Airways flight that ran off the Phuket Airport runway last night. The Phuket-based businessman was returning from Bangkok aboard flight TG221. “Everything seemed to be going perfectly normally,” Mr Mongkunkit told the Phuket Gazette today, adding that he travels regularly for work. Things began to get interesting when the…
-
Boat operator rescued after fierce waves capsize longtail
PHANG NGA: A longtail boat operator was pulled from Phang Nga Bay yesterday after his longtail boat capsized in the heavy surf. Sawek Wansadee, 32, left the pier at Hat Noppharat Thara, Phi Phi National Park, at about 9am. He told the Phuket Gazette that he quickly found his little low-profile longtail taking a beating from waves of about two…
-
Ya bah-peddling duo arrested in Krabi
KRABI: A ya bah (methamphetamine) peddling duo was arrested at a palm tree plantation in Krabi yesterday. Lamthap Police officers had been keeping an eye on Nakhon Promsaeng, 37, and Thongkan Duangkaew, 33, since the beginning of this month, due to suspicions that they might be selling drugs to teenagers. “We arrested the duo with 54 ya bah pills at…
-
Clampdown coming on zero-dollar tourism
PHUKET: The China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) has promised to clamp down on ‘zero-dollar tourism’ following an inspection tour of several touristic venues in Phuket on Tuesday. CNTA chief Wang Chiao Fong and an entourage of Chinese officials were accompanied by Ministry of Tourism and Sports Phuket Office Director Sirawee Waloh as they visited jewelry stores and tourist spots. The…
-
Phuket-bound plane veers off runway
PHUKET: A flight from Bangkok skidded off the runway while landing at Phuket International Airport yesterday evening. Thai Airways flight TG 221 departed from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport at 6:15pm, bound to arrive in Phuket at 7:35pm. An official statement issued by Thai Airways says that “poor weather” conditions and visibility were reported at the time of the flight’s arrival…
-
Same-same but different at new terminal
PHUKET: Long lines, delays, non-existent essential equipment, a lack of personnel and confused travellers have all marred the opening days of the Phuket International Airport’s new terminal. Phuket airport officials admitted the new terminal’s immigration systems are not working, even after test flights from China and the terminal’s official September 16 opening by Thailand’s Prime Minister (story here). Somsak Pakdeerak,…
-
Teens busted for bike thefts
PHUKET: Two teenagers suspected of stealing a total of nine motorbikes in the past few months were arrested in Phuket Town on Sunday. The boys – one a 14 year old, the other a 17 year old – were apprehended when Phuket City Police responded to a 3am report of an accident on Surin Road in Phuket Town and found…
-
Rendered images of Rajabhakti Park released
PHUKET: Rendered images of the plans for Surin Beach, officially reopened as ‘Rajabhakti Park’ in June (story here), were released to the public this week. Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat said modestly that officials are looking to make it the “most beautiful beach in the world”. The estimated project budget is more than 800 million baht. “Surin Beach is already…
-
Outrage over dolphin death prompts ultimatum
KRABI: Locals in Krabi Province were outraged over the weekend after a social media post went viral yesterday. The post shows a dead baby dolphin caught in an illegal coastal fishing net system. A user on the social networking application ‘Line’ shared the photographs, taken in the Khao Khram sub-district’s Tah Paree Bay. After examining the calf, a Marine official…
-
Double motorcyclist deaths shrouded in mystery
PHUKET: Two motorcyclists died in two separate mysterious accidents on Thepkrasattri Road in the early hours of Sunday – one a woman in her mid twenties, the other a man, also in his mid twenties. Police responded to the first accident in Koh Kaew on the northbound lanes of the road at about 2.30am. “We received a report that there…
-
PM’s visit dashes sea gypsies’ hopes for land dispute resolution
PHUKET: A minister of the Interior sank provincial officials’ hopes for the potential resolution of one of Phuket’s longest-running conflicts, during a ‘state visit’ by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-Cha to the island on Friday. Decades-long disputes between the Rawai sea gypsies and developers in the island’s southernmost municipality had entered a new round of government-mediated negotiations in February when Governor…
-
Debt-burdened Krabi vendor found dead
KRABI: A local Krabi resident walked into a blood bath on Saturday morning when he entered his room to find the body of his wife, who had asked to be left alone the night before. Sudrak Khumsuk, 33, found 28-year-old Supranee Wangthanom with a gunshot wound to the head and a four-page note on the bed next to her. The…
-
Krabi tourism gets airlift from Asian influx
KRABI used to flip-flop between having a regimented high-season – catering to winter snowbird visitors from Scandinavia and Europe – and a low-season during which many hotels even scrapped breakfast buffets. However, the latest research by C9 Hotelworks reveals skyrocketing airlift is edging the market towards being a year-round destination. The C9 Hotelworks ‘Krabi Hotel Market Update 2016’ report reveals…
-
Unidentified man in critical condition after bike crash
PHUKET: An unidentified white male was seriously injured when he crashed his bike into a roadside barrier near the Muslim graveyard in Kamala about 12:40pm today. The injured driver was rushed to Patong Hospital where he remains in critical condition from head injuries, said Capt Prasert Thongprom of Kamala Police. Witnesses at the scene said the victim was heading from…
-
Self-taught snake catcher nabs five-meter-long king cobra
KOH LANTA: A five-meter long king cobra discovered by an 11-year-old girl was caught by a Koh Lanta local yesterday evening. Worawut Longasun says he has trained himself to capture snakes by watching videos on television and YouTube. The snake was found in the storage area of Aree Wansuk’s house by her daughter who spotted the reptile’s tail while playing…
-
Thousands gather to welcome PM to Phuket
PHUKET: Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha was greeted by thousands of fans during his one-day trip to Phuket on Friday, during which he committed that his government would support mega projects on the island. PM Prayuth chaired the opening ceremony of the new terminal at Phuket International Airport (story here) and then headed to Patong to inaugurate ‘Startup Thailand’ and…
-
PM launches Startup Thailand in Phuket
PHUKET: Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha officially launched ‘Startup Thailand’ and ‘Digital Thailand’ 2016 at the Duangjitt Resort & Spa in Patong yesterday. The regional launch of this nationwide initiative is aimed at helping budding local businesses to get off the ground and into the international arena of digital commerce. The Startup Thailand 2016 campaign was launched by the prime…
-
Sea gypsies march to submit letter to PM
PHUKET: Hundreds of sea gypsies and community activists today marched to Phuket’s Rajabhat University in an attempt to petition the prime minister during his visit to the campus today. The gypsies had gathered at Rassada Municipality Office earlier in the morning and then marched to the university, where Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha was meeting with Phuket industry leaders, but they…
-
B3bn approved for anti-noise pollution measures
PHUKET: The Cabinet has approved 3 billion baht to spend on anti-noise pollution measures from the new international terminal at Phuket Airport and to compensate nearby residents, announced Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith this week. A total of 1,671 buildings near the new international terminal are to be reinforced and fitted with noise insulation. About 200 of those buildings are occupied…
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.
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.