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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Phuket tour company employing Nepalis shut down
PHUKET: A local tour company was shut down Wednesday night for hiring Nepali agents to sell tour packages at the company’s counter in Patong. Santi Pawai, director of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) Phuket office, told the Phuket Gazette that the company had ignored several warnings from the MOTS about their staff. “It had come to the point…
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Phuket Gazette re-designs to go national
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette hard-copy newspaper that hits the streets today is truly national in circulation and boasts a re-design to the ‘compact’ format that’s set to be the wave of the future. By joining the compacts of such esteemed publications as the The Wall Street Journal, The Telegraph, the Times of London, the Daily Mail, Bild and scores of…
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Superyacht crew visas slated for November
PHUKET: Special visas for foreign-flagged superyacht crew is expected to be rolled out by November, confirmed the Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul. The ‘new package’ for superyachts will include changes in law for visas, as well as tax exemptions, all timed to line up with an international superyacht show organized by the Ministry of Transport, explained Ms Kobkarn. “The…
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“Property security’ demands gypsies demolish ceremonial hall
PHUKET: Police intervened in order to neutralize tensions at the Rawai sea gypsy village after a group of 40 men demanded that the gypsies demolish their spiritual ceremony hall. Rawai Municipality received a report from sea gypsies at about 11am that a group of men, allegedly sent by private investors, had ordered the gypsies to demolish their ‘Sala Balai’, before…
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PM Prayut invokes Article 44 to sack PPAO President
PHUKET: Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha wielded Article 44 of the interim charter to temporarily suspend Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) President Paiboon Upatising from his post without pay. The order signed today names a number of government officials throughout Thailand. Mr Paiboon was the only Phuket official on the list. “The reason the government has temporarily removed me from…
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Phuket Tourist Police expect new facility to boost performance
PHUKET: The Phuket Tourist Police have opened up three new facilities for officers in hopes of boosting their performance. “We have a new meeting room for training officers, a Command and Control Operations Center [CCOC] for information gathering and a new gym to keep the officers healthy,” said Tourist Police Commander Apichai Ti-amataya. “Our policy is to create a professional…
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Injured turtle found tangled in fishing net at Phuket beach
PHUKET: An injured sea turtle found trapped in a fishing net in front of JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa in Mai Khao was rescued Tuesday morning. Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers were called to the scene by hotel security at about 7:30am. Hotel employees had already helped free the turtle from the net by the time rescue workers arrived. “The…
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Police launch murder investigation at Phuket pier
PHUKET: Police have launched a murder investigation after an unidentified man was found dead with a deep cut on his neck near Rassada Pier on Tuesday morning. Police and rescue workers went to the scene, on the road behind the office of the Phuket Fishing Market Organization, and found the shirtless body covered in a blanket and a towel. “The…
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World Bungy Jump closes doors, tower demolished
PHUKET: World Bungy Jump in Patong closed its doors for good and demolished its bungy-jump tower on Monday after a tourist suffered fatal injuries during a jump last month. “The owner, Vinat Chanthornwiboonkul, decided on his own to close the business. We don’t want to put anyone at risk at our bungy jump, and we are very sorry about the…
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Colombians arrested for Phuket car robbery
PHUKET: Police have arrested two Colombian suspects for the professional-style robbery of a car in the parking lot of Tesco Lotus Thalang on Sunday (story here). Daniel Guerrero Ariza, 28, and Jean Ortega Duarte, 21, were arrested on Monday when they went to return a car they had rented from a shop in Ao Nang, Krabi. Both men have denied…
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Eviction notice posted at Nui Beach establishments
PHUKET: Karon Municipality and Naval officers have issued a 30-day eviction notice for several establishments on Nui Beach after the court confirmed that the owner unlawfully possesses the land. The news follows a raid of the beach in February that investigated complaints by locals that mafia thugs were charging people a fee to use the public beach (story here). Last…
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Recreational fisherman found dead off Koh Yao Noi
PHUKET: The remains of a recreational fisherman who went missing on Saturday were found in the waters near Koh Yao Noi early this morning. The wife of Manop Poolpirom, 37, was able to identify her husband’s remains despite their condition after having been exposed to the open ocean and tropical sun. “Mrs Pim told us that her husband often went…
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Girl shocked by exposed wire in Phuket
PHUKET: A 10-year-old girl survived an electric shock after she accidentally stepped on an exposed wire on Khao Rang yesterday. Nisreen Klongsamuth was rushed to Vachira Phuket Hospital after the accident, but was released today after doctors confirmed she was in good health. “She is safe. She does not have inflammatory cardiomyopathy [inflammation of the heart muscle] following the incident.…
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Phuket officials netted in gambling raid
PHUKET: A couple of local officials were among those arrested during the raid of an illegal gambling den near Khao Naka in Phuket on Sunday night. Kamala Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) council member Sommai Kritsan and the village headman for Chalong Moo 1, Pradit Ongsantipap, were among the 26 arrested during the joint-police operation. “We received a tip-off that there…
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Sea gypsies beg for protection after “gun threats’
PHUKET: About 200 Rawai sea gypsies yesterday begged Phuket authorities for protection after a group of men allegedly threatened to shoot them if they moved concrete blocks that had been placed on the public access road to their village. “Last month, a group of men put concrete barriers on the path between the beach and our village, which we have…
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Research team to reveal beach-management solution next month
