Phuket News
Phuket news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s top island destination. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Phuket news source.
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![There’s money in trash [video] | Thaiger](https://thethaiger.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/1_201510517160984_lCMwKNQcoVZOlryHPlbUBjVbkorXxoiBovNFmOMF_jpeg.jpeg)
There’s money in trash [video]
PHUKET: The island’s monsoon-season seas continue to plaster popular beaches with rubbish, while the growing urban environment produces an average of 729 tonnes of trash a day. Though deemed unsightly by expats, locals and tourists, the mass of junk does provide a living for numerous individuals, families and communities. “About one ton of trash is swept onto two of Phuket’s…
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Wildlife sanctuary chief defends staff’s double pricing discrimination against Phuket man
PHUKET: A wildlife sanctuary chief this morning defended his staff’s double-pricing discrimination against a Phuket man at Krabi’s Emerald Pool on Saturday. “There were three tourists, two men and a woman. The two Thais were asked for 20 baht each for the fee and the other man was asked to pay 200 baht,” said Wutthipong Chusangrat, the chief of Khao…
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Video Report: Mayor gives teachers, students masks for haze
PHUKET: Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos handed out face masks to municipality employees, teachers and children following the massive drop in air quality this afternoon (story here). “Though no warning has been issued given the average air quality over the last 24 hours, I decided it was best to ensure the safety of the children and city employees in my jurisdiction,”…
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Haze: Air pollution levels spike in Phuket
PHUKET: Air pollution spiked to unsafe levels this afternoon due to Indonesian haze, confirmed Pornsri Suthanarak, the director of the Regional Environmental Office. “Air pollution on the island reached 175 micrograms per cubic meter by 2pm,” Dr Pornsri said. “However, the average level over the last 24 hours is well within the public safety standard of 120, so we have…
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Beach business sues Phuket official
PHUKET: An evicted beach business owner has filed a law suit against Cherng Talay Local Administration Organization (OrBorTor) President Ma-ann Samran for dereliction of duty (Section 157). Kanokpon ‘Tony’ Somrak, owner of Tony Restaurant, which was saved from demolition after the Ministry of Interior stepped in at the last minute, brought legal action against Mr Ma-ann last month (story here).…
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Officials capture escaped Rohingya women, children
PHANG NGA: Officers were able to recover all 14 Rohingya women and children who escaped by a rope made of clothes from the second floor of the Phang Nga Shelter for Children and Families this morning. The escaped refugees ranged from a 5-year-old boy and 7-year-old girl to women up to 32 years old. “We received a reporter right after…
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A Decade Ago: Reining back mediums as poo spreads
PHUKET: The lead story on page one a decade ago, in what has become a familiar cry, was the Governor urging spirit mediums – the people who endure swords, needles and an assortment other objects thrust through their cheeks while possessed by the gods – to practice restraint. Five years later, it was the Assistant Director at the Tourism Authority…
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DDPM Phuket issues weather warning
PHUKET: Officials have issued a heavy rain, flood, strong wind and landslide warning for Phuket. The warning will remain in place until Wednesday. “We issued a warning to all local governments on the island today. They have been asked to beware of weather conditions from the effects of tropical cyclone Mujigae, which could possibly lead to flash floods, landslides and…
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Haze descends on Phuket
PHUKET: Air quality levels are rapidly dropping in Phuket as an Indonesian haze again sweeps across the island. “Air pollution levels are likely to go beyond what is deemed safe for the public, 120 micrograms per cubic meter for a 24-hour period,” Pornsri Suthanarak, director of the Regional Environmental Office, told the Phuket Gazette this morning. Over the last measured…
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Phuket celebrates ‘Golden Week’ to promote Chinese tourism
PHUKET: Phuket International Airport launched the island’s ‘Golden Week’ campaign yesterday to celebrate the National Day of the People’s Republic of China. To get the seven-day party started off right, Phuket’s new governor, Chamroen Tipayapongtada (story here) and Airport Director Monrudee Gettuphan welcomed to the island 260 mainland Chinese visitors arriving on direct flights from Guiyang and Shenzhen. The lucky…
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New police commander eager to suppress crime
PHUKET: The new Region 8 police commander arrived on the island yesterday and has vowed to tackle crime as well as support the region’s tourism. “What I aim to concentrate on is crime suppression, violent criminals, drugs and human trafficking. At the same time, I will support tourism, as we know there are so many tourist attractions on the island,”…
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Promthep Cape paragliders sail into trouble
PHUKET: Rawai municipality is looking into complaints about paragliders blocking public land on Phuket’s iconic Promthep Cape. “[A recent] complaint stated that visitors were being told to get out of paragliders’ way while they were taking off,” said Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos. The municipality is now moving to solve the problem by calling members of the paragliding club for a…
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Police bust escaped Cambodian fishermen for pirated sunglasses
PHUKET: Three escaped Cambodian fishermen were arrested on Kata Beach for peddling fake name brand sunglasses to tourists yesterday. “We received a letter from the Damrongtham Center [ombudsman’s office] that tourists had been conned into buying pirated sunglasses by migrant workers on Kata Beach,” said Muang District Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Samran Yukunthorn. “The three said that they used to…
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Video Report: Aussie to circumnavigate Phuket by standup paddle board
PHUKET: Damien Rider, who was dubbed ‘Men’s Health Man of 2015’ after completing an 800km unassisted paddle boarding adventure in the shark infested waters of the Gold Coast, will depart Nai Harn Beach at 7am on October 5 as he attempts to circumnavigate Phuket on a standup paddle board (SUP). His four-day, solo SUP journey is designed to raise awareness…
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Muang Thai Phuket-Patong Marathon ready to kick off
