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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Sponsored Infinito helps hotels in Thailand with revenue management
Maximising revenue and profit–isn’t that the ultimate goal for every business in the hospitality industry? If you run a hotel, you might have heard that revenue management is an effective way to boost your top-line revenue. It involves using data...
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Phuket speedboat brings tourists closer to nature
PHUKET: A group of tourists out to enjoy a scenic tour of Phuket’s east coast received a surprise yesterday when the captain of the speedboat they were riding on decided to take the eco-tourism slogan “bringing you close to nature” to heart. The speedboat Panisa ended up high and dry among the mangroves at the entrance to the canal to…
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Run like a girl… ahead of the rest – Triathlon Tips
PHUKET: Did you know that “Long Distance Running” for women was illegal in the old days? Participation in Marathon events was impossible for women. It was considered unfeminine and unhealthy. It took the IOC till 1984 to finally hold the first marathon for women. The first known marathon finish of a woman was in 1967 when Katherine entered the Boston…
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Moya Hin, Hurricane and Aqua sail forth
PHUKET: Beautiful sunny skies and a cool, gentle 10-15 knot south-westerly breeze greeted over 45 sailors competing in race one of Phuket’s Ao Chalong Yacht Club, Series Two. The first of the eight race series was proudly sponsored by ISS Security Services. After hearty breakfasts from the club restaurant and some of the best coffee on the island, sailors of…
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Patong cruise to easy win – Phuket Cricket
PHUKET: On an overcast Sunday for Round 6 of the Outrigger T20 league, Laguna last weekend squared up against Patong in the morning session, while the Village took on ICC in a rain-affected afternoon session.In the morning match, Patong cruised to a comfortable win over Laguna who could only manage 90 runs during their innings with Patong reaching their target…
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Chinese tourists unharmed in Phuket high-speed tour bus crash
PHUKET: Chinese tourists on board a Phuket tour bus escaped injury last night after the bus they were travelling on sideswiped three parked cars at speed on Thepkrasattri Road.The bus was returning 20 tourists back to the Supalai Resort & Spa at Ao Por, in Pa Khlok, after a night tour of Phuket Town, said Thalang Police officer Lt Thani…
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American slashes own throat at Phuket police station
PHUKET: An American man slashed his own throat with a broken tile at Chalong Police Station Wednesday night after allegedly causing a ruckus at a local Phuket school.Police were called to Muang Phuket School in Rawai Wednesday evening and quickly found the shouting American, who police have yet to identify publicly.“We brought him to the police station,” Lt Col Chamroon…
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Phuket underpass traffic to resume “normal delays’
PHUKET: Roadwork at the Darasamuth Intersection that has caused huge tailbacks over the past few days is scheduled to be completed by today, with northbound traffic resuming its normal route through the junction, the Phuket Gazette has been told. The delays have been caused by workers at the site, where Phuket’s first underpass is under construction, needing to excavate the…
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Hope in Phuket: Largest floating library docks at Panwa
PHUKET: The world’s largest floating library, MV Logos Hope, was welcomed to Phuket’s Deep Sea Port (map here) by Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut Thursday morning. Joining local dignitaries at the ribbon-cutting ceremony were about 100 students from Yala, one of Thailand’s violence-stricken Deep South provinces. The students were bussed to the opening as part of a community project conducted by…
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Pregnant woman found murdered in Khao Sok identified
PHUKET: The pregnant woman who had been shot three times and dumped in Khao Sok National Park last week has been identified by a neighbor, police say. “After the news was published, one of her neighbors contacted the Kapong Police and was able to identify her,” said Lt Col Prajak Rodkantuk of the Kapong Police Station. “Her name was Wipa…
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Rocky takes a beating on Phuket’s Patong Beach
PHUKET: A Nepalese tailor who calls himself “Rocky” was beaten bloody by alleged “business acquaintances” on the Patong beach road just after midnight last night, Phuket Police have reported. Responding to a call at 12:30am, police arrived at the southern end of Thaweewong Road (map here) to find a well-dressed man bleeding profusely from several head wounds. “The man, who…
