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 hotel operators upbeat despite cancellations
PHUKET: The Phuket office of the Thai Hotels Association today reported that about 20% of reservations made at Phuket hotels prior to the Songkran holiday have been canceled following the Thai government’s declaration of a state of emergency in the nation’s capital late yesterday.According to the office, most of the cancellations were from Japanese and Chinese tourists, following the issuance of…
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Phuket Songkran marred by road deaths
PHUKET: Phuket’s Songkran celebrations have been marred by the deaths of two Thai citizens and one foreigner in motorcycle accidents. Chotinrin Gerdsom of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) said that over April 10-11 there were 11 road accidents, with 12 injuries and the death of an 18-year-old Thai man. Ekkachai Jantuang died in hospital on April 11…
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Phuket Airport operating normally
PHUKET (thephuketinsider.com): A visit to Phuket International Airport this morning confirmed that flights between Phuket and Bangkok are operating as usual, despite the Thai government’s declaration of a state of emergency in the nation’s capital late yesterday. Thai Airways staff as well as those of other airlines say there has been no disruption of scheduled flights.Phuket Airport Director, Wicha Nernlop…
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Breaking News: State of Emergency declared in Bangkok
BANGKOK (The Nation): Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has announced a State of Emergency in the Nation’s capital as well as neighboring provinces Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom and Ayutthaya. Phuket and other southern provinces are not affected. Speaking on TV at 5:20 this afternoon (Sunday), the PM asked the public not to panic with the chaos caused by…
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Governor leads oath of allegiance
PA KHLOK, PHUKET: Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop yesterday morning led a large number of government officers and local politicians from across Thalang District in a ceremony swearing their allegiance to HM The King and the rule of law. The ceremony, held at the Pa Khlok Administration Office, was held to mark “Senior’s Day” in Pa Khlok, as the entire month…
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EU blacklisting irrelevant: One-Two-Go chairman
PHUKET: The chairman of One-Two-Go says the recent addition of the carrier to a European Union blacklist will have no effect on the company, which has never flown to Europe. One-Two-Go’s addition to the updated blacklist was announced in a press release yesterday. To view the release, click here. One-Two-Go chairman Udom Tantiprasongchai told the Gazette this afternoon that the…
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Developers put luxury projects on hold
BANGKOK / PHUKET: Resort-area residential projects that are worth more than 10 billion baht have been put on hold now that demand from foreign investors is showing a significant drop since last year. The key areas affected are Phuket, Krabi, Hua Hin, Pattaya and Koh Samui. According to a survey by The Nation newspaper last week, a number of property…
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Poor communities protest at Provincial Hall
PHUKET: A crowd of several hundred people from poor communities in Phuket gathered in the grounds of Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday morning to demand swift action be taken by the Phuket Governor to improve living conditions in their communities. The sit-in was organized by the ’30 Communities Network’, which comprises poor communities in Phuket, including the Pla Katak Pattana Community…
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Over 1,700 men take part in military conscription draw
PHUKET CITY: Over 1,700 young men presented themselves to draw lots in the annual military conscription lottery that took place in Phuket from April 1 to 4. The draws were conducted at the Kathu Witthayalai School in Kathu District on April 1, the Thalang Pranangsang School in Thalang District on April 2 and the Phibul Songkraam School in Muang District…
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Summer camp for convicts
PHUKET CITY: Some lucky inmates at Phuket Provincial Prison are taking part in an experimental four-day “scout camp” education and training workshop between April 7-10. The wide-ranging program, including academic and vocational classes as well as a moral training session, is a good break in the tedium of life behind bars for those attending. In all, 55 men and 25 woman volunteered for…
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Google Maps now available for Phuket Classifieds
PHUKET: Initially introduced as a feature in the Gazette Guide, Phuket’s ‘yellow pages’, Google Maps were launched this morning at Phuket’s primary classified marketplace, the Island Trader Online. Classified advertisers can now pinpoint precisely where the item, property or business they’re advertising is located – a major benefit in a community where postal addresses are often more confounding than enlightening.…
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‘8 x 100’ sweeps the South
PHUKET: A new recreational drug cocktail known as “8 x 100”, a direct descendant of the “4 x 100” that came to prominence in 2006, is now sweeping the Deep South, security officials say. Thanu Neuang-uthai of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) for Region 4 said that he had visited many provinces in the region and found that the drug…
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Phuket Rajabhat students protest UDD actions
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Rajabhat University student organization has released a statement condemning the actions of “certain individuals and groups” which it claims are violating the sanctity of the institution of the Thai monarchy. Though the statement does not mention any names, it clearly refers to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his red-shirted supporters in the United Front for…
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Phuket Prem supporters demonstrate
PHUKET CITY: Hundreds of Prem Supporters’ Association members from around the South on April 2 marched through the streets of Phuket City in support of General Prem Tinsulanonda, president of the Privy Council.Around 300-400 mostly yellow-shirted members of the organization took part in the demonstration, which assembled at Queen Sirikit Park at around 12:30pm.Some of the protesters came from as…
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Singaporean jailed for alleged fraud
PHUKET CITY: A Singaporean man was arrested by Phuket City Police last week for allegedly defrauding an American citizen of 25,300 baht in a bogus business directory scam.Eric Snyder, 64, of the Jairak Enterprise consulting firm said he paid the money to Marcus Tan for advertising in “Info Phuket“, described as a “business listing and traveler’s guide book”.The guide was…
