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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5 hidden healthcare costs in Thailand and how to avoid them
Thailand's healthcare system is affordable and supported by the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme, offering essential services to most citizens. However, hidden healthcare costs can surprise patients and lead to unexpected expenses. These include specialist fees, insurance gaps, emergency services,...
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Phuket airwaves remain silent
PHUKET: Community radio stations throughout the island remain silent today, four days after orders were handed down from the National Council for Peace and Order [NCPO] on May 25. “It is best to contact the navy about the current situation concerning radio broadcasting,” said Sopon Keimkarn, a Public Relations Department (PRD) staffer in Phuket. The navy today confirmed that there…
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Krabi authorities scramble to have unexploded Japanese torpedo removed from beach
PHUKET: Krabi authorities are scrambling to have an explosive torpedo removed from the beach after they were notified by concerned villagers of the washed up wartime weapon on Tuesday. “Koh Jum fisherman left on Tuesday to fish near Koh Sriboya. While they were fishing, they spotted a large metal item about four meters long and 50 centimeters wide floating in…
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Unidentified body washes ashore at Mai Khao Beach
PHUKET: Police are trying to establish the identity of a man whose naked body was found washed up on Mai Khao Beach this morning. A local beach resort staffer notified police after a tourist made the gruesome discovery at about 7am. “From our initial examination of the body, we believe the man died about three days before his body was…
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Video Report: Winners return to defend their titles at Phuket Raceweek
PHUKET: The entry list is growing with a strong line-up of local and international boats already signed-up for 2014, including a number of past winners who are back to defend (or reclaim) titles. Last year’s Firefly 850 class winner, Twin Sharks, and past winner Moto Inzi are both back to reignite rivalries. Regular Raceweek competitor Stuart Williamson, who placed second…
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Army considers lifting curfew in Phuket
PHUKET: The military is considering lifting the curfew in Phuket and other tourist destinations such as and Pattaya, provided there are no signs of unrest in those areas. The consideration follows National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha being informed of how the nationwide curfew was badly hurting tourism-dependent businesses, NCPO deputy spokesman Col Nattawat Chancharoen…
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Malaysian breath-hold record set for static apnea
PHUKET: Contestants and spectators held their breath for some time during the WeFreedive Suunto Series static apnea event when a new Malaysian record was set on May 25. “This month’s static freediving competition had the feel of a young green season: small and relaxed,” explained Association Internationale pour le Développement de l’Apnée (AIDA) judge Richard Wonka. Despite the small turnout…
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Marina canal dredging resumes despite environmental concerns
PHUKET: The dredging project to improve access to Koh Kaew marinas, which was halted earlier this month due to environmental concerns, has started again. The decision to continue with the dredging of the Koh Kaew Canal (story here) was reached yesterday after lengthy discussions among the Phuket Governor, the Phuket Marine Office chief, the local subdistrict chief and Jitti Intaracharoen…
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Curfew checkpoints on Phuket, but no political reconciliation center
PHUKET: Coup leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha yesterday ordered each of the four Army areas to set up reconciliation centers where people could exchange political views and obtain direct information about the junta. However, the closest center to Phuket is at the Royal Thai Army base in Nakhon Sri Thammarat, to which a Phuket reporter and former island official have already…
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Facebook in Phuket not blocked by Army
PHUKET: Facebook crashing worldwide caused a flurry of tweets in Phuket and Thailand over concern that the popular social media site had been blocked by the junta. Downrightnow.com reported “likely service disruption” across the globe at about 4pm, not isolated incidents in Thailand, as many were worried about. Commanding General of the 41st Military Circle Peerapol Wiriyakul told the Phuket…
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Phuket Police warn over “new’ ATM skim device
PHUKET: Police are warning all ATM users to beware of fake covers fitted to the card-insert slots of cash machines after finding a “new” form of card skimmer fitted to an ATM in Patong yesterday evening. The new device was fitted to a Siam Commercial Bank ATM in front of a 7-Eleven convenience store at Malin Plaza, on Prachanukrh Road,…
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Vietnam meth mule caught with 3.2kg of ice at Krabi Airport
PHUKET: A Vietnamese woman has been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle 3.2 kilograms of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) into Thailand via Krabi International Airport. Customs Department chief Rakhop Srisuppha-at said that the drugs had an estimated street value of 9 million baht. Mr Rakhop told the press yesterday that Vietnamese national Tran Thi Be Hai, 43, arrived in Krabi…
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Phuket night workers start day shift to survive curfew
PHUKET: Patong nightlife operators, desperate to make up for business lost due to the nationwide curfew, have done the only thing they can do: start the party earlier. “Each venue has adjusted its hours to fit the curfew. Discotheques are now opening at about 4pm,” Weerawit Kurasombat, head of the Patong Entertainment Business Association, told the Phuket Gazette. “While it…
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Thousands of Brazilians against World Cup spending
PHUKET: Police fired tear gas canisters to contain anti-World Cup demonstrators who tried to march to the Brasilia stadium where the football tournament’s trophy was on public display on Tuesday. The protest by more than 1,000 people snarled rush hour traffic in the Brazilian capital adjacent to the Mané Garrincha National Stadium, the most costly stadium built for the 32-nation…
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Phuket curfew reduced to four hours
PHUKET: The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has announced that the curfew period will be reduced to four hours a day. The current curfew still effective tonight, banning all unsanctioned travel on the streets, is in effect from 10pm to 5am. The new curfew hours, from midnight to 4am, will come into effect tomorrow night, May 28. The…
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Gun-toting Aussie tourist nabbed with crystal meth in Phuket
PHUKET: Patong Police arrested an Australian tourist today after finding him in possession of 530mg of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine), a gun, and ammunition. Mark Robert Coutelas, 53, was apprehended at the Green Mango Apartment complex on Nanai Road after the police received a tip-off. “We went to the apartment and found Mr Coutelas at his rental room at about…
