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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Governor receives Songkran blessing
PHUKET CITY: Phuket’s top-ranking civil servants this morning took part in a ceremony offering Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit an early Thai New Year’s greeting in the traditional way – by pouring lustral water over his hands.Some 100 top provincial officials attended the event at the Governor’s Mansion on Narisorn Rd. Among them were Vice-Governors Worapoj Ratthasima, Tri Augkaradacha, Smith Palawatvichai,…
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54 Burmese dead in trafficking horror
RANONG: Fifty-four Burmese, 17 men and 37 women, suffocated to death while being transported in the sealed container of a seafood delivery truck yesterday en route from Ranong to Phuket.Col Kraithong Chanthongbai of Suksamran District Police today told the Gazette that police received a call from local people saying that a 10-wheeled truck had been left by the side of Petchkasem Rd…
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American man commits suicide in Rawai
RAWAI: Chalong Police are treating as suicide the death of an American man found hanged from a bridge behind the Rawai Municipality offices early yesterday morning.Lt Col Chana Suthimas of the Chalong Police identified the man as Duane Willis Daugherty, aged 45.A local resident called Chalong Police at 6:30 am, immediately after discovering Mr Daugherty’s body, Lt Col Chana said.The…
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Patong beach road to become “clearway’
PATONG: Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukkabal on April 2 announced that from next high season no parking will be allowed along the busy beach road.“Taxis will be allowed on Thaweewong Rd only to drop off passengers,” K. Chairat told a press conference at Phuket Provincial Hall.“Tuk-tuks and hawkers are currently taking up all the parking spaces along the beach road,…
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Robbery ring rounded up
PATONG: Kathu Police yesterday arrested six men for a string of robberies in this popular beach town.Kathu Police Inspector Lt Col Chalermchai Hernsawas and a squad of fellow officers made the initial arrest about 5 pm.The case started when 25-year-old Saiyon Jantorn reported seeing a man sitting atop her red-and-black JRD motorcycle, which was parked near Laem Petch Temple opposite…
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Bepy passes away
PHUKET: Well-known restaurateur and local resident “Bepy” Graziano di Ceneda passed away about 9:30 last night after succumbing to lung cancer.A native of Florence, Italy, Bepy had lived in Phuket for 15 years and was well known here, especially in Cherng Talay where his popular Toto restaurant stands at Tinlay Place on the road into the Laguna resort complex.Bepy was…
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Jetstar and Tiger slash Singapore-Phuket route
PHUKET: Citing a lack of demand, Jetstar Asia Airways has ditched its service between Phuket and Singapore, while Tiger Airways has halved its service of the same route.Only 18 months after introducing a Phuket-Singapore air link, Singapore-based Jetstar Asia announced on March 30 that it has suspended its service of six flights a week. Low demand and a reallocation of…
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Navy boys are good to Phuket
PHUKET: Three US Navy warships – USS Hopper, USS Ingraham and USS Port Royal – are currently in Phuket, marking the first time that the three have anchored in the same port to give the 900-plus enlisted personnel and officers some well-earned R&R.While the ships are in port, many of the seamen can be seen around the island, letting loose at some…
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Danish tourist dies in hotel reception
KARON: Danish tourist Finn Hansen, 54, was found dead on Thursday in the lobby of the “Welcome Inn” hotel, where he had been staying since March 18.“He was sitting in a chair in the hotel lobby for three hours before anyone noticed he was dead,” Capt Theerawut Thep-Luen of Chalong Police told the Gazette.As there was no evidence of foul play, police…
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Gov suspends Patong seaplane service
PHUKET: Citing complaints of noise pollution and threats to public safety, Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit yesterday ordered Destination Air to stop its seaplane shuttle flights to and from Patong Bay until the company complies with all Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) regulations.At a two-hour meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, Gov Niran called a halt to the flights after conferring with three…
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Registration van makes slow progress
PHUKET CITY: The introduction of a high-tech mobile registration van late last year has recorded an increase of 16,000 in Phuket’s official population, only a small fraction of the island’s “hidden population” of about 300,000.The project is the brainchild of Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit, who announced that tackling the hidden population problem would be a top priority after he was…
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Tourist Police call for Songkran volunteers
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Tourist Police have appealed for Swedish- and Russian-speaking volunteers as the force prepares for Songkran.“There are now many Swedish and Russian tourists in Phuket, so we should be prepared to take care of them,” said Phuket Tourist Police Inspector Col Sathaporn Sangaunsuk.“We have about 100 officers, including 18 foreigners,” he added.With the holiday period looming, about 100 Tourist Police…
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Frenchman crushed under cement truck
PHUKET CITY: French national Dominique Jules Valery Bagus, 46, died instantly when he was crushed under the wheels of a cement mixer truck on Sunday.Capt Supachai Petchsakul of Phuket City Police told the Gazette that Mr Bagus was driving a Suzuki motorcycle on Thepkrasattri Rd when the accident happened.“He was overtaking a cement truck being driven by 31-year-old Yutthana Promwiset, who was on…
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Gov Niran vows to stamp out “underage prostitution’
