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 Airport tipped to reach breaking point
PHUKET: With tourism numbers surging, Phuket International Airport is expecting a record four million passenger arrivals for the year 2011. As arrivals to Asia’s leading resort destination in the first half of the year increased 20% over the same period in 2010 and an unprecedented number of new hotel rooms opened, sagging infrastructure is creating a widespread danger to the…
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Fried Noodles: Transformer explodes, food cart incinerated
PHUKET: The explosion of an electrical transformer in Phuket this afternoon incinerated a noodle vendor’s cart, injured a woman, and damaged several vehicles. The fire followed the explosion of a transformer in front of a townhouse project across from the Ocean View Phuket Hotel on Sirirat Road, which runs from Patong to Karon. Roadside noodle vendor Kanjana Sonjai, 29, said,…
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Phuket’s 70.3 Ironman gets Kailua-Kona slots
PHUKET: Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship at Laguna Phuket has scored a major coup by securing 30 qualifying slots from the World Triathlon Corporation for its prestigious 2012 Ford Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Laguna is one of only three worldwide Ironman 70.3 triathlons to offer 2012 Kona slots and the only one in Asia-Pacific. The legendary Ironman World Championship…
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Phuket’s Gov to bring illegal hotels into the fold
PHUKET: Tri Augkaradacha, Phuket’s 43rd governor, was promoted to the top job on October 1, 2010, when he set tourism promotion as his prime policy objective. Here, in his regular monthly “Governor’s Letter” in the Phuket Gazette, he talks about the problem of unregistered hotels, a stalled road project, and the coincidence that he and PM Yingluck Shinawatra are both…
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Phuket’s Sri Panwa is ready to pilot minimum wage
PHUKET: One of the island’s most luxurious lodgings says it’s ready to pilot daily minimum wages of 300 baht, after the government named Phuket as one of six provinces (along with Bangkok) where higher pay will be introduced first. Songkran Issara, the managing director of Charn Issara Development, which runs the Sri Panwa resort at Cape Panwa, said the company…
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Phuket’s rice prices set to rise
PHUKET: Menus in Phuket and across Thailand will soon be revised with the price of rice set to jump as a result of the Yingluk administration’s changes to the rice mortgaging scheme. Pitched as a mechanism to increase rice farmer’s incomes and spending power, the controversial program – first implemented by the Thaksin administration six years ago – will offer…
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Phuket Live Wire: Choosing the right internet landline
PHUKET: In my last Live Wire column I talked about the three general types of internet connections available in Phuket: landlines, wireless and satellite. This week I’ll explain how to find the right landline. Next week I’ll tackle wireless. The most important point to understand about landlines is that they’re changing all the time. Two years ago, 3BB had the…
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Lengthen your contact, don’t follow through
PHUKET: This week’s tennis tip is on length of contact, comes courtsey of Travis Bertram who is the Tennis Director for Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club, Phuket. Length of contact is the length of the swing forwards at the moment of impact with the ball. Forget the term “follow through” and promise to never say it again! Follow through is…
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Phuket’s “baby dumping’ rise sparks stateless alarm
PHUKET: The rising number of babies being abandoned on Phuket is causing alarm among the authorities, with the director of the Phuket Shelter for Children and Families voicing concern that babies who cannot be identified possibly becoming “stateless”. The shelter has been notified of more than 20 babies being abandoned since October 1 last year. The actual number is probably…
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Phuket sporting action round-up
PHUKET: A round-up of Phuket’s sporting action and players. Young gun slinger Phuket’s speed-merchant Dylan Young raced at the weekend’s JK Asia Racing Series in Singapore, for the Atlantic Racing Team. The 22-year old had secured a place for the premier open wheeler support category to the Singtel Singapore Formula One event and managed to finish in 8th spot on…
