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 Infinito helps hotels in Thailand with revenue management
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Village headman gunned down in front of home
KRABI: Krabi Police are hunting for a gang of men that gunned down an influential village headman (Phu Yai Baan) in Krabi on Tuesday. Chanwit Jantharak, 50, was shot about 10 times while attempting to leave his home in Mueang Krabi district about 5:30pm, said Krabi Provincial Police Commander Nunthadej Yoinual. “Mr Chanwit’s wife told us that at least three…
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Lucky Strike! Cigarette vendor wins B6mn in lottery
PHUKET: It was a ‘lucky strike’ this week for a cigarette vendor in Patong when she won a 6-million-baht prize in the national lottery. Puangpetch Boonpetch, 40, yesterday arrived at Patong Police Station with her partner to file a police record about her winning lottery ticket number 356364. She is set to fly to Bangkok to claim the money today.…
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Schools react to alleged Phuket kidnapping
PHUKET: At least two Phuket schools have boosted security following an alleged kidnapping attempt at Plookpanya School Phuket. The scare started after a mother from the school posted a message on her Facebook page alleging that a man exited a van, approached her 14-year-old son and attempted to cover his nose and mouth with a cloth. She explained that her…
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Decorated former German Honorary Consul for Phuket Dirk Naumann passes away
PHUKET: Former German Honorary Consul for Phuket Dirk Naumann passed away on Monday, his family has announced. Mr Naumann was well known and respected in Phuket and in his homeland for his 12 years of dedicated service on the island. He retired from his post in July 2014. Upon his retirement, Mr Naumann was awarded the Order of Merit from…
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Guns on planes argument ends in fatal Phuket shooting
PHUKET: An argument about guns on planes between two men at a seafood restaurant in Phuket last night quickly ended when one of the men pulled a firearm and shot dead the other. “The shooting took place about 9pm at a roadside seafood restaurant in Thung Thong, near See Kor market,” said Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Peerayuth Karajedee. Witnesses…
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Phuket Governor demands investigation into security memo leak
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada has demanded an investigation into the leaking of an internal memo that sparked concerns of an island-wide security boost, amid rumors that a group of trouble makers were planning unrest in the province. Governor Chamroen was forced to allay panic among Phuketians after news spread on social media that he had written to local security…
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Speedboat crew member slashed by propeller
PHUKET: A speedboat crew member was rushed to hospital after having his back slashed open by a boat propeller at Koh Lao Lading in Krabi this morning. “According to witnesses, 33-year-old Kreetha Sarawaree was helping to make room for another boat to park at the pier when he lost his balance and fell into the spinning propeller,” explained Maj Suphat…
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Marine park officials launch safety campaign at Koh Hong
PHUKET: Park officials marked dangerous swimming and snorkelling areas inside Than Bok Khorani National Park following two Russian divers being maimed by a speedboat in Phi Phi earlier this month and a number of tourists dying in marine national parks. “The entrance to the lagoon at Koh Hong is very dangerous; there is a lot of boat traffic, as well…
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Phuket Governor backs B313mn plan to end sea gypsy land dispute
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada has backed a plan that he believes may finally resolve one of the longest running land disputes in the province. The plan to end years of conflict between sea gypsies in Rawai and locals who claim to collectively own 19 rai of beachfront land in southern Phuket would see the central government buying the land…
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Phuket underpass checkpoint scoops up dozens of motorists
PHUKET: More than 40 motorists were fined in a span of two hours at a checkpoint at the northbound exit of the Darasamuth Underpass next to Central Festival Phuket yesterday. “This is part of the push by the Phuket governor and the Phuket Provincial Police commander to better enforce traffic laws on the island as a way to reduce the…
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Phuket fishmonger slices Russian tourist’s ear
PHUKET: A fishmonger is on the run after slashing a Russian tourist’s ear in a fight over a 400-baht fish at a fresh market in Patong on Saturday. The pair came to blows when the Russian paid for a fish worth 400 baht with a thousand-baht note and then accused the fishmonger of not handing over his change, explained Lt…
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Chinese cash pours into popular tourist provinces
PHUKET: A spate of Chinese investment has flooded into the real-estate and tourism sectors in Chiang Mai and Phuket, two of the most popular destinations for Chinese travellers. While the investment has contributed to the growth of both sectors, local operators have been advised to improve their products and services to compete with the Chinese or they will risk losing…
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Police bust two suspects in B5mn meth deal
PHUKET: Police arrested two key members of a major drug-dealing ring run by an inmate at Yala prison, after the pair confessed to their roles in moving about 5 million baht worth of ya ba (methamphetamine) from Chiang Rai to Southern Thailand. “This is one of the largest ya ba drug busts that we have been a part of,” Phuket…
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First technical flight arrives at Phuket Airport’s new terminal
PHUKET: Phuket International Airport rolled out the red carpet at Terminal 2 yesterday to welcome passengers arriving on the first ‘technical flight’ to disembark at the new terminal. Airports of Thailand President Nitinai Sirismatthakarn along with Phuket Airport Director Monrudee Gettuphan personally welcomed the passengers and other airport staff. A violinist serenaded the passengers for the Valentine’s Day-themed event, which…
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Two more suspected IUU fishing boats seized south of Phuket
PHUKET: Two Thai fishing vessels arrived at Phuket Deep Sea Port yesterday, after being seized under suspicion of illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing and escorted back by the Royal Thai Navy. “The two boats were captured at about 9pm on Saturday night, about 96 nautical miles south of Phuket. Both had failed to report at Phuket’s Port in-Port out Control…
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Sky lantern sets Phuket hillside ablaze