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Krabi does Phuket FC a favor
PHUKET: Thanks to Krabi FC’s 4-2 away win last night at Saraburi, Phuket FC moved up one place of the 18-team Yamaha League One (YL1), into 6th place, despite only drawing with lowly Royal Thai Navy FC 1-1 in Chonburi, also last night. The midweek match-up, both side’s 22nd of the scheduled 34 matches in the YL1 2013 season, was…
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Phuket nurse in ICU after high-speed car crash
PHUKET: A Phuket nurse is in the intensive care unit at Bangkok Hospital Phuket this morning after the car she was driving hit a power pole at high speed before dawn today. Three people were injured in the accident, near the Bangchak gas station on Phra Phuket Kaew Road in Kathu (map here), explained Lt Col Yotsapat Suwannsit of the…
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Armed but barefoot, thief robs Phuket 7-Eleven
PHUKET: A barefoot man armed with a long kitchen knife robbed a 7-Eleven in Rassada, north of Phuket Town, early yesterday morning, making off with just over 10,000 baht.CCTV images show a man about 170cm tall wearing a full-face motorcycle helmet, black jacket and jeans, said Phuket City Police Superintendent Sermphan Sirikong.“We received a report at about 3am from the…
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Typhoon Utor fallout to drench Phuket, 27 provinces
PHUKET: The Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned that Typhoon Utor, which struck the coast of China’s Guangdong province late yesterday, will bring heavy rain to 27 Thai provinces today and tomorrow – including Phuket, Phang Nga,Krabi, Ranong and Trang.TMD chief Worapat Tiewthanom warned that Typhoon Utor was as powerful as Typhoon Gay, which ravaged southern Thailand in 1989.With winds whipping…
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Drugs came to Phuket via prison dealer; guns bought via Google
PHUKET: Drug arrests over the last two days have brought police closer to the source: a dealer based inside Nakhon Sri Thammarat Prison. Illicit guns and bullets bought online were also uncovered during the arrests.Two suspects, Santi Nhuphoom, 31, and Anas Thongma, 23, were found with a total of 490 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) and three guns when…
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Body of missing fisherman washes ashore on Phuket
PHUKET: Relatives have confirmed that the body that washed ashore near the northern end of Kamala Beach yesterday morning is that of 34-year-old Non Boonsopha, who was swept out to sea while fishing with friends and family on Phuket on Sunday.Mr Non was fishing from the rocks on Laem Son, the headland at the southern end of Bang Tao Beach,…
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More escaped Rohingya rounded up in Phuket; search continues
PHUKET: Phuket police have taken nine more Rohingya men back into custody, and back to the immigration detention center they had escaped from early on Saturday morning (story here). “We are still searching for the remaining 23,” said Phuket Immigration Superintendent Col Sanchai Chokhayaikij. “I am sure they are still in Phuket because our officers continue to round them up,”…
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Familiar pattern reveals Phuket meth, not quilt
PHUKET: A man was charged with drug dealing after Phuket City Police pounced on him picking up a package that he claimed was supposed to encase a quilt – not the nearly 8,000 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills police found.The man, Somsak Srisakul, was presented to the press today at Phuket City Police Station.“We received a tip-off that drugs would be…
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Phuket police force to start growing in November
PHUKET: Phuket’s police force will increase by 700 officers next year, with new officers starting to arrive in November, Royal Thai Police Commissioner Adul Saengsingkaew has announced.The move is to upgrade the island’s force to meet the demands of increasing numbers of tourists and residents on the island.“Phuket will have a bigger and more efficient police force in 2014,” General…
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Phuket Police arrest suspect for stabbing murder of girl, 17
PHUKET: Police yesterday arrested the man suspected of having robbed and stabbed a 17-year-old woman to death early on Sunday morning. “He told us he just wanted her gold necklace,” said Lt Col Prawit Engchuan of the Phuket City Police. Neighbors recognized Somkid Saisema, 33, from CCTV pictures they saw on TV and notified police, who raided his house on…
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Phuket duo win Tourism Thailand competition