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Phuket Rugby Challenge trophy a sizzling success
PHUKET: Blistering heat heralded the first Phuket Rugby Challenge Trophy sponsored by Heineken Thailand played at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club, and DEA Tigers from Hong Kong are the inaugural champions. Using the International Rugby Board (IRB) approved synthetic surface at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club, Bedok Kings and DEA Tigers from Hong Kong, the Singapore Bucks and host club…
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Haitang fallout batters Phuket
PHUKET: The Thai Meteorological Department has issued another tropical storm warning coviering much of Thailand, including the Andaman provinces of Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun. The Thai Meteorological Department issued its initial warning after tropical storm “Haitang” made landfall at Hu, Vietnam at 4am yesterday. The national weather office re-issued its warning at 10:30 last night, following…
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Honesty in football
PHUKET: “I think the Premier league is a strong product because there’s a tremendous honesty in our game and fans play a part in that.” Manchester United’s evergreen manager Sir Alex Ferguson asserting that football is a business. However, it seems that as the Scot reaches seventy-years-old his interpretation of honesty has become skewed somewhat. The fans maybe honest, but…
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Thailand relinquish Asian volleyball title
PHUKET: Thailand’s hopes of retaining the Asian Senior Women’s Volleyball Championship crown were dashed in Taiwan last week losing to Japan at the semi-final stage. The reigning champions went down 25-13, 20-25, 25-18, 23-25, 15-13 to the world number four team, who exacted vengeance for their defeat by Thailand at the same stage last year. Despite the loss, an automatic…
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Kittipong out of Thailand Open
PHUKET: With a round of the Chang International Tennis Federation Thailand Pro Circuit 2011 being hosted at Thanyapura in Phuket next month, it is hoped that Thai number two, Kittipong Wachiramanowong, will participate. Yesterday, the 20-year-old lost in the first round of the PTT Thailand Open to his idol Robin Haase of the Netherlands, going down 6-3 7-6 7-1 at…
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Phuket prisoners to observe Vegetarian Festival
PHUKET: About 200 inmates at Phuket Prison are taking part in this year’s Phuket Vegetarian Festival by observing a strict diet of ‘vegetarian only’ during the nine-day festival. Prison Director Rapin Nichanon said the effort is part of the facility’s on-going efforts to reform inmates so that they can become law-abiding and productive members of society. Taking part in the…
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Dropping a bombshell
PHUKET: “We’ve been practicing our goal kicking and our drop-goals a lot. Finals and semi-finals have really gone down to the wire and the track record has proven that drop-goals can win tournaments.” All Black Colin Slade suggests that the 2011 Rugby World Cup could have another Johnny Wilkinson moment to determine the outcome.
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Phuket Vegetarian Festival blasts into 2011
PHUKET: Devotees at Chinese shrines across Phuket raised their go teng poles at dusk last night and began reciting incantations to invite the Jade Emperor and Nine Emperor Gods to descend from the heavens. Among the VIPs joining Kathu Mayor Chai-anan Sutthikul in declaring the Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2011 officially open at the Kathu Shrine – the “original home” of…
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Procession routes for Phuket Vegetarian Festival
PHUKET: The annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival unofficially starts at sunset tonight with the raising of the go teng poles for the Jade Emperor and the Nine Emperor Gods to descend to our earthly realm. Each year, the Vegetarian Festival attracts thousands of tourists to Phuket to witness the various activities held across the island. To assist tourists and help motorists…
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“Monk’ hash mule nabbed at Phuket Airport
PHUKET: A Nepalese “monk” was caught on Saturday at Phuket International Airport (PIA) with eight kilos of hashish in his luggage. The haul was said to be worth an estimated 800,000 baht. The suspect, Hise Chhiring Tamang, was presented at a press conference yesterday by PIA Customs Director Montira Cherchoo. Also present was PIA Deputy Director Thani Chuangcho, who said…