PHUKET: A sky lantern released on Valentine’s Day left the hillside between Ya Nui and Nai Harn Beach in flames. “The lantern was released from Promthep viewpoint. However, a shift in the wind caused it to crash back into the hill,” explained Jessica Lee, who witnessed the event from a sailboat anchored off Nai Harn. It took firefighters more than…
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Woman rescued after suicidal leap from Phuket’s “love bridge’
PHUKET: A self-proclaimed brokenhearted woman was safely rescued after she jumped off Sarasin Bridge a day before Valentine’s Day. “Ueangporn Thongsakul, 28, was rescued by a nearby speedboat driver after he saw her jump at about 8pm on Saturday,” said Lt Col Anek Mongkol of the Tah Chat Chai Police. Ms Ueangporn was taken to Thalang Hospital. “Thankfully, Ms Ueangporn…
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German charged for Polish pedestrian’s death in Phuket
PHUKET: A German man is out on bail after being charged for fatally colliding with a Polish pedestrian in Chalong. Miroslav Slanina, 73, ran into Malgorzata Regina Szczygiel, 44, while she was crossing the road in front of Soi Thao Daeng on Wiset Road about 8pm* on Saturday night. “Mr Slanina was taken to Chalong Police Station and charged with…
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Bigger budget needed to boost Phuket image
PHUKET: The central government needs to reassess how it determines Phuket’s budget due to the vast number of tourists for which the island’s infrastructure needs to cater, said Phuket Honorary Consul for Nepal Pranee Sakulpipatana at a seminar on the island’s image on Friday. “The central government calculates the budget for the island based on its registered residential population of…
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German found dead in Rawai rental room
PHUKET: Chalong Police are investigating the death of a German national found dead in his rented room in Phuket on Friday. The body of Sven Rzezaczka, 47, was discovered at 11am, after a reported drinking session with friends the night before. “Mr Rzezaczka’s body was found lying face down on the bed with his knees on the floor. There was…
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Phuket land owners offer sell-off solution for sea gypsy conflict
PHUKET: Exasperated by the never-ending battle over land ownership rights with the sea gypsy community in Rawai, some land owners involved have offered to sell their plots to the government in order to resolve the dispute. Weerachai Tantiwattanawalop, who claims to own five rai of land currently occupied by the sea gypsies, said he and other land owners were planning…
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More than five dozen helmet-less drivers arrested in Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket traffic police made 64 arrests in the first week of the ‘One district, One road, with 100 per cent helmets’ campaign. The new campaign was launched on February 1 in an effort to improve Phuket’s road safety. Helmet-less drivers caught at checkpoints across the island had their bikes seized and were escorted to the police station to view…
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BISP student takes title at Thai National Tennis Tournament
PHUKET: British International School Phuket (BISP) RPT Tennis Academy player James Van Herzeele won the Thai National Tennis Tournament for Boys 14 and under on February 7 at the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand and was selected to represent Thailand. Held from February 3 to 7, the tournament included the top 16 tennis players in Thailand, boys 14 and under,…
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Kamala Beach cleared of trash
PHUKET: Kamala Beach is looking cleaner after trash was cleared from its sands by local authorities acting on demands from nearby business operators. Kamala Administration Organization (OrBorTor) responded to reports sent to the Phuket Gazette about rubbish piling up at the beach by swinging into action with two brand new ‘green’ garbage trucks. Until recently, the municipality was barely getting…
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Transport Minister demands underpass tunnel completion within two months
PHUKET: The Transport Minister of Thailand has given the construction company in charge of the Samkong Underpass until April 10 to complete the project. Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith stopped by the site yesterday to check on progress and speak with representatives of the construction company, Wiwat Construction Co Ltd. “Engineers from the Department of Highways and the Engineering Institute of…
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Phuket sea gypsies take land case to capital
PHUKET: Sea gypsies in Rawai have taken their case to the capital to plead for intervention from the country’s top brass, after being threatened with eviction from beachfront land by developer Baron World Trade Co Ltd. Representatives from the sea gypsy community handed a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan on Wednesday, but did not get an immediate…
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Hundreds of passengers skate through Krabi immigration during blackout
PHUKET: About 800 international arrivals breezed through Krabi Airport immigration on Wednesday due to a six-hour blackout that caused the computer systems to shut down. “Immigration officers had to manually take down passenger information, and later enter it in the system when it was back up and running,” confirmed Attaporn Nuangudom, director of Krabi International Airport. The loose security measures…
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Historical Phuket park gets B42mn injection
PHUKET: The Thalang Historical Park is set to receive a 42-million-baht makeover by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO). “With the budget, we will renovate 10 rai of land around the park. We had initially submitted the proposal to officials during then-PPAO President Paiboon’s visit last year, as he was intent on putting the land to productive use,” said Watcharin…
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British Embassy to host seminar on sensitive handling of sexual assault victims
PHUKET: The British Embassy will be hosting a seminar on sensitively handling sexual assault victims in Phuket on February 25. “The British Embassy and Royal Thai Police are going to host the seminar, titled ‘Victim Handling Protocols when Dealing with Rape and Sexual Assault Cases’,” said Martin Carpenter, British honorary consul for Phuket. The employees of the Phuket Public Health…
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More than 5 dozen tourists saved after speedboat sinks
PHANG NGA: More than five dozen tourists were safely rescued after their overloaded speedboat sank near the Similan Islands yesterday evening, reported officials. The 50-passenger boat, owned by the Rak Talay tour company, was carrying 63 tourists at the time of the incident, said Phang Nga Marine Police Chief Jakkree Mekumphonsuit. “According to the captain, they were headed back to…
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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