PHUKET: A Phuket-based duo, comprising Richard Brownsdon from UK and Vimalin Chalermporn from Thailand, were recently selected as the winners of “The Little Big Project”, a Thai destination promotion and development competition. Mr Brownsdon and Ms Vimalin won the competition with their project, which focused on “responsible eco-tourism and marine conservation in Phuket”, executed in collaboration with openmindprojects.org. Since May…
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Law suits fly in face of DSI Phuket “mafia’ list
PHUKET: Five of the men whose names or businesses appeared on the Department of Special Investigation’s (DSI) “mafia” list have struck back at the DSI’s allegations that they had links to illegal taxis and organized crime (story here). Three have already filed defamation suits. Thammawat Wongcharoenyut and Siwa Siangyom filed their complaints against the DSI in Phuket on Saturday. San…
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Phuket fighting fish gamblers netted in rubber plantation
PHUKET: A Phuket police raid on a gambling den known for fighting fish netted nine men Saturday morning.“I received a report of a place that was open every weekend for fish gambling,” Thalang Superintendent Sirisak Warasiri said. “So I sent my men to investigate.”“They found a well-established location with tables and chairs for the gamblers,” he said.Police raided the den,…
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18-wheeled truck crash blocks traffic from Kamala to Patong
PHUKET: An 18-wheeled truck slid back on a hill between Kamala and Patong, and is now blocking all lanes of traffic between the popular Phuket tourist destinations.No injuries were reported.“The accident was caused by the truck carrying construction supplies that were too heavy, leading it to slide down and cross the lanes,” said Kamala Superintendent Patanajak Jakkrapan.Police and Ruamjai rescue…
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Phuket FC president’s birthday wish granted with win over Nakhon Pathom
PHUKET: The Islanders last night won their first match in the last 50 days – and first at home for 112 days – beating Yamaha League One (YL1) rivals, Nakhon Pathom United 2-0 on a waterlogged pitch at Surakul Stadium in Phuket Town.Marking the occasion, Phuket FC President Pamuke Achiriyachai at half time was presented flowers, a birthday cake and…
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Phuket top officials make merit in honor of HM Queen Sirikit’s 81st birthday
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut led top Phuket officials in a celebration of HM Queen Sirikit’s 81st birthday early this morning by donating alms to monks.The Governor, all three vice governors and Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavalviwat, along with 500 officers and local residents, made the dry food offering in front of Queen Sirikit Park.The government officers were all…
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Concern piqued by fetus hammerhead sharks on display at Phuket restaurant
PHUKET: Local concern peaked in Phuket after photos began to circulate of two baby scalloped hammerhead sharks on display in front of a restaurant in Kata last week.“The ones [scalloped hammerhead sharks] at that restaurant clearly show to everybody that they are fetuses – they are not fully grown sharks, so obviously fishermen caught a female shark somewhere, chopped her…
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Phuket teen fatally stabbed during gold snatch
PHUKET: A 17-year-old woman was fatally stabbed as she fought off a man trying to steal her necklace in the early hours of yesterday morning in Rassada. The woman, Wassana Lerdsongkram, had gone to a Lotus Express with her 2-year-old nephew after midnight yesterday morning. Witnesses told police that a man followed her into the store, where his image was…
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Bar girl delivered B100k to Swedish murder suspects, Phuket Court told
PHUKET: As the murder trial of Tommy Soderlund continued yesterday, a police officer told the court that Mr Soderlund was arrested in the hotel room of a Pattaya bar girl who had delivered 100,000 baht to him and his alleged accomplice Johan Ljung. Mr Soderlund and Mr Ljung are charged with murdering Russian-born Swedish national Maksim Schantz in Phuket on…
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Phuket’s elite captains mark 24 years of dodging rocks
PHUKET: A gathering of Phuket’s elite captains and core sailors of the local yachting community last night marked 24 years of dodging rocks with the launch of the fourth edition of the essential cruising guide, Southeast Asia Pilot, that made it possible. The latest edition covers the area from the Andaman Islands in Indian territorial waters to Darwin, Australia. In…
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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