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.
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Phuket gold heist: Arrest warrant issued
PHUKET: Police have issued an arrest warrant for the man who held up a Phuket Town gold shop on Saturday. “We have issued the arrest warrant for a ‘Mr Ake’. We don’t know his full name, but we know he is from Surat Thani. He is a big, dark-skinned man who wore a wig and used a fake gun, as…
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Phuket Breaking News: Karaoke owner gunned down in Karon
PHUKET: A karaoke owner in Karon was shot at close range by gunmen this morning after a night of drinking on Phuket’s west coast, the island’s primary destination for tourists. Sompong Saenim was drinking with five men at his karaoke bar and restaurant on Patak Road when at about 7:30am two of the group pulled out guns and fired about…
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Nadal clinical on clay
PHUKET: The “King of Clay” Rafael Nadal Parera turned in a majestic performance on Sunday to defeat world number three Roger Federer and win a record equaling sixth French Open tennis title. Nadal won the Coup des Mousquetaires [name of the French Open trophy] at his first attempt in 2005 aged 19 and made the grand slam event his own…
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Asia gets first grand slam victory
PHUKET: Li Na stamped her name on sports history on Saturday by winning the French Open at Roland Garros, becoming the first tennis player from China to win a Grand Slam singles final. A straight sets victory 6-4, 7-6 over defending champion Francesca Schiavone from Italy was completed in less than two hours by the world number seven. Li was…
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F1 back in Bahrain
PHUKET – Quote of the day: “The Bahrain Grand Prix has always been a source of national pride and it is an event that transcends politics.” – Zayed Rashid Alzayani, chairman of the Bahrain International Circuit gushes over the reinstatement of the Bahrain Grand Prix. Yesterday’s unanimous decision by Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) means October 30 will see the…
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Phuket Election: Cherng Talay votes for new mayor
PHUKET: Residents in Cherng Talay today cast their ballots to put a new mayor and six council members into office. Suniran Rachatapreuk, 48, is running for re-election. He has served as Cherng Talay mayor since July 1999. His only opponent is 51-year-old Somsak Sophanon, who served as a Cherng Talay Municipality Council member during Mr Suniran’s second term, between 2003…
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Phuket politician arrested on drugs, weapons charges
PHUKET: A local politician and two other men have been arrested and charged with possession and sale of narcotics after a raid on their jungle hangout in Phuket yesterday. At a police press conference at Phuket City Police Station this morning, Phuket Provincial Police Superintendent Pekad Tantipong identified the suspects as Cherng Talay subdistrict councilor Nakhin “Poo” Wisuttharom, 36, and…
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Phuket pips Bangkok for inaugural Legends Tour match
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette this morning confirmed that the inaugural match of the Football Legends Tour – in which the Liverpool Legends squad will take on the Legends of Thailand team – will be held in Phuket. Phuket will now host the inaugural Prime Minister’s Football Legends Charity Cup match on Sunday, October 2 at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club…
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Phuket double murder was drug deal gone sour
PHUKET: Police have arrested two men for their part in the murders of a man and a woman whose bodies were dumped over a beachfront cliff in Nai Thon before dawn on Tuesday morning. Sittipong Chareonrak and Ammarin Pantip were presented to the media today at a press conference at Tah Chat Chai Checkpoint. The men were identified by Sanit…
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Officials investigate more Phuket beach encroachment
PHUKET: A handful of bars and restaurants built on Bang Tao Beach are being investigated to determine whether or not they are encroaching on state land. Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak on Wednesday led a team of investigators to the site. Accompanying him were representatives from local authorities such as Cherng Talay Municipality, Thalang District Office, Phuket Marine Office and Cherng…
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FC Phuket accept 5-2 loss
PHUKET – Quote of the day: “If we have to travel [to Bangkok FC] to play a mere six minutes, I think it will be an non beneficial waste of expense…and so we’ve made an official report stating this reason as why we won’t travel to play the rest of the game…and are ready to accept the loss with the…
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Phuket braces for more heavy rain
PHUKET: June has started out as a very rainy month in Phuket, with sustained rainfall and thunderstorms covering the island. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) website reports rainfall reached a high of 100.2mm over the 24-hour period of June 1 with winds topping 64 kilometers per hour (kmh) at Phuket International Airport. Phuket’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation this…
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No more Glory for Robbie Fowler
PHUKET SPORTS: Former Liverpool FC star Robbie Fowler is in Bangkok this weekend playing in the Tesco Lotus Masters football sevens tournament, which includes teams from Asia, Europe and a selection from Phuket. Known as “God” to the Liverpool faithful, Fowler joins other ex-professionals such as Lee Sharpe and Ian Rush at Patana International School in Bangkok for the annual…
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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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Phuket sailing legends line up for Raceweek
PHUKET SPORTS: The Six Senses Phuket Raceweek, winner of the Asia Boating Award for “Best Asian Regatta of the Year 2011”, returns with four days of international-standard yacht racing, from July 20 to 24. Now in its eighth year, the event attracts a host of yachts with a range of competitive standards across several classes. Critical to being voted best…
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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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Fifa’s one horse race
PHUKET SPORTS – Quote of the day: “We will put Fifa’s ship back on the right course in clear, transparent waters.” Sepp Blatter, again re-elected as president of FIFA, hopes to prevent his “family’s” vessel from being dashed on the reef of corruption. — Neil Quail
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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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Phuket developers shine at int’l property awards
PHUKET: Phuket based developers have won top honors in the Asia Pacific Region division of the International Residential Property Awards. Since the inaugural awards in 1995, the competition has established itself as one of the premiere programs recognizing excellence in the field of residential property development. The 2011 Asia Pacific Awards set a new participation record with 21 countries taking…
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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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Crisis? What Crisis?
PHUKET SPORTS – Quote of the day: “Crisis? What Crisis? There is no crisis in football.” Sepp Blatter, President of FIFA, confirming his delusions as to the state of world football. — Neil Quail
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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…
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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