Phuket News
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Phuket rental operator takes stand against undesirable tourists
Arnut Lowlarng, 39, is a native of Patong and the new President of the Patong Bike and Car Rent Association. He has a vocational certificate in construction from Phuket Technical College and has been renting vehicles in Patong for more than 22 years. Here, he talks about what kind of tourists he’d like to see in Phuket and the issues…
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Phuket’s low season saviors: Russians, Chinese and Middle Easterners
PHUKET: The sacred oxen have spoken – the rainy season is upon us – and it will be a year of abundant water and food. The year will also be abundant in Russians, Chinese and Middle Easterners – the financial saviors of Phuket’s low season. Down here on the island, far from the rice-reliant agriculture industry, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony…
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Boycott forces Patong mayor to abandon inaugural council meeting
PHUKET: A boycott by members of Pian Keesin’s Rak Patong Party this morning forced Chalermluck Kebsab to abandon her first council meeting as Patong Mayor. Mayor Chalermluck, a long-standing Phuket Democrat, defeated Mr Pian at the polls by 4,390 votes to 3,330 on April 26 (story here). However, her supporting councilors today failed to form a quorum – the minimum…
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Protect Phuket’s tourism
PHUKET: As the latest edition of the Phuket Gazette hits newsstands this weekend, the nationwide curfew imposed by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has already done considerable harm to Thailand’s all-important tourism sector. Indeed, no province stands to suffer more than Phuket if international confidence in Thailand as a safe tourism destination deteriorates any further. Hence, the…
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Lost French tourist rescued from Phuket jungle
PHUKET: A hastily formed search instigated by an expat Phuket Tourist Police Volunteer led to the safe recovery of 25-year-old French tourist Erik Pourier, who became lost in the jungle at the Khao Phra Thaew wildlife sanctuary in Thalang in the dark. On his first trip to Phuket, Mr Pourier had rented a motorbike to explore the island, and decided…
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Light-rail proposed to trundle through Phuket Town
PHUKET: Plans proposing that Phuket’s long-awaited light-rail system travel through the heart of Phuket Town will be revealed at a public hearing next Tuesday. The news follows a meeting of high-ranking officials, including Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut, yesterday. Sirigate Apirat of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning told the Phuket Gazette today that the proposed route for…
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Phuket stab victim dies en route to hospital
PHUKET: A Phuket woman who was stabbed in her garden this afternoon died as her neighbors rushed her to Thalang Hospital. Nongluk Thavorn, 42, was found screaming for help with a knife still lodged in her head. “I climbed over the wall into her garden. I saw her on the ground bleeding with the knife stuck in her head, behind…
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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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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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MMA enters Phuket
PHUKET: More than 500 people are expected to show up at Phuket’s first MMA gala, and they are in for a treat. “Thai culture understands combat sports. And the Kingdom is on the cusp of accepting MMA with open arms. We’re just trying to give a little push,” explains Ree Webster, the event’s co-organizer,when asked about the motivations behind his…
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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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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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Video Report: Goats go for gold
PHUKET: Crowds of fair-goers hastily gathered last Saturday around the racing lanes at the National Goat Fair in Cherng Talay as anxious farmers corralled their hairy contestants toward the starting line. The ominous, stubborn rain clouds had parted just in time for the long-awaited goat races to begin. Even the sweltering heat could not stifle the excitement among children and…
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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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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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Phuket land encroachment top priority for new park chief
PHUKET: The new chief of Phuket’s Sirinath National Park yesterday vowed to pick up where his predecessor left off in the battle against land encroachment. Chief Kitiphat Taraphiban, who transferred to Phuket from Mae Ping National Park in Chiang Mai, arrived on the island last Friday and reported to Governor Maitri Inthusut for duty yesterday morning. “We have some strong…
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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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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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HiFi gives opening blast at Samui Regatta
PHUKET: The 13th Samui Regatta got underway yesterday with a 23-strong fleet of mainly international boats competing in what has become known as the Tropical Island Regatta. With an impressive IRC fleet lining up to battle it out over five days, the first day proved to be both challenging and satisfying for fans. Light to moderate winds, unusual for Samui…
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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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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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Taiwanese tuna boat captain breathes easy after Phuket rescue
PHUKET: Phuket Marine Police responded to a distress call from a Taiwanese tuna-fishing boat early this morning. The Dong Cheng 988 contacted Marine Police for assistance after Captain Shang-Chih Hsu, 61, suffered a severe asthma attack. The boat was about 37 nautical miles southwest of Phuket. “Mr Shang-Chih had his inhaler, but it wasn’t working,” Lt Col Panya Chaichana of…
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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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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…
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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