PHUKET: Those taking part in the new Muang Thai Phuket-Patong Marathon 2015 will be running through the streets of Patong on October 18. “This is part of a four-province series of marathons,” said Kritthaput Khumboonraung of the corporate social responsibility team at Muang Thai Insurance, which is organizing the event. “We have already held one event in Bangkok and one…
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Plan accordingly with Vegetarian Festival’s schedule of events
PHUKET: The Vegetarian Festival will kick off in less than two weeks across the island, with yellow and red flags being raised to mark the popular annual event. This year the festival will take place during October 13-21 with the special addition of a parade in honor of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 88th birthday on October 14. The annual festival…
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Two arrested for firearm possession
PHUKET: Police nabbed two men for the possession of illegal firearms in separate arrests this week, one was carrying a homemade gun, while the other had purchased his through Facebook. Police arrested one of the suspects, a 16-year-old, at the Sengho bookstore in Phuket Town, confirmed Maj Ritthichai Choomchuy of the Phuket Provincial Police. The teen confessed that he had…
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Officials nab illegal Korean tour guide at work
PHUKET: A South Korean national was arrested in Chalong today for working as an illegal tour guide for Narae Travel Co Ltd. Phuket Immigration Police, together with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) Phuket Office officials, apprehended Byoung Wook Lim, 43, while he was guiding a group at Chalong Pier. “We seized a list of tour programs, customer names…
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Triathlon training tips
PHUKET: We are now approaching the final weeks before the Laguna Phuket Triathlon and these next 8 weeks are vital to help you prepare for the race ahead, but it’s also a perfect time to challenge yourself. Here are some top tips compiled by Thanyapura’s Head Triathlon Coach Sergio Borges. HEAT AND HUMIDITY If you’re coming from overseas, I believe…
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Video Report: New Phuket Governor starts first day in office
PHUKET: The island’s newest top official appointed by Bangkok, Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, is settling into his first day of work after arriving to fanfare yesterday. Hundreds of people greeted Governor Chamroen and his wife, Wassana, when they arrived at Phuket International Airport yesterday afternoon. The Phuket local, and a former vice governor of the island, was then taken to…
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Hundreds to “Bike for Governor’
PHUKET: About 200 cyclists will mount their bicycles to bid farewell to Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong tomorrow. The idea of the ride was tabled by Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos, who enjoys cycling and joined the national ‘Bike For Mom’ event in honor of HM Queen Sirikit’s 83rd birthday in August. The national cycling event broke the Guinness world record for…
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Jet-skis to rule roost for high season
PHUKET: Jet-skis will continue to offer their services on Phuket beaches this high season, Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong confirmed yesterday. “We will be implementing the same zones as last year to separate jet-skis and swimmers to ensure everyone’s safety,” Governor Nisit said. “I am aware that a lot of people do not want jet-skis on our beaches, as they have…
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Phuket prepares for King’s Cup Regatta 2015
PHUKET: The island is readying its sails for the King’s Cup Regatta 2015, which will take place off of Kata Bay from December 5 to December 12. Hosting international racing classes, the event will see more than 150 boats and 1,500 sailors competing for one of sailings most prestigious trophies. Inaugurated in 1987 to celebrate the 60th birthday of HM…
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Russian man found dead in swimming pool
PHUKET: A Russian man was found dead near his swimming pool this morning after his friend discovered him unconscious in the water. When police arrived at the house on Moo 2 in Rawai, they found Oleg Ten, 65, on the ground near the pool, confirmed Capt Patiwat Yodkwan of the Chalong Police. “We found no signs of a struggle and…
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Turtle saved after somtam shop owner buys from customer
PHUKET: A female sea turtle has been safely rescued and is now under the care of the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) after it was sold for 300 baht in Cherng Talay yesterday. The Kusoldharm Foundation received a report from Sombat Tannukrork, 48, a somtam shop owner, asking for help for an injured sea turtle that he had bought off…
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Egco ready to fill power supply gap, if Krabi coal plant fails
KRABI: Electricity Generating (Egco) is well positioned to take part in the bidding for new power plants if the government’s coal-fired power projects fail to get off the ground, says its outgoing president. Sahust Pratuknukul said that if the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) was unable to proceed with its Krabi and Thepha coal-fired projects in the South, Egco…
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A Decade Ago: AA saves families, lives – test yourself
PHUKET: The 4-billion-baht pipe to bring water to Phuket from the Chieo Lan Reservior in Surat Thani was a ‘done deal’ according to Deputy Interior Minister Somchai Sunthornvat, a decade ago. The mega-project was going to be the nail in the coffin for the island’s water worries and was expected to be completed in just 18 months. However, 120 months…
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Big wave sweeps fisherman from Phuket rocks
PHUKET: Phuket Marine Police have failed to find a fisherman who was swept from a rock outcropping on Kamala Beach last night “Due to the current weather, it has been very difficult to conduct a thorough search,” said Phuket Marine Police Chief Panya Chaichana today. “Rescue workers and Kamala Police Officers searched the area as soon as Prayat Janmee, 50,…
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Tourist drowns at Kata Noi Beach
PHUKET: A Chinese tourist drowned after being swept out to sea from a red-flag zone at Kata Noi Beach late yesterday afternoon. “According to witnesses, 26-year-old Junan Liu and his friend ignored warning signs and were playing in an unsafe section of the water when a big wave struck him and dragged him out to sea,” said Lt Chatree Chuwichian…
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Ten rescued from teetering Phuket yacht
PHUKET: Phuket Marine Police helped dislodge a yacht stranded on a submerged rock outcropping off Koh Nai Nui yesterday afternoon, following the rescue of ten people from the boat. “The boat, Pim Praw, might have just settled onto the rock as the tide went out,” Phuket Marine Police Chief Panya Chaichana told the Phuket Gazette. “We were called to the…
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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