Phuket News
-
Sponsored
Live smarter, live greener with Electrolux, redefining sustainable living
Electrolux is leading the way in creating smarter, more eco-friendly homes. Their appliances, partly made with recycled materials, are designed to help reduce environmental impact while offering advanced technology to make daily tasks easier. With Electrolux, you get modern, stylish...
-
Phuket’s peace shattered: 36,000 methamphetamine pills ‘Yabandoned’ by arrested suspect
The tranquillity of Phuket‘s streets was shattered when local law enforcement apprehended a single suspect, seizing a staggering 36,000 pills of methamphetamine, colloquially known as Yaba. The main protagonist in this unexpected drama was Chanaphon Bamrungwong, also known as Suea, a 36 year old resident of Moo 7, Ratsada. Phuket’s Provincial Police reported his arrest yesterday evening, after intercepting him…
-
Phuket’s Safety Sandbox: Island paradise prepares for full-scale safety drill
Phuket, a tropical paradise best known for its white sandy beaches, is gearing up for a comprehensive safety drill. Dubbed the Safety Phuket Island Sandbox, the exercise is slated for November 26 and will unfold in three different locations across the island. The initiative will showcase the readiness of emergency services while providing hands-on experience for the island’s emergency responders.…
-
Illegal mushroom mayhem: Patong’s peaceful dawn disrupted by police raid
The tranquil resort town of Patong was startled in the early hours yesterday morning, as police swooped on a local shop, apprehending one individual for the illegal sale of mushrooms. The Patong Police confirmed the raid, which took place around 12.10am yesterday. The illicit merchandise seized by the police was an assortment of mushrooms, each variety carefully stored in separate…
-
Foreign national arrested for overstaying visa launching Crime Free Phuket year two
A foreign national was taken into custody at the weekend at Phuket International Airport for overstaying his visa by 80 days. This event marks the launch of the second year of the Crime Free Phuket initiative run by the local Immigration Bureau. The past year has seen the arrest of 188 individuals, with overstaying visas accounting for 66 of these…
-
Phuket motorbike crash claims the life of young foreign tourists
A tragic motorbike crash unfolded in the early hours of yesterday morning, in Rawai, Phuket, resulting in the untimely death of two young tourists; a 21 year old American man and a 19 year old woman from Luxembourg. The pair were on a motorbike when a car, reportedly, crashed into them from behind on Wiset Road. The news of the horrifying…
-
Russian tourist’s iPhone odyssey: Close call on Phuket taxi
A Russian tourist had a close call when he inadvertently left his iPhone in a taxi on his way to Phuket International Airport last Friday. The tourist, whose identity remains undisclosed, was able to retrieve his phone in a nick of time before his flight back to Russia took off, all thanks to the combined efforts of the Phuket Tourist…
-
Phuket blood shortage plea: Paradise in peril seeks tourists’ rescue
The tropical island paradise of Phuket, usually a favourite destination for tourists and expats alike, now urgently calls for their help. As the high tourism season kicks off, the island is faced with a critical blood shortage, particularly for the RH-Negative type, prompting an island-wide blood donation drive throughout this month. The plea for blood donations was made public by…
-
Urak Lawoi sea gypsies celebrate traditional Loy Reua festival in Phuket
Sweeping waves gently nudged a hand-carved boat off the coast of Koh Siray, east of Phuket Town, marking the culmination of the week-long Loy Reua festival. Celebrated by the Urak Lawoi sea gipsies, the festival is a time-honoured tradition where a boat, brimming with offerings, is set adrift as an offering to the spirit of the sea in hopes of…
-
Phuket town resident scoops 24 million baht in government lottery
Luck has smiled warmly on a 48 year old Phuket Town resident who recently became an instant millionaire. On Wednesday, November 1, Duangjai Inrod won a staggering 24 million baht in the Government Lottery. The Talad Neua Subdistrict resident didn’t spare a moment in stepping forward to claim her substantial winnings. With her winning lottery e-tickets in hand, she arrived…
-
Phra Mettha Road in Phuket reopens after four-month closure
Phuket’s Phra Mettha Road, which had been sealed off for approximately four months, once again welcomed the hustle and bustle of traffic on November 1. The artery of Patong, this road spans 1 kilometre behind the Jungceylon shopping mall, stretching from Soi Banzaan to Soi Nanai Ruamjai. The closure, which began on June 20, was necessary for the construction of…
