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 A healthy tomorrow starts today: Celebrate the great American Smokeout day
The Great American Smokeout, held this year on November 17, is a nationwide event that encourages smokers to take their first steps towards a smoke-free life. If you’re an expat in Thailand, this day could be a timely reminder to...
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Phuket F1 fans await Bahrain bid today
PHUKET: Formula One fans in Phuket eagerly await a decision on whether the Bahrain Grand Prix, originally scheduled for March 13, will be re-scheduled to November 20 later this year. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone may move the season’s last race in Brazil back to October 2 which could result in the Indian GP being cancelled. Bahrain was due to host…
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Phuket Live Wire: Still dreaming about 3G
PHUKET: The easiest way to get 3G service in Phuket involves a trek to the True office in Phuket Town, in the little building in front of Robinson’s department store. There you will find several people who understand 3G (believe me, that’s quite an accomplishment), and they’ll set you up with 3G service. If you already have a True SIM…
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Phuket expats urged to ask visiting friends to insure themselves
PHUKET: The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has called on British expats on the island to remind their visitors to take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy before heading to Phuket. The request comes as new research reveals that young people are more likely to buy a present for their host than take out a travel insurance policy. The…
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‘Streets of Phuket’ maps added to Gazette web news
PHUKET: By popular demand, Phuket Gazette online readers can now view accurate pop-up maps embedded in news stories with the single click of a mouse, thanks to a new partnership with IMAGE Asia and their best-selling Streets Of Phuket atlas. For example, see our news about the recently opened Phuket Provincial Administration Organization Hospital on Srisena Road. Click on the…
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Phuket Democrats get police protection
PHUKET: Phuket Democrat Party candidate Anchalee Vanich Thepabutr has been provided two police officers as personal bodyguards in the run-up to the July 3 election. Also to receive police protection is Wirasak Suksomboon, president of the Democrat Party office for Phuket 1 constituency. “I, Mrs Anchalee and the president [of the Democrat office] for Phuket 2 constituency, have requested security…
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Showtime: Phuket candidates to do TV, radio spots
PHUKET: Phuket candidates in the upcoming July 3 general election are permitted to campaign through local TV and radio from June 13 to July 1. The Phuket Election Commission (PEC) discussed the regulation of campaigning through local broadcast media yesterday morning. Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha, who chaired the meeting, concluded that campaign advertising through local cable TV and radio would…
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Opening of new Phuket bridge postponed
PHUKET: The unofficial opening Phuket’s new bridge, the Srisoontorn Bridge, originally scheduled for this week, has been postponed, officials say. Arun Sa-nae, director of the Provincial Highways Office in Phuket, said some last-minute changes in the work plan meant that the new span would probably open to off-island traffic around mid-June. The final work by project contractor Italian-Thai Development involved…
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Phuket night clubber escapes disaster
PHUKET: A Thai man whose surname translates to “likely to escape disaster” was walking home from a Phuket karaoke bar last night when he was assaulted and left for dead by the side of the the road in Thalang. When Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers arrived at the scene just after midnight, they found 33-year-old Wiwat Khongrodpai lying on the road…
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Phuket steps up fight against illegal timeshare touts
PHUKET: A multi-agency task force will be set up to investigate timeshare companies operating in Phuket, especially Patong. Tasked with investigating the companies, their workers and any officials involved in allowing the timeshare companies to operate, the “committee” is expected to launch an investigation by October, just before the annual tourism high season begins, Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak announced. The…
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Phuket private aviation in rapid growth mode
