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 Vegetarian Festival thrives with cultural rituals and street processions
The streets of Phuket town were buzzing with spiritual energy earlier today as the Phuket Vegetarian Festival entered its fourth day and the third day of street processions. Devotees and Mah song spirit mediums from the Lim Hu Tai Su Shrine in Samkong led the procession, showcasing a blend of Chinese culture and local traditions. The Samkong Shrine, one of…
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Phuket’s waste crisis and eco-tourism plans discussed by Pita Limjaroenrat
Pita Limjaroenrat, the former Move Forward Party (MFP) leader, yesterday paid a visit to Phuket to assess some ongoing projects in the seaside resort and discuss the key issues with the residents and officials. The respected former MFP leader was accompanied by three local MPs affiliated with the MFP, namely Somchart Techathavorncharoen, Chalermpong Saengdee and Thitikan Thitipruekthikul. The first stop…
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Rain doesn’t dampen spirits at the Phuket Vegetarian Festival
The Phuket Vegetarian Festival, a grand spectacle of Chinese culture, witnessed another round of street processions today. Despite the heavy downpour, the processions, featuring devotees from the Sapam Shrine and the Bang Khu Shrine, kicked off with fervour. These processions were a part of the ongoing celebrations which have taken the streets of Phuket by storm. Photographs capturing the essence…
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Phuket shopping mall stages active gunman drill in preparation for Vegetarian Festival
Central Phuket shopping mall became the stage of an active gunman training emergency-response exercise spearheaded by officers from Region 8 Police yesterday before the mall opened its doors to the public. The joint leaders of the active gunman training response scenario were Police Lieutenant General Suraphong Thanomchit, the Region 8 Police Commander, and Police Major General Sermphan Sirikong, the Phuket…
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Jungceylon boosts public safety and confidence through enhanced security measures
On 10 October, Mr. Sanya Armeen, Manager of Building & Engineering at Jungceylon, Patong, Phuket, in collaboration with the Patong Police Station, hosted a training session on “Step up Public Safety and Emergency Response.” This initiative equips our security personnel and Jungceylon staff to effectively handle various emergency situations, thereby ensuring the safety and confidence of both Thai and international…
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Lost in Phuket: Stranded British man seeks help as wife takes passport and sails away
A stranded British man, faced with the loss of his passport and funds after a family disagreement, found himself stranded in Phuket. Assistance from the Tourist Police was sought after his wife, following the dispute, left with his travel documents and a portion of their belongings. The public became aware of the British man’s plight through a report by the…
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Phuket motorists urged to avoid roads for King Maha Vajiralongkorn tribute procession
Phuket City Municipality issued an appeal to motorists, asking them to steer clear of Phuket Road and its surrounding areas in Phuket Old Town next Monday. This comes in anticipation of a street procession set to pay tribute to His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X). The street procession, honouring King Maha Vajiralongkorn, is not part of the traditional Iw…
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Phuket’s deep cleanup: 800 kilogrammes of marine waste netted in underwater mission
An underwater cleanup operation near Racha Noi Island, Phuket, yielded 800 kilogrammes of discarded fishing nets and other marine debris last Friday. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) organised the cleanup after local divers alerted them about the marine trash accumulating on an artificial reef in Ran Gai Bay. The debris posed a significant threat to marine wildlife…
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Phuket car detailing centre manager’s suspected suicide under investigation
Phuket police are currently probing the apparent suicide of a 43 year old man who managed a car detailing centre in Phuket Town. Supachai Panya’s lifeless body was discovered on Saturday night at around 8.10pm on Viraponghongyok Road, north of the Nimit Circle, also known as the Seahorse Circle, on the east side of Phuket Town. Upon receiving the distress…
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Phuket family’s plea for justice after harrowing hit-and-run incident
A Phuket resident publicly shared the harrowing ordeal of a hit-and-run incident that took place last Sunday, October 8. The incident involved his family being struck by a pickup truck while they were on their Honda PCX motorbike. The 36 year old man, Wittaya, and his wife along with their young son were en route to Robinson shopping mall in…
