Phuket News

Phuket news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s top island destination. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Phuket news source.

  • Phuket Gazette: Tibetan protester dies; Moral crimes; Sudan border clashes | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette: Tibetan protester dies; Moral crimes; Sudan border clashes

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Tibetan protester dies after setting himself on fire in New Delhi Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: A Tibetan man died early yesterday morning after setting himself on fire earlier this week in New Delhi to protest against Chinese rule in Tibet, activists and officials said.…

  • FC Phuket skin the ‘Swat Cats’ | Thaiger

    FC Phuket skin the ‘Swat Cats’

    PHUKET: FC Phuket bagged their first victory of the TPL Yamaha Division One League season against the Korat FC “Swat Cats” in a heated away match last night in Nakhon Ratchasima province. The only goal came on 29 minutes when K-league import Kim Wonsup’s corner was met by Watcharapong Jun-ngam’s glancing downward header that beat Korat’s keeper Narong Wisetsri at…

  • Pineapple protest to block Bangkok-Phuket highway | Thaiger

    Pineapple protest to block Bangkok-Phuket highway

    PHUKET: Phuket residents planning a weekend road trip to Bangkok might want to start the journey today, as thousands of pineapple farmers in Prachuap Khiri Khan have announced they will stage a full road blockage on Phetkasem Highway tomorrow.The farmers, about 7,800 of them, said they will block a key stretch of Southern Thailand’s main north-south artery – and stay…

  • Firebomb blasts rock Phuket housing estate | Thaiger

    Firebomb blasts rock Phuket housing estate

    PHUKET: Two explosions left one man injured, a dog dead and caused extensive property damage in a late-night firebomb attack in a Phuket housing estate early this morning. Thalang Police were at 12:20am notified of two explosions in the Bo Din housing estate, located near the TOT office on Ban Don Road in Thepkrasattri Village 1. At the scene, they…

  • Phuket driver comes unstuck, hits tree | Thaiger

    Phuket driver comes unstuck, hits tree

    PHUKET: A man driving from Saphan Hin toward Phuket Town this morning crashed his pickup truck into a tree in front of the Phuket Marine Police Station.Phuket City Police were informed of the accident at 6:39am and quickly dispatched officers along with members of the Phuket Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation.Arriving at the scene, they found a Krabi-registered Mitsubishi pickup truck stopped…

  • Phuket Area News: Gang hacks off tourist’s thumb in bag snatch | Thaiger

    Phuket Area News: Gang hacks off tourist’s thumb in bag snatch

    PHUKET:Krabi Police arrested three teenagers and one 20-year-old yesterday after a gang cut off a German woman’s thumb during an early-morning bag snatch in Krabi Town, across Phang-nga Bay from Phuket.Muang District Police Deputy Superintendent Chatchawan Ninchan said Hanna Zerlaut and Sina Maureen Beckert, both 21, were attacked while walking along Chaofa Road in Tambon Paknam, Krabi Town, at about…

  • Phuket Sports: Lomas learn from the best | Thaiger

    Phuket Sports: Lomas learn from the best

    PHUKET: Rugby World Cup winning coach Bob Dwyer and former Leicester Tigers elite performance director Mike Pennistone staged the first of three coaching clinics in association with Phuket’s rugby development program at TSLC recently. It was the second international rugby match I had ever attended. With just under four minutes to go, Irish flanker Gordon Hamilton took a pass from…

  • Phuket Immigration to close for holidays | Thaiger

    Phuket Immigration to close for holidays

    PHUKET: The Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town will be closed for five days in April to observe a series of public holidays. The Phuket Immigration Volunteers today issued a notice that the office will be closed on: Friday, April 6 – Chakri Memorial Day Monday, April 9 – Public Holiday to observe the Royal Funeral for Her Royal Highness…

  • Speed cameras, booze buses in Phuket for Songkran | Thaiger

    Speed cameras, booze buses in Phuket for Songkran

    PHUKET: Speed cameras are expected to be installed across Phuket in time for the Thai New Year Songkran festival next month, and nightlife venue operators will be asked to provide transportation home for drunken patrons. The news was announced by Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Peerayut Karajedee yesterday. “The budget request for 17 million baht to acquire and install radar…

  • Fire engulfs Phuket store, causes B10mn damage | Thaiger

    Fire engulfs Phuket store, causes B10mn damage

    PHUKET: A fire at a construction equipment store in downtown Cherng Talay this morning caused an estimated 10 million baht in damages, according to Phuket Police.Cherng Talay Police at 6am were informed of a fire at the Cherng Talay Ruam Wassadu store, located near their police station on Srisoonthorn Road.Some 10 fire trucks and 40 officers arrived, dispatched from Cherng…