PHUKET: With the recent surge in interest in general aviation kindled by the opening of Phuket Airpark and its airshows [see video], the Phuket Gazette has added to its classified advertising pages a new page dedicated exclusively to the world of private flying in Thailand. The new page contains listings in six categories: Aircraft for Sale, Aircraft Wanted, Aircraft Sharing,…
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Crackdown ordered on religious tattoos in Phuket
PHUKET: The Culture Ministry has attacked the growing trend for tourists in Phuket and other parts of Thailand to have religious images tattooed on their bodies. It has ordered provincial governors across the country, including Phuket, to crack down on such tattoos, igniting a debate on the human rights implications of forbidding the practice. Culture Minister Niphit Intharasombat told reporters…
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Cricket and tax
PHUKET SPORTS – Quote of the day: “The ACG (Alan Cooke Ground) will in a small way do for cricket what the reduction in boat tax did for marine tourism.” Alan Cooke MBE in a small way underestimates the value of his legacy to Phuket cricket and sport. — Neil Quail
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New Phuket hospital opens its doors
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) Hospital opened today with more than 200 people registering as patients. “The purpose of the hospital is to reduce the workload of other government hospitals. The OrBorJor bought the land and the Phyathai Hospital building and renovated it under a budget of 845 million baht,” explained OrBorJor Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Manop Leelasuthanon.…
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Phuket Survivor: Man recounts murder ordeal
PHUKET: The man who allegedly survived an attack in which his wife and another man were killed has said the trio were attacked by a group of men. Sanit Choocheun, a 54-year-old construction contractor from Krabi, said he survived the attack by playing dead. The bodies of Mr Sanit’s wife, Urai Limsakul, 50, and the other man, named only as…
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Phuket Red Cross launches June blood drive
PHUKET: The Phuket Chapter of the Thai Red Cross Society has announced its schedule for its June 2011 blood drive. “Blood types A+ and O+ are needed. Our stock of these two types is depleted. However, every blood type is welcome,” said Suphawan Rattanachan, an officer with the Phuket Red Cross. Mobile donation clinics will be set up as follows.…
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Phuket Survivor: Man survives slaughter by “playing dead’
PHUKET: Phuket police are investigating the murder of a man and woman whose bodies were discovered thrown off a cliff along a coastal road in Thalang this morning. The key witness, a man who apparently escaped the same fate by playing dead, is now in police custody and under heavy guard. Tah Chat Chai Police were notified of the deaths…
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Phuket discharge: Officials confirm wastewater release “safe’
PHUKET: Wastewater discharged into the sea at Karon and Kata beaches is safe, a review committee headed by Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha was told yesterday. Environmental engineer Siripong Pasari of Southern Thai Consulting Co Ltd was called in to explain to Gov Tri what exactly caused the discharge filmed by a German TV crew in Phuket earlier this month. The…
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Phuket gets first dedicated cricket ground
PHUKET: Construction of Phuket’s first dedicated cricket ground, to be called the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG), will start on June 27. News of the development, announced on the ACG website, adds that the 10-rai site in the lakes area of Baan Lipon, will be called the ACG Cricket and Sports Ground. The sports facility will be mainly for cricket, but…
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Phuket ‘3G fishermen’ saved by call from the wild
PHUKET: Three men, comprising three generations of a fishing family, were rescued from their capsized boat 17 nautical miles off Phuket’s east coast yesterday thanks to a mobile phone kept in a waterproof bag. The men – Somboon Sae-Oui, 56, his son Pichet, 28, and eight-year-old grandson Bhumin – survived two hours clinging to their upturned boat while it was…
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Fans fury forces FC Phuket coach to quit
PHUKET: Sompong Wattana from Rajvithee FC will be the new coach of FC Phuket. The news was released at 5pm today, ahead of a scheduled sanctioned press release tomorrow. A fourth straight game without a win for FC Phuket incensed the team’s distraught fans yesterday and led to a blockade of Surakul Stadium by angry fans, known as the “Hulks”.…
