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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Australian dies in Phuket hotel room
PHUKET: Kathu Police are still uncertain what caused the death of an Australian man in his Patong apartment yesterday. A Kathu Police duty officer identified the body as that of 40-year-old Jamie Thomas Trow. A friend of the deceased, identified only as ‘Mr Eric’, discovered Mr Trow’s body in his second-floor room at the upscale BYD Lofts serviced apartments on…
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Airport baggage thieves bagged
PHUKET: Two baggage staff at Phuket Airport are to be charged with theft after allegedly stealing two cellphones from an Australian tourist’s luggage yesterday. When Bret Drinkwater arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok aboard a Thai Airways flight, he noticed his iPhone and Nokia cellphone were missing from his bag. After he informed police in Bangkok, at around 4pm, they…
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Phuket to host travel congress
Phuket NEWS Hound – A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community. World Cup? Get instantaneous scores and news updates right here on the Gazette Online (fed directly from FIFA). PHUKET: The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) will hold its 59th Annual Travel Congress (convention and exhibition) in Phuket, from…
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Lithuanian father seeks missing son in Phuket
PHUKET: A Lithuanian man desperate to re-establish contact with his missing son is offering a 25,000-baht reward to anyone who can help him find the young man. The father, 40-year-old Andrej Korkus, was at Kathu Police Station yesterday in search of his 24-year-old son who bears the same name. Mr Korkus Sr said his son, his only child, went to…
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Chalong Police arrest murder suspect
PHUKET: Police have arrested a man wanted for shooting dead an 18-year-old student on Wiset Road in Rawai last week. Chalong Police led by Superintendent Wichit Intorrasorn held a press conference yesterday afternoon to announce the arrest of Thaweesak Sukprasit, 29, who was arrested by police at his home in Chalong Village 7 on Sunday. Also known by the alias…
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Aussies like it overseas
Phuket NEWS Hound – A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community. World Cup? Get instantaneous scores and news updates right here on the Gazette Online (fed directly from FIFA). PHUKET: Australians, a top tourism market for Phuket, are taking one less holiday at home each year, and are being enticed…
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Phuket Poll: Patong City sign
PHUKET: Work is underway on a 9-million-baht project to create a large welcome sign on Patong Hill, at the border between Patong and Kathu municipalities. The project, funded under the Thai Khem Kaeng (Strong Thailand) financial stimulus package, has drawn criticism from some quarters. What do you think? Have your say in the latest Phuket Gazette readers’ poll by clicking…
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Readers’ poll: Phuket economy hurt by Bangkok turmoil
PHUKET: Most Phuket Gazette online readers think the political turmoil in April and May seriously harmed Phuket’s economy, the results of the latest readers’ poll reveal. Of 536 readers who took part, 59.7% overall said the protests seriously harmed Phuket’s economy. A smaller percentage, 27.6%, said the events had hurt Phuket’s economy ‘a little’, while 5.2% thought Phuket had not…
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Swede dies in Phuket stairwell fall
PHUKET: A Swedish man died over the weekend of injuries sustained from falling down a flight of stairs at a Phuket apartment block. Chalong Police and rescue workers from the Phuket Ruamjai Kupai Foundation were notified of the death at 11:30am on Saturday. Arriving at the six-story Kata Residence apartments on Patak Road, they found the body of 53-year-old Per…
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Another road death in Phuket
PHUKET: A Phang Nga man was killed in a motorbike accident near the entrance to the Phuket Shooting Range early Friday morning. Chalong Police identified the driver as 28-year-old Nopparat Yodying, a resident of Tambon Baan Muang, Takuapa District. Initial police investigations showed that Mr Nopparat was unable to stop when a Honda sedan in front of him slowed down…
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Is Phuket business ready for the bulls?
Phuket NEWS Hound – A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community. World Cup? Get instantaneous scores and news updates right here on the Gazette Online (fed directly from FIFA). PHUKET: Robotic as it is, Phuket NEWS Hound is obedient in the extreme. It never fails to do what Gazette editors…
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Love in Phuket: Thai-foreigner marriages that fail
PHUKET: Thai-foreigner relationships accounted for well over half of all contested divorces in Phuket last year, according to the new chief justice of the Phuket Provincial Juvenile and Family Court (PPJFC). Chief Justice Methinee Thipmonthian said at a press conference earlier this month that in 2009 there were 24 Thai-foreigner divorces contested in Phuket, out of a total 36 cases…
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Aussie fraudster’s Phuket vacation cut short
KATHU, PHUKET: A young Australian tourist is facing deportation from Thailand after falsely claiming that she had been robbed in order to claim on her insurance, police in Phuket said. Patong Police said the 20-year-old college student told them that two young men on a motorbike had snatched her bag in Patong yesterday. But on questioning, it emerged that the…
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Phuket Music Festival returns
Phuket NEWS Hound – A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community. World Cup? Get instantaneous scores and news updates right here on the Gazette Online (fed directly from FIFA). PHUKET: The Phuket Music Festival will take place next weekend, June 25-26, the Bangkok Post reminds us. Hosted by the Tourism…
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Phuket to go postal over World Cup sweepstakes
PHUKET: If you have business at the post office, here’s a tip: don’t wait until the last few days before the World Cup Final to get it done because the snail mail centers are likely to become beehives buzzing with activity as millions of Thais descend upon them to send off postcards as part of a 40-million-baht World Cup sweepstakes.…
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Phuket Property at awesome prices