  • Phuket Poll: China offers highest tourism growth potential | Thaiger

    Phuket Poll: China offers highest tourism growth potential

    PHUKET: The Chinese market holds the highest growth potential for the Phuket tourism industry, according to the results of the latest Phuket Gazette Readers’ Poll. A total of 358 readers took part in the poll, which ran from March 8 until Saturday morning. Readers were asked, “Which of the following inbound markets holds the highest growth potential for the Phuket…

  • Phuket, Krabi rocked by ‘sudden’ thunderstorms | Thaiger

    Phuket, Krabi rocked by ‘sudden’ thunderstorms

    PHUKET: Following a stretch of hot weather, greater Phuket Town was hit by thunderstorms and torrential rainfall late yesterday afternoon. At about the same time in Muang District Krabi, a fierce squall damaged homes and felled rubber trees in a surrounding plantation in Khao Khraam subdistrict.The squall hit the rubber-tapping community of Khao Khraam Village 5 at about 5pm, causing…

  • Noppowon all set, Phuket’s De Cesare outgunned at ITF tournament | Thaiger

    Noppowon all set, Phuket’s De Cesare outgunned at ITF tournament

    PHUKET: Week two of the Phuket Chang ITF Women’s Pro Circuit tennis tournament opened today with six round one single’s matches and five in double’s competition at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club (TSLC).Phuket’s Helen De Cesare had earned a wild card entry, but found herself drawn against number two seed Kurumi Nara of Japan. The 17-year-old De Cesare couldn’t keep…

  • Phuket MP Anchalee rallies on Constitution change, red-shirt compensation | Thaiger

    Phuket MP Anchalee rallies on Constitution change, red-shirt compensation

    PHUKET: Less than a week after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinatwatra held her “mobile Cabinet meeting” on the island, Phuket Democrat Party MP Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr yesterday raised a slew of concerns facing the national government. Among her “concerns” were the current redrafting of the Constitution, the multi-million-baht compensation to be paid to the families of red-shirt protesters killed in the May…

  • Phuket model crowned Miss Thailand World 2012 | Thaiger

    Phuket model crowned Miss Thailand World 2012

    PHUKET: Phuket model Vanessa “Na-Chatra” Muangkod was crowned Miss Thailand World 2012 on Saturday night, and picked up three other accolades during the renowned beauty pageant. Miss Muangkod, a former student at Satree Phuket School, was also bestowed the titles Miss Beauty With a Purpose, Miss Top Model and Best in Swimsuit at the gala event, organized by Thai TV…

  • Man survives high-tension drama in Phuket | Thaiger

    Man survives high-tension drama in Phuket

    PHUKET: A man in search of food sent shivers up the spines of Phuket residents yesterday, when he began dangling from power cables strung up above a bus stop in Thalang District. Thalang Police were notified of the man’s strange behavior at about 4:30pm. Arriving at the site, in front of the TAT office opposite the municipal market on Ban…

  • Phuket Sports: She’s “Dear’ to the heart of Indigo Pearl | Thaiger

    Phuket Sports: She’s “Dear’ to the heart of Indigo Pearl

    PHUKET: Tennis played well at any level is an enviable pursuit. Those with the physical skill and coordination required to spot a ball traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour, then choose a shot before returning the two and a half inch diameter projectile over a three foot obstacle and land it accurately within a 27ft by 39ft area,…

  • Phuket Gazette ‘Green Report’: Regional mangrove restoration project receives green light | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette ‘Green Report’: Regional mangrove restoration project receives green light

    PHUKET: Efforts to restore the lost mangrove forests of Thailand and other parts of Asia will receive a boost this week when international partners gather in Krabi province, across Phang Nga Bay from Phuket, to discuss the use of project funding received via Germany’s Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).The meeting, which is being coordinated by the Trang-based Southeast…

  • Phuket Sports: Plans for Rassada futsal pitch benched | Thaiger

    Phuket Sports: Plans for Rassada futsal pitch benched

    PHUKET: Rassada residents scored a goal by benching the plans for Rassada futsal field in Phuket’s Kanjanapisek Park until a public hearing can be scheduled. A letter of complaint was filed by local residents against the development of the Rassada futsal field to Rassada Municipality Administrative Office (OrBorTor) Chief Dechakanee Leelanont. “We will have less area for exercising because the…

  • Phuket Sports: Pulsating play in round six of PSSL | Thaiger

    Phuket Sports: Pulsating play in round six of PSSL

    PHUKET: The Pita Bar Phuketeers and Eden FC got the ball rolling for round six of the Phuket Super Six League (PSSL) last Wednesday evening at Headstart’s Football Island. The Phuketeers grabbed an early 2-0 lead when Yannik Christll tapped in after Fabian Kleiner Scniedelmann’s shot was spilled by the goalkeeper. Christll doubled his team’s advantage with a fine solo…

  • Phuket Gazette Special Report: Thai military unveils plan to stop Rohingya landings | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette Special Report: Thai military unveils plan to stop Rohingya landings

    PHUKET: Region 4 of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) has formulated a “Protecting the Andaman” strategy to prevent Rohingya boat people from illegally entering Thailand in Ranong, Phuket and other Andaman Coastal provinces. Maj Gen Manas Khongpanin, director of the ISOC region, revealed that the security plan is to stop the Rohingya from entering Thailand, especially along the coastline…

  • Poll: Which Cabinet-approved project will most help Phuket? | Thaiger

    Poll: Which Cabinet-approved project will most help Phuket?