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Video Report: Phuket tourists talk about Thailand’s coup
PHUKET: Five days into Thailand’s coup d’etat, international travel advisories have been flying thick and fast following the military takeover by Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha. But travel advisories are written in dusty offices far from where the real action is taking place, so Phuket Today decided to find out what the international community really thinks about what’s happening here. We headed…
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Lifeguards back on Phuket beaches, ask PPAO to plan ahead
PHUKET: Lifeguards returned to Phuket beaches today, ending a month-long break after the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization’s (PPAO) 10-month contract with the lifeguard club fell through on April 27 (story here). Waters surrounding the island have become more dangerous with the arrival of the annual southwest monsoon season, and one tourist died during the lifeguard-less month (story here). “I am…
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Grateful Phuket locals praise army
PHUKET: More than 500 locals gathered at Sanam Chai Park this morning to offer roses and letters of thanks to army officers for their hard work. The grateful group of local farmers, students, Reserve Officer Training Corps Students and Civil Defence Volunteers intercepted the officers as they were on their way to meet with Governor Maitri Inthusut at Phuket Provincial…
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Mobile thief tracked down after victim tips off police
PHUKET: Patong Police tracked down a Phuket mobile thief on Sunday after receiving a tip-off about the suspect from the theft victim. Arom Boonsri, 38, notified police that her phone had been stolen, and gave the name of the person she believed had taken it. Police named the suspect as clothing-store staffer Jakkrit Prasertsak, 20, from Chiang Rai. “We learned…
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Last chance to win a flight over Phuket with the Gazette’s Reader Survey
PHUKET: Don’t miss your chance to win a free airplane ride over Phuket by taking part in the Phuket Gazette’s 20th Anniversary Reader Survey (survey here). The two lucky readers who have a chance to jump into the Gazette airplane and tell the pilot where they want to go – home, office, Phang Nga Bay…* will be determined and announced…
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No money to fix caved-in road in Koh Kaew, say officials
PHUKET: A section of a busy road in Koh Kaew has collapsed, but despite a circle of finger-pointing by local officials, no repairs are likely until next year, due to lack of funds. The road, Soi Koh Kaew 33, behind the Isuzu dealership on Thepkrasattri Road, leads to local villages and housing developments and is used as a shortcut to…
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Thailand Tourism President calls for curfew to be lifted in Phuket
PHUKET: The president of the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), Piyaman Tejapaibul, has petitioned the ruling junta to lift the nightly curfew in Phuket and other tourist hotspots throughout the country. Ms Piyaman told the Phuket Gazette today that she filed her request with the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) at a meeting yesterday. “I asked for General…
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Swedish cyclists bound for Phuket push through Turkey on epic journey to help island orphans
PHUKET: The four intrepid men biking their way from Sweden to Phuket to raise funds for the Barnhem Muang Mai orphanage in Phuket found themselves in a small Turkish village called Kandira yesterday. With about 3,600 kilometers under their belts, and thousands more to tackle before crossing Sarasin Bridge, morale is still high for Calle Wollgard, Fredrik Jessen, Tomi Blumen…
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Toes to the nose: Surf comp success at Kalim Beach
PHUKET: The monsoon arrived just in time for the first Pearl of the Andaman Longboard Classic hosted on the rocky coast of Kalim last Saturday. A bit of afternoon rain and a military coup couldn’t keep 30 contestants and more than 40 spectators from turning out. A few days of consistent ground swell marched its way through the Andaman to…
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Phuket reporter and former official summoned by army
PHUKET: A Phuket reporter and a former provincial official have been summoned to the Royal Thai Army base in Nakhon Sri Thammarat. The two men ordered to report to the base are Watchara Malikaew, a journalist with the Inside Phuket magazine, and Wisut Santikul, a former deputy vice-president of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PPAO). Mr Watchara said soldiers appeared…
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Video Report: Phuket officials angered by illegal fishing at King’s Park
Those found illegally fishing in the park can be fined up to 1,000 baht. Video: Drummer.kong PHUKET: Phuket City officials are calling on the public to notify officers immediately of any illegal fishing carried out at Suan Luang Park (also called Chalermprakiat Ror IX Park or King’s Park) in Phuket Town. The call for public assistance follows a video posted…
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Phuket students back in class today
PHUKET: Students in Phuket and nationwide went back to class today, despite rumors online stating that schools would remain closed. “I can confirm that all schools, both public and private, are open as usual today,” Chalam Attatham, director of the Phuket Primary Educational Service Area Office, told the Phuket Gazette. “False information was spread throughout social networks yesterday claiming that…
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Five-part Andaman carnival series to kick off in Ranong on June 8
PHUKET: The first in a five-part series of carnivals to be held in Andaman provinces will take place in Ranong on June 8. Ranong, perhaps best known among expats as a visa-run destination, has plenty of things for tourists to enjoy, said Ranong Vice Governor Supawat Sakda, who announced the carnival with Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa on Friday. “We…
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Phuket radio stations fall silent
PHUKET: Commercial radio stations throughout Phuket fell silent today after receiving requests from the army to comply with an order issued by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) this morning. The ban on broadcasting includes local satellite television networks (story here). Staff at 107.7FM Open Mind received a call this morning from an army officer ordering the station…
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Police recruit translators to help Phuket tourists
PHUKET: Police stations throughout Phuket will have video conference capabilities installed so that tourists can communicate with translators in Bangkok at any time, one of the country’s top-ranking policeman announced in Phuket yesterday. The initiative is to prevent misunderstandings between tourists filing complaints and police, said Assistant National Police Chief ML Pansak Kasemsant, speaking at Phuket Provincial Police Station. 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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