Phuket NEWS Hound – A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community. World Cup? Get instantaneous scores and news updates right here on the Gazette Online (fed directly from FIFA). PHUKET: Trends in property prices in Phuket have not been easy to discern since the end of the “boom” began to…
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World Cup update: Day 7
PHUKET: Argentina went on a scoring spree against Korea Republic with Gonzalo Higuain firing the first hat-trick of this Fifa World Cup to take a huge step towards the last 16, beating the Asians 4-1. Meanwhile in Bloemfontein, Dimitrios Salpingidis and Vasileios Torosidis scored to earn Greece a 2-1 comeback victory over a Nigerian team that played most of the…
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Phuket cops nab debauched bandits
PHUKET: A police dragnet led to the arrest of three young men wanted in connection with numerous cases of armed robbery and sexual assault in Phuket. Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pekad Tantipong presented the suspects to the media yesterday, identifying them as Noppon ‘Bell’ Gerdphon, Chaiwut ‘Boy’ Plengsri and Wittawat ‘Tee’ Saenai. All are Phuket residents in their early 20s.…
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British woman, 21, is latest Phuket drowning death
PHUKET: The drowning death of a 21-year-old British woman at Karon Beach over the weekend has left Phuket lifeguards frustrated over the failure of foreign tourists to heed their warnings not to enter the surf when red warning flags are flying. Rebecca Callaghan, from Evesham in Worcestershire, was in Phuket with her boyfriend as part of a holiday that took…
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Work on new Phuket incinerator to start next month
PHUKET: Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana has confirmed that the construction of Phuket’s long-awaited second solid waste incinerator is to begin next month, while a 43-million-baht project to improve the surrounding landfill is now complete. “Construction of the new plant was delayed because the original plans had be to modified for the incinerator to pass the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)…
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Phuket hero pulls motorist from burning Volvo
KOH KAEW, PHUKET: A courageous 62-year-old man saved a driver’s life by pulling him from a burning car following a crash in Koh Kaew before dawn this morning. Armard ‘Mard’ Pattanee rushed to the crumpled Volvo after hearing a loud bang. He cut driver Banjong Laocharoen’s seatbelt and helped him to safety – shortly before the car became completely engulfed…
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British woman survives macaque attack during Phuket holiday
PHUKET: A British woman with a life-long fear of monkeys was seriously injured by several primates while visiting Monkey Beach on Phi Phi Don Island on May 21. Dee Darwell, 56, arrived in Phuket on May 18 and had a couple of “lovely” days before setting off on a one-day trip to Phi Phi Don and surrounding islands with Siam…
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World Cup update: Day 6
PHUKET: Last night’s play saw the first major upset in the FIFA 2010 World Cup, with Spain falling to underdogs Switzerland 1-0. Chile earned three points by defeating Honduras 1-0, putting them at the top of Group H, alongside Switzerland. Host South Africa’s chances of proceeding to the second round were dimmed when they lost 3-0 to Uruguay. Tonight’s matches:…
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Phuket Court dismisses sex case against PIA teacher
Phuket NEWS Hound – A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community. World Cup? Get instantaneous scores and news updates right here on the Gazette Online (fed directly from FIFA). PHUKET: ABC News reports that child sexual assault charges against a Tasmanian teacher working in Phuket have been dropped. Andrew Clements,…
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Bt9m sign for Patong Hill, Phuket
PHUKET: Work is underway on a nine-million-baht sign welcoming motorists to Patong. Patong Mayor Pian Keesin said the sign, meant to mark the border between Kathu and Patong, is destined to become a famous Patong landmark. Construction started on April 9 and is scheduled to finish by September 5. Almost 9.1 million baht in funding for the project has come…
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Phuket, Chiang Mai to brainstorm tourism promo strategies
PHUKET: Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) offices in Phuket and Chiang Mai will meet with travel agencies in the northern city to brainstorm ways of strengthening links between the two provinces. Sobtana Aunprasert, Assistant Director of the TAT office in Chiang Mai office, announced the meeting will be held June 18 to 20 at Ratilanna Spa Resort. The riverside gathering…
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Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket to open in November
PHUKET: Plunging occupancy rates throughout Thailand has not affected the Centara Hotels & Resorts’ plan to open their latest Phuket resort in November this year, just in time for the start of the next high season. The 1.9-billion-baht Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket will be the group’s fourth location in Phuket – and its largest. Centara’s Director of Group Marketing…
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Charkrit wins Laguna Phuket Marathon
PHUKET: Records were broken yesterday as Thai athletes dominated the 2010 Laguna Phuket International Marathon, claiming first place in both the men’s and women’s races. Charkrit Boonkong won the men’s event in 2:40:08, just over two minutes off the course record time of 2:37:53 set by defending champion Stephen Paine from Australia in 2008. Compatriot Thanyathorn Samutnoi won the women’s…
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Phuket Police nab cell phone bandits
PHUKET: Seven Phuket Vocational College students robbed of their mobile phones at knifepoint on Thursday will be reunited with their devices, thanks to the efforts of the Phuket City Police. Officers led by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pekad Tantipong yesterday presented the two young men to be charged with the robbery – Surachet ‘Um’ Pisetsin, 19, and his 17-year-old alleged…
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Patong flood woes continue
PHUKET: Public works intended to prevent floods in Patong this monsoon season have not been completed in time to stop deluges on Nanai Road and other parts of the town. In March, Patong Mayor Pian Keesin pledged to put an end to the ‘Nanai River’, a 50-meter stretch of Nanai Road that spent much of last year’s wet season under…
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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