-
22-wheeled truck mayhem: Woman’s lucky escape in Phuket smash
An early morning encounter between a car and a 22-wheeled truck resulted in a shocking crash in the Samkong Underpass, in Phuket today. Miraculously, the car’s driver, a woman, managed to avoid grave injuries despite her vehicle being severely crushed in the accident. Phuket City Police, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Udom Phetcharat, received the distress call at 4.15am. On…
-
Phuket governor launches safety campaign by Volunteer Defense Corps for peak tourist season
Governor Sophon Suwannarat has recently initiated an ambitious safety campaign on the verdant island of Phuket. Yesterday, an official ceremony marked the commencement of a project that will mobilise the local branch of the Volunteer Defense Corps, locally known as OrSor, to boost security measures and clamp down on criminal activities during the peak tourism season. The role of Governor…
-
Phuket advances new road project to ease traffic and boost disaster resilience
The working group tasked with overseeing the proposed new road project linking Kathu and Srisoonthorn in Phuket confirmed that it will proceed with the required surveys and inspections. The group will also create maps delineating the land boundaries, thus paving the way for the road’s construction. The working group, led by Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan, convened at Phuket Provincial…
-
Phuket: 3 billion baht for pipeline to solve water issues and boost tourism
Phuket officials announced plans to yet again request a budget exceeding 3 billion baht for the construction of a water supply pipeline from Phang Nga to Phuket, aiming to resolve ongoing water issues and bolster tourism in the region. The budget request confirmation emerged during a meeting led by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat at Phuket Provincial Hall. The meeting highlighted…
-
Phuket Veg Fest food frenzy turns rancid: Sacred shrines face hygiene havoc
A shocking revelation unfolded as revered Phuket Veg Fest food shrines were found in breach of food hygiene standards. This news has undoubtedly rocked the faith of the local Thai community and tourists alike who flock to these places of worship and food consumption, particularly during festivals. The local authorities are yet to comment on the situation and the measures…
-
Court sentences man to 27 months for defamation against former Phuket governor
A 27-month jail term has been handed down to Aiya Phetthong by the Phuket Provincial Court, following his guilty verdict for defamation. The charges stemmed from his online posts alleging that former Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew was involved in an illegal operation smuggling Muslims into Phuket in 2021. The formal complaint against Phetthong, who is a registered resident of the…
-
Phuket City gears up for debut of Chartered Walking Street market
Phuket City Municipality issued an advisory to residents and visitors alike, informing them of the forthcoming closure of Phang Nga Road this coming Sunday, November 5. The thoroughfare will be shut down from 1pm to midnight to pave the way for the debut of the Chartered Walking Street Market. The Chartered Walking Street Market’s geographical footprint will extend along Phang…
-
Phuket drivers protest against new baht bus service threatening livelihoods
Around 50 tuk tuk and taxi drivers swarmed the Patong Municipality offices in Phuket yesterday to express their discontent about a proposed baht bus circular service that could potentially disrupt their livelihoods. Mayor Chalermsak Maneesri, along with other officials, received the formal complaint as the officers of the Patong Police maintained order. The complaint predicted a significant impact on the…
-
As Phuket tourism market recovers, a potential “carmageddon” infrastructure crisis looms
Phuket hotels experienced promising momentum for the first half of 2023, which has set an optimistic path for the remainder of the year. At the mid-year juncture, international and domestic flight volume was already up 75% over total flights in 2022. Russia and China led the way as the two top tourism source markets in the first six months of…
-
Foreign man found dead with 4 stab wounds at hotel in Phuket
A maid discovered the dead body of a foreign man with stab wounds to the neck in a hotel room in Phuket. There were no signs of theft or struggle. A substance similar to crystal meth was found in the bathroom. The hotel maid reported her shocking discovery to officers at Cheng Talay Police Station at around 9.30am yesterday, October…