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Phuket’s vegetarian festival to boost Thai economy with 9 billion baht (video)
Anticipations are high as the annual 10-day vegetarian festival in Phuket is set to yield more than 9 billion baht in revenue, as estimated by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Meanwhile, the Phuket Provincial Commercial Office reports a drop in vegetable prices compared to the corresponding period last year. Thanet Tantipiriyakit, who presides over the Phuket Tourist Association, noted…
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Phuket stabbing: Restaurant worker claims self-defence in fatal incident
A fatal stabbing incident unfolded in Phuket yesterday morning, resulting in the death of a 33 year old man. The 28 year old man, Arnon Thepsong, a restaurant staffer, has been arrested under charges of assault causing death and carrying a weapon in a public place without reasonable cause. However, he asserts that the act was committed in self-defence. The…
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Phuket property swindle: Frenchman exposes multimillion-baht real estate scam
A Frenchman took to social media to accuse three Thai nationals of running a huge real estate scam, luring hundreds of victims into investing in a property project in Phuket. The total loss was over 100 million baht. The Frenchman said on his Twitter account, Swann Polydor (@soueuls) on October 7, that many people, both Thai and foreign, had invested…
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Phuket’s Chalong Pier sets sail for smart upgrade, boosting tourist experience
Phuket’s regional marine office has initiated the enhancement of its fourth private pier, Chalong Pier, to a smart pier to improve tourist services. The upgrade, which is in collaboration with several agencies including the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa), is expected to cost around 60 million baht. At present, Phuket boasts three other smart piers: Ao Por Pier, Visit Panwa…
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Blaze at Buddhist temple: Fire ravages building in Phuket’s Wat Latthiwanaram temple
In a distressing incident that unfolded yesterday, a fire erupted at a small building located within the premises of Wat Latthiwanaram in Chalong, Phuket, resulting in significant damage to the structure. This particular building, an integral part of a temple situated on Chao Fa East Road, primarily serves as a venue for the organization and conduction of funeral proceedings. The…
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Dead body of a Thai man found at hotel car park in Phuket
A Thai man was stabbed during an altercation at a restaurant in the early hours of yesterday morning and fled from the scene before meeting his demise in a hotel car park in Phuket. Locals stumbled upon his body the same day he succumbed to his wounds. A resident discovered the body in the car park of a hotel on…
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Phuket tuk tuk drivers attack Saudi Arabian passenger over service fare
Officers from Patong Police Station arrested three thuggish Thai tuk tuk drivers for assaulting a Saudi Arabian passenger on Rat U Thit Road in Phuket after the foreigner paid them only 300 baht out of 400 baht for a 3-kilometre journey. A video of three Thai tuk tuk driver thugs physically assaulting the Saudi man went viral on Thai social media.…
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Phuket stabbing: Driver fatally attacked at hotel car park
A commercial driver from Phuket province met a tragic end after visiting a popular nightclub and getting into a heated dispute. He was fatally stabbed and his body was found at the entrance of a local hotel. Phuket police responded swiftly, arriving at the scene at 6am today. Surachai Watitsuppaphon, Deputy Inspector (Investigation) of Phuket City Police Station, led the…
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Mongolia opens honorary consulate in Phuket, boosting ties
Phuket marked a significant milestone as Mongolia inaugurated its honorary consulate on the island, coinciding with the 49th anniversary of its diplomatic ties with Thailand last week. The consulate’s office is located at the Gig Hotel on Soi Bangla in the Patong district. The opening ceremony saw the attendance of key figures including Tumur Amarsanaa, Mongolia’s ambassador to Thailand, Nutthaphong…
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Chinese woman falls to death from 10th floor of Phuket hotel
A Chinese woman fell to her death from the 10th floor of a hotel in the Karon sub-district of Phuket province. The cause of her death remains shrouded in mystery. A hotel worker reported the death of the Chinese woman, 34 year old Zou Ke, to Karon Police Station at around 4am today, October 6. Officers investigated the scene immediately…
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Phuket’s unlucky 13: Immigration crackdown reveals rule-breaking escapades
