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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Marine Police ramp up inspections to promote Phuket boat safety
PHUKET: Marine police are in the midst of a blitz on Phuket tourist boats and crew to promote safety over the four-day holiday weekend. “It’s our responsibility to continually check on the boats and strictly enforce regulations to ensure the safety of passengers, especially during the long holidays, when more people are expected to be in Phuket,” said Lt Col…
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Police suspect kickstand played role in fatal Phuket motorbike crash
PHUKET: A helmet-less Myanmar national was killed after losing control of his motorbike on a curve while driving with his kickstand down in Phuket yesterday. When police arrived at the scene on Phra Phuket Kaew Road, they found 27-year-old Phyo Maung Maung’s motorbike, with the kickstand down, on the median and Mr Phyo’s body in a lane of oncoming traffic.…
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Military silent on ‘cash for clearance’ at Phuket Airport
PHUKET: Navy officers have fallen silent over their investigation into immigration officials at Phuket International Airport who allegedly solicit cash payments from tourists to clear immigration queues. On Wednesday, one of the top-ranking officers who led a Monday raid of the airport declined to reveal to the Phuket Gazette whether or not his officers were continuing their investigation into the…
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Police warn local officers over taxi mafia revival
PHUKET: The leading police officer who spearheaded the recent purge of Phuket’s illegal taxi mafia has vowed to investigate any local police officers who allow illegal taxi drivers to return to their regular roosts. Maj Gen Paween Pongisirin of Region 8 Police said that he considered any further action against illegal taxi operators a matter to be dealt with by…
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Kathu Culture Street Festival kicks off today
PHUKET: The Kathu Culture Street Festival, showcasing the unique blend of cultural heritage of the area, starts today with a parade at 4:00pm. The parade will begin at Kathu Municipality and end at the Kathu Public Health Center, followed by an opening ceremony at 6pm. “The goal of the festival is to encourage locals and tourists to learn more about…
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Unemployed Phuket tour bus staffers plead for help
PHUKET: Local tour operator staff made redundant by companies using their own buses, drivers and guides to provide tours of Phuket appealed yesterday to the Governor’s Office for help in alleviating their plight. Kanlaya Rakvaree, the lead representative of the group, explained that many local jobs had been lost to companies that no longer hire Phuket tour companies to conduct…
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Phuket house burglar’s rampage comes to abrupt end
PHUKET: Police yesterday snared a serial burglar who confessed to having robbed 12 Phuket residences since mid-June. The 22-year-old Phang Nga native, Raewat Kasirak, was identified by police from many CCTV footage clips recovered from throughout the island, explained Lt Col Somsak Thongkliang of the Phuket City Police. Mr Raewat, who was arrested in front of the Phuket Vocational College…
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Twin Sharks turns turtle, to rejoin regatta racing tomorrow
PHUKET: Hot favorite Twin Sharks, which capsized during practice in strong winds off Phuket yesterday, is expected to begin its campaign in the Firefly Sport 850 class in the Multihull Solutions Regatta tomorrow. The racing catamaran turned turtle in Chalong Bay yesterday afternoon amid strong winds gusting up to 25 knots (story here). Skipper and owner John Newnham and his…
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Argentina and Germany start final preparations
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Argentina and Germany start final preparations Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Argentina and Germany were both back at work on Thursday, secretly hatching their plans for Sunday’s World Cup final at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. While their contrasting styles promise a classic battle between…
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Phuket man found at lake bottom after midday fishing, drinking session
PHUKET: The body of a 65-year-old man was recovered from a lake in Cherng Talay by rescue divers hours after his wife reported him missing. Arwin Norkam went searching for her husband, Don Norkam, at about lunch time this afternoon. At the lake, where he had gone to fish, she found his clothing, shoes, fishing tackle and a bottle of…
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Rio’s Christ to light up Twitter’s World Cup campaign
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World sport selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rio’s iconic Christ statue will be lit up on the eve of Sunday’s World Cup final in the colours of each of the finalists’ flags with Twitter users to determine which is displayed the longest. Starting on Wednesday, Twitter Inc users around the world can participate by…
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ICC win the first match of the Outrigger T20 League
PHUKET: In the first outrigger 20/20 cricket league match of the season, Island Cricket Club (ICC) played Village Cricket Team in the morning match on the 6th July 2014. Village captain Martin Platts won the toss and elected to Bat. Village opening batsman Divan Mydeen (1) was caught behind early on from the bowling of Arun Virdikar, who struck again…
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Phuket to observe two-day alcohol ban starting at midnight
PHUKET: The sale of alcohol will be prohibited in Phuket tomorrow and Saturday as part of a nationwide ban to honor the Buddhist holiday of Asarnha Bucha and the start of Buddhist Lent. “Alcohol sales are prohibited from midnight tonight until midnight Saturday,” Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Sakchai Limcharoen told the Phuket Gazette this morning. The Saturday alcohol ban…
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Phuket beach shops fetched B7mn apiece, B400k a year in rent, say officials
PHUKET: Shops and restaurants torn down by officials at Nai Thon Beach yesterday were bought for as much as 7 million baht apiece and fetched rental fees of up to 400,000 baht a year, officials have revealed. “It is obvious that the people who run these shops are business operators, not local people living day by day,” Sirinath National Park…
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Argentina beat Dutch in shootout to reach final
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Argentina beat Dutch in shootout to reach final Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Argentina’s Sergio Romero saved two penalties in a 4-2 shootout win over the Netherlands to seal their first World Cup final place in 24 years after the first ever goalless semi-final at the…
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Rules announced for Phuket beach development