-
Omura’s whale spotted in Thailand’s Surin Islands for first time
A sightseeing trip in Thailand’s Surin Islands took an unexpected turn when tourists spotted a rare Omura’s whale, a species only identified in the wild eight years ago. The sighting was confirmed by the national park officers at Mu Ko Surin National Park through an online post on Thursday, October 26. The online post featured a video of the whale…
-
Phuket: Proposal to extend nightlife venues operating hours to promote tourism
The proposal to extend the operating hours of nightlife venues in Phuket for a trial period of three months has been put forward by local tourism operators. Phuket Tourist Association president Thaneth Tantipiriyakij stated that the move to extend nightlife venue hours could potentially increase tourism revenue by an estimated 30%. The extension of hours would cater to the influx of…
-
Phuket: Russian and Indians overstay visa leading to police raid
A Russian national and two Indian men were apprehended during a police raid in Phuket’s Bang Thao beach district, charged with overstaying their visas. The operation was conducted by a joint team of immigration and tourist police yesterday afternoon around 1.15pm at a villa where they expected to arrest another Indian man under charges of threats and intimidation. The Phuket Provincial…
-
Police intensify search for Sia Paeng accomplice after unsuccessful house raid in southern Thailand
Police recently surrounded the house of an individual known as Jakkree Pannoi, or Big, but failed to locate him. His wife was detained and questioned to establish links to the Chaowalit Thongduang case. Jakkree’s wife denied any involvement. Meanwhile, Jirawut Chumsri, or Boy, an associate of Sia Paeng, agreed to surrender today. Jakkree is believed to be an accomplice of Chaowalit,…
-
6 overstaying foreigners clash violently with Thai cops in Phuket
More than 30 Thai police officers clashed violently with six overstaying foreigners at a luxury villa on Bang Tao Beach in Phuket during an arrest operation. Four Thai officers were injured in the incident. Four officials from the Phuket Provincial Immigration Office, accompanied by officers from the Cheng Talay Police Station, conducted a raid on a luxury villa armed with…
-
Roaring opportunity: Phuket zoo seeks lionhearted caretakers
Phuket Zoo has two vacancies for lion caretaker positions, giving priority consideration to applicants with experience in lion or tiger care, according to a recent post on the Phuket Work Facebook group. The job advertisement quickly garnered attention and sparked a wave of online speculation, with many netizens questioning what had happened to the previous lion caretakers and where one…
-
Phuket’s spirit sobered: 24-hour alcohol ban for Wan Org Pansa holiday
Popular Thai tourist destination Phuket will observe a strict 24-hour ban on alcohol sales starting from midnight on Saturday, as part of the country’s observance of the Buddhist religious holiday, Wan Org Pansa. This event, which takes place on Sunday, October 29, marks the culmination of the three-month season known as the Rains Retreat, often referred to as Buddhist Lent.…
-
Phuket taxis: Drivers demand action against illegal private car services
Over 100 public transport operators, including metered taxi drivers, green plate taxis, and passenger van drivers, assembled at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday to formally complain. They are demanding that the Phuket provincial government take more robust action against illegal private car services operating through taxi apps on the island. The formal complaint was received by Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan…
-
Phuket police crackdown: 39 nabbed in weeklong sweep against drugs and guns, boosting tourist security
The Phuket Provincial Police apprehended 39 individuals on counts of drug and firearm offences over the past week in their continuous effort to enhance the security of its tourism sector. Between October 15 and 21, Phuket police reported that they had caught 32 suspects red-handed with narcotics. Among them, 11 were implicated in allegations of drug distribution and conspiring to…
-
Patong Baywatch resumes night patrols, enhancing safety at popular Thai beach
Patong Surf Life Saving has re-initiated the nighttime beach patrols to boost the safety measures at Patong Beach. Despite the details of the resumption of nighttime patrols still being under wraps by Patong Municipality and the Patong Development Fund, the initiative named Patong Baywatch has been put back into action. The precise number of night watchmen designated for the beach…
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.