Immigration authorities in Phuket apprehended 13 individuals and charged them with violations of the Immigration Act. This information was disclosed yesterday in the Phuket Overstay Report, issued by the local Immigration department. Of the 13 arrested, seven were detained for overstaying their visas from September 1-30. Also noted in the report was the charging of one individual for failing to…
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British man recounts shocking encounter with racist Russians in Phuket
A British man recounted an unsettling encounter with some racist Russians in Phuket, southern Thailand. His unfortunate experience has led him to declare that he will never return to the island. The British man, who shared his story on the Reddit platform under the username Wanderlust3r0, started his narrative by stating he is a black British man with a Thai…
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Experience a ‘Holistic High’ at the second Phuket Cannabis Cup
Welcome to the second Phuket Cannabis Cup, where the worlds of holistic health and cannabis under the theme “Holistic Health, Holistic High” are united. Join a transformative experience that celebrates the intersection of wellness and cannabis culture, fostering a deeper connection between mind, body, spirit and nature. Get ready to explore a harmonious blend of wellness practices, conscious consumption, and…
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Phuket set for 148 billion baht infrastructure boost to uplift tourism
The renowned resort island of Phuket is set to undergo a significant infrastructural facelift, courtesy of a proposed budget of 148 billion baht by the Transport Ministry. The ambitious Phuket infrastructure upgrade plan includes the addition of a second airport on the island, a move aimed at transforming Phuket into a prime regional tourism hub. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit disclosed the…
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Phuket hotels collaborate with ONWR to tackle water crisis and boost sustainable tourism
Facing a critical water shortage, the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) devised a strategy to collaborate with Phuket hotels, launching an initiative to decrease water utilisation in the tourism industry. Surasee Kittimonthon, the ONWR secretary-general, highlighted the escalating water crisis in the popular Thai resort island, marked by inadequate water supply and treatment issues. With the tourist count…
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Phuket’s 191 hotline control room gets ‘ready to dial’
The Phuket control room, part of the National Emergency Notification Center and commonly referred to as the 191 police hotline, yesterday underwent an operational readiness inspection. Police Major General Saksira Phueakam, the Deputy Commander of Region 8 Police, conducted the assessment. This control room serves as a crucial hub for receiving reports from both Thai and foreign tourists, as well…
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Kamala resident nabbed for motorbike thef in Phuket
A 31 year old Kamala resident Sahat Max Laksakul was apprehended today by the Patong Police on charges of motorbike theft. The arrest followed an incident in which a white-black Honda Click 125i was reported missing from Meg Khram The Sunshine Restaurant, situated on the road between Patong and Kalim. The incident transpired around 5pm on Monday, September 18, and…
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Phuket’s vice: Island faces rising tide in drug woes
Phuket’s Vice Governor acknowledged there is an escalating drug crisis on the island, with surging narcotics use and a growing number of dealer arrests. The revelation was made during the Phuket Provincial Narcotics Prevention and Suppression Center Committee meeting at the Provincial Hall. The meeting was attended by Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander, Police Colonel Kitipong Klaikaew, Thongchai Somkiatkul from…
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Phuket’s tourism boom: Visa-free policy sparks influx of Chinese and Kazakhstani visitors
The popular tourist destination of Phuket is on the cusp of a significant increase in Chinese and Kazakhstani visitors, thanks to a new visa-free policy set to take effect next week. The policy, unveiled in the Royal Gazette on Tuesday, grants 30-day visa-free stays for nationals from both countries, starting from Monday and extending until February 29. The Tourism Authority…
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Taking flight: AOT’s 70-billion baht plan for new airport in Phang Nga takes off
Airports of Thailand (AoT) is progressing with a 70 billion baht plan to construct an airport in Phang Nga, located north of Phuket, to cater to the growing tourist influx to the Andaman region. This information was shared by AoT President Keerati Kitmanawat, as he responded to Prime Minister Srettha Thavisiin’s recent visit to Chiang Mai to deliberate on 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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