PHUKET: Local residents have been forbidden to make any changes to the island’s new beachscape by order of Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut. “If anyone tries to alter the beach landscapes or is caught violating the details of this order, they will face legal action,” the provincial order read. The order also provided the sole circumstances under which the beach could…
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No crackdown on Patong nightlife, assures Phuket’s top-ranking soldier
PHUKET: The top-ranking soldier on the island confirmed to the Phuket Gazette today that the army and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) have no plans to crack down on the Patong nightlife industry. “We haven’t even considered it,” Maj Gen Peerapol Wiriyakul said. “We understand that Patong is a tourist destination, and we would prefer to just…
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Phuket Governor cleans Karon Beach, urges beachgoers to obey red flags
PHUKET: While leading a mass beach cleanup at Karon this morning, Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut urged tourists to heed the red flags posted along the waterline. “Beach guards have told me that tourists ignore the red flags,” Governor Maitri said. “This is very dangerous. We would like tourists to enjoy Phuket without putting themselves at risk. Please listen to the…
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Breaking News: Phuket beach vendors push back at military attempt to clear Patong Beach
PHUKET: More than 100 Phuket beach vendors surrounded Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsab and Kathu District Chief Sayan Chanachaiwong as they, with the backing of military personnel, attempted to clear Patong Beach this morning. “This is where we earn a living; we have been here for many years. We are not harming anybody. Why would you stop us from earning a…
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Ruthless Germany stun the world with rout of Brazil
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ruthless Germany stun the world with rout of Brazil Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Germany inflicted the most shocking result in World Cup history when they crushed hosts Brazil 7-1 in a semi-final that brought grief to millions of home fans and caused utter astonishment around…
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Armed soldiers join inspection of abandoned Phuket resort
PHUKET: The investigation into land encroachment at Phuket’s Sirinath National Park continued today as officials – including about 30 armed Army personnel – inspected an abandoned resort, with national media in tow. The property, Phuket Peninsular Spa & Resort, is on the original list of 10 – which has now grown to 14 – that have long been under investigation…
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Phuket fishermen save severely injured sea turtle
PHUKET: Local fisherman saved an olive ridley sea turtle that washed onto a Phuket beach missing a flipper today. The fishermen notified Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers, who collected the turtle from Sai Kaew Beach and transported it to the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) at Cape Panwa. “The turtle’s shell was damaged and its front flipper had been cut off.…
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Myanmar thugs threaten farmers at gunpoint in Phuket land grab
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut led about 50 Army and Navy armed personnel yesterday to investigate claims by villagers in Wichit that a gang of thugs from Myanmar hired by an “influential person” had threatened them at gunpoint to vacate their land. The sortie into the Nakkered Hills National Forest, near the Bang Wad Reservoir, took place after 20 families…
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Breaking News: Phuket land verification center to end national park encroachment
PHUKET: A land legality verification center will be established on Thursday to help investors be assured that the property they are purchasing is not encroaching on national park land or Phuket’s famed beaches. “We will set up a center where prospective investors can establish that the land documents, as well as the land they are looking to acquire, are legal,…
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Phuket Airport Immigration denies “express lane’ corruption
PHUKET: Royal Thai Navy officers today called into question alleged corrupt practices by immigration officials at Phuket International Airport, such as soliciting cash payments from tourists. “We have heard that many immigration counters are not open when tourists arrive on international flights, so officers are supposedly soliciting money from them to use a ‘VIP’ lane to avoid the long queues,”…
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Coup leaders invite corruption complaints from Phuket
PHUKET: The island’s representatives of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) are inviting residents and tourists to file anonymous complaints of suspected corruption, as well as suggestions for coup leaders on how to improve the country. Any complaints filed as highly confidential will be treated as such, the island’s leading authorities have assured. “You can report any trouble…
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Phuket begins fight against slavery on fishing boats
PHUKET: The nationwide push to eradicate slavery in Thailand’s fishing industry started in Phuket today as the Phuket Provincial Employment Office (PPEO) began to receive lists of migrant workers employed in the field. Following the order by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), fishing boat operators have until July 21 to report the names of their migrant workers…
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Phuket Provincial Hall smoked out during parlor fire
PHUKET: A fire erupted in a private reception room at Phuket Provincial Hall after an air-conditioning unit short-circuited this afternoon, causing about 30,000 baht in damage. “We were notified by an officer in Provincial Hall at about 4pm that a second-storey parlor had caught fire,” said Lt Col Kritsana Jannit of the Phuket City Police. “Firefighters from Phuket City Municipality…
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Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek just around the corner
PHUKET: Phuket is ready to host the award-winning Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek from July 16 to 20 off the Island’s southeast coast. The season-opening event of the prestigious 2014/15 Asian Yachting Grand Prix – a series of 12 of the best regattas in Asia – Raceweek is set to welcome one of the most competitive fleets in the Regatta’s…
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Breaking News: Army launches offensive against Phuket Airport taxi drivers
PHUKET: Soldiers, Navy personnel and a battery of local officials arrived in force at Phuket International Airport this morning to launch a campaign to arrest all taxi drivers illegally picking up passengers at the facility. Security personnel barred any taxis from exiting the airport car park without first obtaining permission to leave. “We have a list of all the drivers…
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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