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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Nadal on cloud nine after soaring new heights
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Nadal on cloud nine after soaring new heights Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: One man’s despair was another man’s ecstasy as the most inopportune of double faults propelled a world-beating Rafa Nadal into a nine-times French Open champion on Sunday. Waiting to launch into a second…
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Man confesses to human trafficking for Phuket fishing fleet
PHUKET: Police arrested a Myanmar national at Phuket’s fishing port yesterday for scamming four compatriots into working on a fishing trawler for six months without pay. The suspect, identified as Ao Mo, 49, later confessed to human trafficking and helping illegal migrants avoid arrest, said Lt General Panya Mamen, commander of the Royal Thai Police Region 8 division. After Ao…
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Police bust drug den in Phuket housing estate
PHUKET: Phuket Police arrested three drug dealers yesterday at their Koh Kaew drug house in possession of more than 2,000 pills of ya bah (methamphetamine) and 3.40 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine). Police moved in to make the arrests after a tip-off from an informant led them to a house in Chaofa Garden Home housing estate in Koh Kaew,…
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Curfew lifted on Phi Phi, Krabi and Phang Nga
PHUKET: The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has lifted the curfew on the tourist-popular Phi Phi Island and the rest of Krabi in its latest step to assist Thailand’s tourism industry. The NCPO issued the order yesterday, which also repealed the curfew in Phang Nga as well as in Cha-am district of Phetchaburi province and Hua Hin district…
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Kalim residents beg police to have mercy on taxi stands
PHUKET: More than 100 local villagers today begged officials to stop demolishing illegal taxi stands in Kalim.“We have been here for 18 years and got permission from former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin,” emotional tuk-tuk driver Adisorn Maneesri told the Phuket Gazette.“We understand why they are doing this, because of all the problems with taxis, but please understand that we are…
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Patong’s last illegal taxi stands torn down, raids move to Kalim
PHUKET: After tearing down 12 illegal taxi stands throughout Patong yesterday, officers moved to Kalim, at the northern end of Patong Beach, to tear down four illegal stands there. The raids in Kalim, carried out by more than 100 officers from Phuket Police and Royal Thai Police Region 8 division, began at 10am as part of the Royal Thai Army’s…
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Grateful German student gets bag of cash back
PHUKET: A grateful German student had his bag of cash returned to him last night thanks to a helpful Phuket van driver who spotted it at Rassada Pier on Thursday afternoon and handed it in to police. The bag, containing nearly 30,000 baht in combined currencies, was left behind at Rassada Pier by 22-year-old student Sebastian* and turned in by…
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Taxi driver found with over B100mn in bank spurs money laundering investigation
PHUKET: The discovery of a taxi driver’s bank book that showed assets of more than 100 million baht has initiated investigations into possible money laundering. Officers discovered the bank book this morning while searching the home of the driver, who has not yet been named. “A number of drivers had unexpectedly high bank balances, and we intend to check each…
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Phuket students return gold, bring tears of joy to Filipino’s eyes
PHUKET: Local students at Phuket Rajabhat University brought a Filipino to tears earlier this week after turning in a gold bracelet that he had lost. The item is said to be worth about 135,000 baht. One of the students found the treasured piece of jewellery and immediately turned it in to a teacher at the school. “I went home to…
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Destruction of Patong taxi booths underway
PHUKET: The destruction of 16 taxi booths in Patong is currently underway. Starting at 3pm this afternoon, Patong Police, officers from the Patong Municipality and volunteers began to tear down taxi booths throughout Patong. “We are targeting 16 booths. Some we have received complaints about, and some are obstructing traffic,” said Patong Police Chief Investigator Sutthichai Thianpho. The taxi drivers…
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Video Report: Get sweaty with a clean conscience: Phuket’s Clean the Beach Boot Camp tomorrow
PHUKET: After their one-year anniversary celebration to Phi Phi, Krix Luther and the Clean The Beach Boot Camp gang will be back on their home turf at Nai Harn Beach in southern Phuket tomorrow. Last month, over 50 eager boot camp participants, veterans and first-timers, piled onto Blue World Safaris’ speedy catamaran for the anniversary event, banking on a day…
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Breaking News: Phuket taxi driver arrested with B100mn
PHUKET: Police today arrested a Phuket taxi driver who had more than 100 million baht in his bank account. Officers are now investigating the origins of the funds and whether the suspect was involved in money laundering. — Woranut Pechdee
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Police arrest suspect over slaying of Canadian in Patong
PHUKET: After nearly five years on the run, Nukul Sae-heng, 28, from Phetchaburi has been arrested for his role in the contract slaying of Canadian national Francis Alex Degioanni in Patong in 2009. Nukul was arrested in Ayutthaya on a Phuket arrest warrant on Tuesday, Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette. He is now in custody at Patong Police Station.…
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Phuket shrine broken into; possibly robbed
PHUKET: Police are trying to track down the culprits involved in a break-in and possible robbery at the Tah Rua Shrine on Thepkrasattri Road in Srisoonthorn. “Cheng Kittipisarn, 73, who looks after the shrine, reported the break-in just after 8am today,” Lt Col Sanit Nookong of the Thalang Police told the Phuket Gazette. Mr Cheng was waiting near an overturned…
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South American saviors
PHUKET: Tourism officials are seeking to tap into the Brazilian travel market to help Thai tourism reach its revenue goal for the year despite the coup. Some 21 Brazilian travel agents recently concluded a tour of Phuket and the surrounding area and said they felt completely safe and did not fear the political situation after they arrived, said Anoma Wongyai,…
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Police arrest Phuket blockade leaders