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The Phuket International Rugby 10s is a great tournament
Phuket Rugby 10s: “The Phuket International Rugby 10s is a great tournament and is certainly helping youth rugby in Thailand move from strength to strength.” Matthew Oakley MVO MBE – International Rugby Board (IRB) West Asia Project Manager and the 2011 Rugby 10s Referee’s Manager, commenting on the value of the 10s for the future of rugby in Thailand. —…
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Contest to decide name for Phuket Town shortcut
PHUKET: Phuket City Municipality will hold a contest to see who can think up the best name for the new road that connects Saphan Hin with Chao Fa East Road, with 10,000 baht going to the winner. The 50-million-baht road was officially opened in late December last year. It has thus far kept its uninspiring name Phang Muang Sai Khor…
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Royal Thai Police secure Phuket Rugby 10s title
PHUKET: A robust Royal Thai Police (RTP) squad yesterday routed Phuket Rugby 10s defending champions the Kriel Roosters from South Africa by 31-5 to win the annual tourney’s cup final. In a thrilling match at Karon Stadium yesterday evening, players on both sides made big tackles and charging runs to the try line. The first half ended with RTP leading…
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Phuket stray sends Koreans plowing into power pole
PHUKET: Two Koreans were fortunate to escape serious injury when their car crashed into a power pole in Phuket early yesterday morning. Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers were called to the scene just after midnight. Arriving at the crash site on Thepkrasattri Road southbound in Srisoonthorn subdistrict, they found the two Koreans – identified only as the driver Mrs Songjer and…
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Phuket Rugby 10s: Singapore Centaurs take the U15s title
Phuket Rugby 10s: Spectators at Karon Stadium were treated to a fine display of youth rugby when Singpore Centaurs defeated Phuket Lomas in the under 15 Cup Final. Centaurs’ fly-half, Alex Ducourneau broke through the Lomas’ defense to score after just two minutes. No reply from the Phuket Lomas gave the score as 5 – 0 at half-time. A tense…
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Phuket Rugby 10s: Welcome to finals day at Karon Stadium
Phuket Rugby 10s: Final group stages of the 2011 tournament were played this morning and the semi-finalists have now been determined. Favorites after yesterday’s performances are the Kriel Roosters and Thai Legends. Results below: Emirates Flying Muppets 19 Al Ain Amblers 0 Bedhoff Kings RFC 17 INSEAD Barbarians 5 Rebel Dubai Dragons 0 Qantas Koalas 24 Dubai Exiles 24 Bangkok…
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Phuket expat suffers 180,000 baht dive tank theft
PHUKET: Following a tip-off from a cook, an expat dive instructor and equipment provider in Rawai believes a Thai employee may have stolen 30 diving tanks worth 180,000 baht. German national Armin Rudloff, 43, filed a report at Chalong police station yesterday morning. He told police that earlier yesterday he had discovered the tanks missing from an equipment storage room…
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Phuket Rugby 10s: Sunday’s knockout games decided
Phuket Rugby 10s knockout stages begin at 8.30am with the Emirates Flying Muppets meeting the Al Ain Amblers in Bowl B. Games follow every twenty minutes leading to the main final at 5.40pm. See below for today’s end results: Bucket Brigade 0Phuket Vagabonds 12 Dubai Exiles 14 Qantas Koalas 10 Bangkok Bangers Colts 0 Rebel Dubai Dragons 19 Taipei baboons…
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Phuket Rugby 10s: Group stages draw to a close
Phuket Rugby 10s: Group stages of the 10s have reached their conclusion. The next round sees the determination of finalists. Asian Japanese Dragons 5 Taipai baboons 21 INSEAD 0 Rebel Dubai Dragons 7 Bangkok Bangers Colts 7 Bucket Brigade 0 Emirates Flying Muppets 0 Qantas Koalas 7 Moorabbin Rams 26 Sinagapore Barbarians 0 Al Ain Amblers 7 San Miguel Wanderers…
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Testing police for drugs doesn’t work: Phuket poll
PHUKET: A strong majority of Phuket Gazette readers feel that the Phuket Provincial Police drug testing of all its officers is not effective in ensuring police are free of drugs, the results of a recent readers’ poll reveal. Readers were asked to reply to the question: The Phuket Provincial Police have announced that all officers under their command will be…
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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