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FC Phuket douse PTT Rayong
PHUKET: FC Phuket recorded their fourth consecutive league win last night, with a 3-0 drubbing of PTT Rayong in wet conditions at Surakul Stadium. Phuket went into the match without golden boy Sarach Yooyen, but Watcharapong “Paeh” Jan-ngam shouldered the goalscoring responsibilities dutifully. He got the Southern Sea Kirin on the board in the 7th minute when he powered down…
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Rondi wins Men’s Open Final at Phuket’s Quiksilver 2011 Surf Competition
PHUKET: The Quiksilver Thailand 2011 Surf Competition came to a thrilling finale on Saturday with Bali’s Raditya Rondi claiming victory in the Men’s Open Shortboard Division. Rondi gave a master class of producing big moves on small waves for the crowds which packed Patong Beach, Phuket. Along with the title, Rondi was awarded 30,000 baht, accommodations from Ibis hotels and…
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40,000 liters of smuggled fuel seized in Phuket
PHUKET: Police on Friday seized 40,000 liters of smuggled fuel aboard a modified fishing boat at the Phuket Deep Sea Port. The arrests were made just before dusk by a regional police special task force set up to prevent smuggling of fuel, together with the Marine Police in Phuket and officers from the Phuket Provincial Excise Office. Acting on a…
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Two boys drown in canal along Phuket’s Phang Nga Bay coast
PHUKET: Two young boys drowned late yesterday while playing in an estuary near a popular tourist area on Phuket’s east coast. The boys – Pinitchnan Na Roied, 5, and Wannawut Thanakarn, 7 – were last seen playing in the Klong Mudong canal (map), a large tidal estuary that flows into mangroves along the Phang Nga Bay coast. A Kusoldham Foundation…
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German safe after Phuket paraglide plunge
PHUKET: A German man paragliding over the popular tourist area of Nai Harn Beach luckily escaped serious injury yesterday after plunging into the jungle behind the Royal Phuket Yacht Club resort. German national Ralph Gunper Lüdtke, 50, better known in paragliding circles by his nickname “Nino”, was reported missing at 2pm after setting off from a cliff above Nai Harn,…
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Lifeguards look to becoming career life-savers
PHUKET: More people are looking to become lifeguards as a career choice, says Prathaiyuth Chuayuan, president of the Phuket Lifeguard Club (PLC). The news comes after the Phuket Lifesaving Carnival, held at Kata Beach last Saturday, saw a record 56 entrants compete in the annual beach sports event. “It is very good thing that once they finish training with us,…
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Toyota Motorsport heralds Phuket “pulling power’
PHUKET: Engines will be revving at Saphan Hin next weekend, when Phuket hosts the fifth leg of the Toyota Motorsport “Sprint to Win” series. Toyota executives on Thursday joined Phuket Vice Governor Weerawat Janpen, sexy-model-turned-racer Natalie Davis and other dignitaries at a press conference at the Royal Phuket City Hotel to announce the event. The Phuket event is the second…
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Phuket’s Quiksilver Thailand 2011 Surfing Competition finals day today!
PHUKET: The Quiksilver Thailand 2011 Surf Competition finals are being held today – so get on down to Patong Beach in Phuket and catch the region’s best surfers in action! Day three report: All surfing divisions were in action on Friday in the last day of qualifying for today’s finals. Thirteen competitors enjoyed one meter waves in the Women’s Division…
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FC Phuket look to quench PTT Rayong ‘Fire Power’ on Sunday
PHUKET: FC Phuket will host PTT Rayong FC this Sunday evening at Surakul Stadium in a match sure to set the tone for the remainder of the Southern Sea Kirin’s season. Kickoff is set for 6pm. The last time the two sides met was back in April in Rayong. In that match, PTT Rayong “Fire Power” won with a single…
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Thorpedo in the water!
PHUKET: “I’m excited about being part of an Australian team again.” Ian Thorpe will compete in his first international swim meeting since 2006 when he swims at the World Cup in November. The five-time gold medalist has been named in Australia’s squad of 26 for the Asian legs of the World Cup in Singapore, Beijing and Tokyo. Thorpedo with his…
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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