PHUKET: As part of an ongoing campaign to clean Phuket of all people deemed by police to be a threat to the island’s tourism industry, officers have arrested three people for involvement in major street blockades. Police have arrest warrants for 23 people for their roles in the blockades, Lt Gen Panya Mamen, Commander of the Royal Thai Police Region…
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Police push to keep tuk-tuk cartel suspects behind bars, fear witness intimidation
PHUKET: Only four of the 95 suspects arrested for their involvement in the taxi and tuk-tuk cartels that have ruled Phuket’s public transport system have been allowed out on police bail. The rest remain in jail today. “The four suspects were allowed out on bail because they have health problems that were identified and certified as a real risk by…
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Three young Phuket sailors aim to represent Thailand at Welsh World Championships
PHUKET: Three young sailors who grew up in a local orphanage are preparing to be the first to represent Thailand in a world class sailing event in Wales in August. Ekkapot Kaenkaew and Theerapong Tokratoak, both 17, and Kartoon Jundet, 12, are members of the Phuket Youth Sailing Club (PYSC), which has been invited to send competitors to the International…
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Junta eyes lifting curfew for World Cup
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Curfew may be eased for World Cup The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) yesterday mulled whether to make curfew hours more flexible for the World Cup tournament, which kicks off next week. Junta spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvari said…
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Video Report: Thailand’s coup given credit for taxi cartel crackdown in Phuket
PHUKET: Thailand’s coup opened the gates for police to sweep Phuket clean of the island’s notorious taxi and tuk-tuk cartels, said Commander of the Royal Thai Police Region 8 Panya Mamen today. Lt Gen Panya explained that the Army’s support was instrumental in enabling months of hard police work to come to fruition. “Since the coup, it has been easy…
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Illegal roaming abortion clinic shut down in Phuket
PHUKET: Police arrested two Myanmar nationals operating an illegal abortion clinic in Phuket during a sting operation today. Sein Maung, 54, and Thein Thein Htwg, 35, were taken into police custody after preparing to give an abortion to a three-months-pregnant woman. “We received a tip-off about the roaming abortion clinic, so we set up a mole to get the telephone…
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Swiss man crushed to death as cement truck tips on Karon Hill
PHUKET: A Phuket expat from Switzerland was crushed to death yesterday afternoon when a cement truck slid out of control on Karon Hill and crushed his car. Philippe Wagner, 46, died instantly, said Lt Weerayuth Thansirisukhaworakul of the Karon Police. “He was alone in the car when the accident happened,” he added. Mr Wagner was on Patak Road, travelling toward…
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Teach environmental awareness when they’re young: Phuket Governor
PHUKET: The key to lifelong environmental awareness is to teach children while they’re young, said Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut today in his opening address to mark World Environment Day. Taking part in a global initiative to increase awareness about environmental concerns, Phuket launched a three-day event to mark the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) global day, this year held under…
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Krabi, Phang Nga next on list for curfew repeal
PHUKET: The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is planning to ask for the curfew to be lifted in Phuket’s neighboring provinces of Krabi and Phang Nga to ease public concerns and help tourism operators recover. Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports Suwat Sitthilor is planning to ask the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to remove the curfew in…
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Take it to the green with Environment Day in Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket’s celebration of World Environment Day (WED) kicked off this morning as the province hosts a three-day event concluding on June 7. The event organizers’ goal is to encourage residents to take action against pollution and promote the preservation of the island for generations to come. The event will support this year’s United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) campaign called…
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Phuket’s Coup d’Taxi continues; cartels smashed
PHUKET: Police this morning continued their campaign to smash Phuket’s notorious taxi and tuk-tuk cartels by destroying illegal taxi stands in Cherng Talay, Kata-Karon and Kamala. Unlike the mass raids yesterday, when 73 drivers were arrested (story here), no soldiers from the Fourth Army Area Command in Nakhon Sri Thammarat were present to provide military support. An estimated 500 officers…
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Phuket Town woman surprised by slithering squatter… again
PHUKET: Anchalee Boonjit discovered an unexpected guest hiding behind her house when she opened the back door yesterday morning –a three-meter-long python. “I woke up in the morning and went to find a rag to wipe the floor, since it was wet from rain the night before,” said Ms Anchalee. “When I opened the door, I was shocked to see…
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Phuket war weapons owners urged to lay down their arms
PHUKET: Governor Maitri Inthusut has made a plea for anyone harboring weapons of war to hand them over to authorities by the June 10 deadline rather than risk court martial and 20 years in jail. “No citizens are permitted to own weapons of war. There is no license that allows such weapons to be owned,” Governor Maitri told the Phuket…
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Army invades Phuket to clear violent, illegal taxi drivers
PHUKET: A deployment of 100 soldiers from Southern Thailand today provided military support to a huge task force of 1,110 police officers and 40 volunteers who swept along the west coast of Phuket to purge the island of illegal, violent, abusive and cheating taxi, tuk-tuk and minivan drivers. The soldiers were acting under orders from Maj Gen Peerapol Wiriyakul, Commanding…
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No power rationing in Phuket during gas field shutdown
PHUKET: The chief of the Phuket Energy Office and Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut have both confirmed that there will be no enforced blackouts or power rationing in Phuket when a major gas field supply line goes offline next week. Supply of natural gas from field A-18 in the Joint Development Area (JDA) between Thailand and Malaysia in the Gulf of…
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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