    PHUKET: At this week’s highly-publicized ‘mobile Cabinet’ meeting in Phuket, a number of projects were approved for Phuket and other provinces in the Andaman economic development cluster. In the latest on-line Readers’ Poll, the Gazette asks which of six projects approved for Phuket will do the most to help the resort province? The candidates are: – ‘Monkey cheek’ Reservoirs to…

  • Germany’s Pfizenmaier ousts Noppowan in Phuket ITF final | Thaiger

    Germany’s Pfizenmaier ousts Noppowan in Phuket ITF final

    PHUKET: Dinah Pfizenmaier has won the opening Phuket Chang ITF Women’s Pro Circuit event, defeating Noppowan Lertcheewakarn 6-2, 6-4 in the final at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club this afternoon.With local support weighing on the side of her opponent and number six seed from Thailand, the 20-year-old German showed early signs of nerves, losing the first game through four unforced…

  • Tesco Lotus aerobics show in Phuket on Monday | Thaiger

    Tesco Lotus aerobics show in Phuket on Monday

    PHUKET: Tesco Lotus is bringing its popular ‘Get Healthy with Tesco Lotus’ exercise campaign to Phuket for the 6th year running ,with a road show at Tesco Lotus Thalang on Monday. Tesco Lotus Senior Corporate Affairs Manager Charkrit Direkwattanachai said 16 million people nationwide have taken part in the activities since the program started. “This year our target is to…

  • Phuket Gazette: Extra, Extra – Read all about it! | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette: Extra, Extra – Read all about it!

    PHUKET: In this week’s Phuket Gazette, now on newsstands everywhere across the island, and tucked into the Nation newspaper for national distribution, we probe hard into the ongoing land investigations. We’ve also budgeted space for a financial breakdown of what recent Cabinet meetings have bestowed upon Phuket and the other important Andaman provinces. As always, we received our monthly letter…

  • Phuket ‘Mobile Cabinet’ budget breakdown, by province | Thaiger

    Phuket ‘Mobile Cabinet’ budget breakdown, by province

    PHUKET: Cabinet approved a total of 628 million baht for 23 provincial projects in the five Andaman Coast provinces during the mobile cabinet meeting held in Phuket earlier this week. In addition to the regional and Phuket-based projects already reported, the breakdown for funding for four other Andaman Coast provinces was announced as follows: Ranong1. Sustainable water management project: 42.26…

  • Phuket Sports: F1; Premiership football; Rugby and international sports news | Thaiger

    Phuket Sports: F1; Premiership football; Rugby and international sports news

    Button dominates F1 openerPHUKET: Jenson Button of McLaren reveled in his “dream start” at e opening race of the 2012 Formula 1 season at the Albert Park Lake street circuit in Melbourne.Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull managed to gain second by making good use of the safety car on lap 37 to pit, and emerged ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who…

  • SPORTS NEWS FLASH: Noppowan secures Phuket ITF final berth | Thaiger

    SPORTS NEWS FLASH: Noppowan secures Phuket ITF final berth

    PHUKET: Thailand’s stellar tennis talent Noppowan Lertcheewakarn defeated number four seed Reka-Luca Jani of Hungary to continue her fantastic run of form at the Phuket Chang ITF Women’s Pro Circuit event being held at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club (TSLC). Having beaten the number one seed Erika Sema in the quarter final yesterday, and previously beaten the Hungarian, the 20-year-old…

  • Phuket limo driver found dead in rented room | Thaiger

    Phuket limo driver found dead in rented room

    PHUKET: An airport taxi driver and former volunteer member of the Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation was found dead in his rented room in Srisoonthorn subdistrict early yesterday evening. Thalang Police Duty Officer Somkhit Khaosang was notified of the death by neighbors at 7:20pm. At the scene, a rented room in Srisoonthorn Village 5, police found the body of 51-year-old Uthai Chuti-anan…

  • Phuket landlord takes life by hanging | Thaiger

    Phuket landlord takes life by hanging

    PHUKET: A wealthy Phuket landlord took his life by hanging yesterday while his two sons were asleep upstairs, according to a local news report. Thalang Police duty office Somkhit Khaosang was notified of the death by a neighbor in a row of townhouses near the Heroines’ Monument at about 4pm, according to Siangtai Daily. When officers, led by Thalang Police…

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.

Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.