PHUKET: The beach-management research team at Prince of Songkhla University (PSU) Phuket campus will present its findings about current beach rules and ideas for the future to Governor Nisit Jansomwong next month. Governor Nisit told the Phuket Gazette last week (story here) that he had designated the research team to evaluate the results of the three-month trial period for the…
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Foreigners suspected in Tesco carpark robbery
PHUKET: Police are looking for at least three men, thought to be foreigners, who robbed a car in broad daylight at Tesco Lotus Thalang. “When we arrived, Pasuk Ohara, 43, was standing with her son and his friend near the car. The right side back window had been removed,” said Lt Wichote Meepop of Thalang Police. “Mrs Pasuk told us…
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Motorists escape serious injury in chain-reaction crash
PHUKET: Three motorists narrowly escaped serious injury in Phuket when a motorbike driver fell off her bike and caused a chain-reaction accident on Thepkrasattri Road yesterday. Thalang Police arrived at the scene to find major traffic tailbacks in the southbound lane, a totalled Toyota sedan wrapped around a utility pole, a badly damaged pick-up truck and motorbike in the middle…
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Owners deny sending ‘muscle’ to threaten Phuket squatters
PHUKET: Chalong landowners have asked island officials for justice and transparency in an investigation into a complaint filed by locals earlier this month claiming that the landowners had sent ‘men in black’ to threaten them for encroaching on the land. Samran Sanyanuphap and Sulak Kunarak, two of the landowners listed on the Chanote for the disputed 70 rai of land…
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Snake head stuck in Phuket hole
PHUKET: It took Phuket rescue workers about 15 minutes to remove a three-meter python from a drain cover hole near Khao Khad View Point this weekend. “When we arrived it was clear that the snake had gotten its head stuck in the hole,” said Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation worker Silaluck Na Thalang. “I’m glad we got a call from passing motorists,…
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One killed, two seriously injured in Phuket motorcycle crash
PHUKET: One Phuket resident was killed and three others injured early this morning, when three men on a motorbike ran a red light in Thalang and collided with another man on a motorcycle. Police arrived at the Khao Lan junction on Thepkrasattri Road, just south of Tesco Thalang, at about 1:30am and found the body of Suriya Chaikul, 34. “On…
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Phuket villagers switch off EGAT’s power-line plan
PHUKET: The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has changed its plan to run a 500-kilovolt power-line through Thalang after local villagers filed a complaint about the project last month. EGAT decided to use one of the suggestions put forth by the protestors in their first complaint (story here) and install the new 500KV line along the same path as…
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Foreign-flagged superyacht charter licence defined
PHUKET: The final regulations and requirements for a one-year permit that will allow foreign-flagged superyachts to charter in Thailand were announced at a public meeting in Phuket today. The chartering licence is expected to be signed off by the Ministry of Transport next month, confirmed Marine Department Director-General Chula Sukmanop today (story here). “We are confident that licence registration will…
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Phuket gets B29mn for CCTV
PHUKET: A budget of 29 million baht has been allocated for Phuket to boost the number of government-run CCTV on the island by 202 cameras, it was announced last weekend. The cameras are in addition to the 307 recently installed Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) CCTV cameras, but not part of the 238mn-baht upgrade of cameras on the island that is…
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Phuket police not worried about checkpoint warnings on social media
PHUKET: Phuket police are not worried about social media users posting warnings for motorists about standard checkpoints on the island, but will consider pressing charges if a post helps street-racing youths avoid authorities. The news follows a report by The Nation this week that police in Bangkok are considering taking legal action against those who post locations of checkpoints online…
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Inaugural Laguna Phuket Junior Golf Tournament tees off this weekend
PHUKET: The newly upgraded Laguna Phuket Golf Club will host the very first Laguna Phuket Junior Golf Tournament on Sunday. Working in partnership with British International School, Phuket (BISP), the event is aimed at growing the game of golf with tomorrow’s future champions. “Both Laguna Phuket Golf Club and BISP are committed to growing the game of golf in Phuket.…
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Video Report: Le Meridien lifeguard training to boost island safety
PHUKET: Lifeguard training recently took place on Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort’s secluded beach to train guards from 11 different properties in Phuket. The day was split into four sections with practical training at the beginning and end, and theory and first-aid training sandwiched in the middle, explained Surf Life Saving Australia Trainer and Assessor David Field, who has been…
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Thousands of mangroves planted for Queen Sirikit
PHUKET: Despite the rainy weather, thousands of mangrove trees were planted in Phuket this week in celebration of HM Queen Sirikit’s 80th birthday on August 12. The planting extravaganza was organized by the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command to honor Thailand’s beloved Queen Sirikit as well as to encourage people to rehabilitate and protect the environment. More than 350…
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Dengue fever spreads in Krabi, Phuket safe
PHUKET: More than 400 people have been diagnosed with dengue fever in Krabi since January as the mosquito-borne disease spreads in the coastal province east of Phuket. “There has been one fatal case in Krabi so far,” confirmed Phuket Provinical Health Office (PPHO) Chief Kajohnsak Kaewjarus. “However, everything is under control in Phuket.” Krabi is currently ranked among the top…
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Fake quake to strike Phuket next week
PHUKET: An imaginary earthquake will strike Phuket next week so that emergency-response personnel, island officials and locals can take part in a full-scale drill in preparation of the real thing. The exercises and subsequent discussions will take place from June 24 to 26 in Thalang, said Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak yesterday. “There will first be a simulation on June 24…
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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