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300,000 protesters to confront Thai government
BANGKOK: Wednesday [April 8] is D-Day for the mobilization of 300,000 red-shirted Thaksin supporters for a showdown with the government. Organizers like Natthawut Saikua are demanding the House’s dissolution, a general election, and the resignation of Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda. Natthawut said yesterday the April 8 rally would be an historic event. He has promised that the red…
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Province unveils Songkran safety strategy
PHUKET CITY: As in years past, the provincial government is advising the public on how to safely enjoy the upcoming Songkran Festival – and warning people who endanger others that they risk fines or arrest. At a meeting chaired by Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop at Phuket Provincial Hall on Thursday, the Governor called on police and some 50 representatives of local…
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Former town councilor shot in head
CHERNG TALAY, PHUKET: Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of a former deputy mayor wanted for shooting another local politician in the head outside a mom-and-pop store last night. Cherng Talay Police received a report of the shooting at about 9:30pm. At the scene, outside a small grocery store on the road from Cherng Talay to Ban Don,…
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THAI adds extra flights for Songkran
PHUKET: Thai Airways has scheduled eight extra round-trip flights between Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and Phuket International Airport to cope with the additional numbers of passengers expected to travel over the busy Songkran period. The airline has scheduled a total of 29 additional round-trip flights between Bangkok and the provinces, according to a press release. Other round-trip flights have been added…
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Kid’s crime spree ends in cop shooting
PHUKET CITY: A 14-year-old boy is in police custody after a one-day crime spree that included breaking and entering, burglary, a bungled carjacking of a British tourist – and twice shooting an officer on duty. Phuket City Police received a report at 11pm on Monday that a patrol officer had been shot at the busy Bang Neaw intersection in downtown…
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Slain Briton’s body identified by family
PHUKET CITY: The body of slain British sailor Malcolm Robertson was returned to shore late last night after its discovery by a fishing vessel yesterday afternoon. The recovery of the body ended a week-long search by marine police and navy vessels as well as fishing boats. For the original reports of how Mr Robertson was killed by three Burmese men,…
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McDonald’s employee survives multiple stabbing
PHUKET CITY: A McDonald’s employee was seriously wounded in a stabbing attack while on his way home from a party at a friend’s house in the early hours of Saturday, March 29.The attack took place at around 1.50am at a restaurant in front of the Bang Neaw Shrine, on Phuket Rd in downtown Phuket City.After finishing work at 10pm, 18-year-old…
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Slain Briton’s body recovered
PHUKET CITY: After days of searching, the body of slain British sailor Malcolm Robertson was recovered by fishermen about 10 nautical miles north of Satun’s Lipeh Island at about 3pm today. A source in the Marine Police said the fishermen are now bringing Mr Robertson’s remains by boat to Tu Tae Lam Pier in Satun’s La-Ngu District, where it is…
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Man run over by bus in Thalang
THEPKRASATTRI, PHUKET: A motorbike driver run over by a bus late Saturday morning is the latest fatality in a road accident involving a salaeng, or motorcycle fitted with an illegal sidecar.Thalang Police Duty Officer Adul Nirapai identified the victim as 28-year-old Maitree Kulpor.Mr Maitree was riding his motorbike at high speed on Thepkrasattri Rd southbound in Ban Muangmai near the…
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Paiboon “not worried’ about EC ruling
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) President Paiboon Upatising has denied he has ever been involved in vote buying, in an interview with the Gazette. In a March 19 ruling, Mr Paiboon received a “yellow card” from the Election Commission (EC) for electoral fraud in the Thalang voting district 3 in the PPAO election held last year. For our…
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Cash giveaway creates crowds, confusion
PHUKET CITY: The first day for mid- and low-wage workers to pick up 2,000-baht checks offered under the government’s economic stimulus package saw a huge crowd form at Phuket Community Hall in Phuket City on yesterday. Many people were confused by the process, which involves first making a trip to the nearby Social Security Office to see what day…
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Heavy rains not unusual: MET
PHUKET CITY: Recent heavy rainfall in Phuket indicates that the annual transition from the dry season to the rainy season is well underway – much to the relief of water supply officials.Although many feel the monsoon rains have arrived early this year, an officer with the the Southern Meteorological Center (MET) in Mai Khao said the arrival of the monsoon…
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Police closing in on Stuart murder suspect
KATHU, PHUKET: Police believe they have identified the killer of Englishman Ian Stuart, who was bludgeoned to death in his bedroom in an office building near the Tesco-Lotus Intersection on February 23. Tung Tong Police Superintendent Arayapan Pukbuakao said he expected the suspect to be in police custody within 15 days. For our original report, click here. The suspect is…
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Rassada junk store damaged in fire
RASSADA, PHUKET: A junk store in tambon Rassada caught fire on the evening of March 22. Nobody was injured in the blaze, which broke out at the store on Srisena Road in Village 2, tambon Rassada, shortly before 10pm. Phuket City fire trucks sent to the area managed to get the blaze under control before serious damage was done. Phuket…
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Police catch ‘Ko Jorn’ murderer
KATHU, PHUKET: Tung Tong Police have arrested a man suspected of the fatal stabbing of a 62-year-old moneylender almost two years ago. Manop Khobwet, 33, was drinking with friends at his house in tambon Maifard in Trang province when police arrived and took him into custody at around 6pm on March 23. The victim, Kajorn “Ko Jorn” Somnam, died in…
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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