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit has ordered Kathu Police Superintendent Col Grissak Songmoonnak, Kathu District Chief Khantee Silapa and Patong Municipality officials to work together to immediately put a stop to underage girls working as prostitutes on the island.The order follows recent sweeps of nightlife entertainment venues in Phuket as part of a crackdown ordered by Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobumrung.…
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Man stabbed to death in Soi Romanee
PHUKET CITY: A sound technician tidying up after a jazz event in Soi Romanee was stabbed to death early Monday morning over a reported “misunderstanding”.Lt Col Adul Nirapai of Phuket City Police said that police received a call at 2:10 am, reporting that a man had been stabbed in Soi Romanee, which connects Dibuk and Thalang roads in the heart…
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Hilton staff bus overturns on Karon Hill
KATA: A bus carrying 32 staff of the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa to work yesterday morning overturned after its brakes failed.Lt Rattaket Manmuang of Karon Police Station said, “The bus driver, 34-year-old Paitoon Panbuddee, said that he lost control of the bus after the brakes failed as he was driving down the hill.”The accident happened about 7:40 am, he…
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Bar owners bamboozled by 30-day booze ban
PHUKET: In a hastily arranged press conference, the Ministry of Interior has announced a month-long ban of alcohol sales throughout Phuket, effective today.Vice Minister Dumwrong Raknaa told the Gazette that the booze ban will, in one clean swoop, further the Ministry’s dual aims of celebrating the nation’s return to democracy and promoting traditional Thai values.As Thailand’s face to the world,…
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“Bogus cops’ slay Burmese in failed extortion bid
KATHU: A Burmese laborer was executed by a shotgun blast to the face last night after refusing to pay money demanded by two Thai men posing as undercover police officers, Tung Tong’s police chief told the Gazette today.Tung Tong Distict Police Superintendent Col Arayapan Pukbuakhao identified the victim as So Sung, 25, a construction worker living at a workers’ camp…
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Emotions run high as arrested fugitive faces family
SAMUT PRAKAN: More information about the crimes of arrested fugitive Kriengkrai “Krieng” Saelee came to light Saturday morning when police in Samut Prakan told a press conference the suspect was wanted for the shooting murder of a 14-year-old girl in the waning hours of 2006. Krieng was arrested about 10:30 pm on March 27 while selling clothes at a stall…
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Gov flames MNRE for lack of environmental protection
PHUKET: Citing examples of deforestation and encroachment across the island, Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit yesterday criticized the Phuket office of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) for failing to report any encroachment or make arrests, despite evidence that encroachment was continuing in some areas.At the monthly meeting of the Phuket Provincial Security Committee at Phuket Provincial Hall, Gov…
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Marriott’s Courtyard ablaze
PATONG: Crowds gathered on Ruamjai Rd this afternoon as flames engulfed the corner section of The Courtyard hotel, formerly known as the Grand Tropicana Phuket and now owned by Marriott.“The fire started about 2 pm and took firefighters about 30 minutes to put out,” Kathu Police Superintendent Col Grissak Songmoonnak told the Gazette.“We believe that a spark from workers carrying…
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Heartbroken man commits suicide
PHUKET CITY: A young Thai man was found dead early this morning after falling from his 19th floor room at the Royal Phuket City hotel.Maj Wicharn Suwannasit, Inspector at Phuket City Police Station, said that police received a call at 2 am from hotel staff reporting that a man had been found dead on the fourth-floor outdoor deck of the hotel.Police…
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Wichit Municipality Offices open
WICHIT: Wichit Municipality yesterday officially opened its new, three-story office building with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by some of the island’s highest-ranking officials.The new building, completed at a cost of just over 96 million baht, sits on five rai on Chao Fa East Rd, next to Wat Thepnimit.The ceremony was attended by Phuket Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima, Senators Phummisak Hongsyok and Thanyarat…
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Police net 10,000 ya bah pills in post office sting
PHUKET: Phuket Police intercepted a package containing 10,000 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills with an estimated street value of 5 million baht at the Phuket City Post Office on March 21. The drug seizure followed the arrest the day before of two men in Phuket City for possession of illegal firearms, Region 8 Police commander Lt Gen Thanee Thawisri announced at a…
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60 candidates register for OrBorJor election
PHUKET: A total of 60 candidates have registered with the Phuket Election Commission in the race for seats on the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) council. Of the 60 candidates, 21 are aligned with former OrBorJor president and Democrat Party member Anchalee Vanich Tephabutra, while 18 are from the OrBorJor Kon Baan Rao party led by former Phuket Senator Paiboon…
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Sakoo OrBorTor: “no action’ on Nai Thon dumping
NAI THON: More than a month after being given photographs showing a truck belonging to Vasi Construction Co Ltd dumping trash near Nai Thon Beach, the Sakoo Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) says it cannot press charges because nobody has been caught in the act.The photos were sent to the Gazette in January by a concerned reader. The site is about 200…
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Seized land earmarked for botanical gardens
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Land Reform Office plans to establish botanical gardens on plots of agricultural reform (SorPorKor) land previously held by three Phuket tycoons.The land was returned to the state last year in three separate Supreme Court rulings that found the tycoons did not qualify to occupy the land because they were not poor farmers.Land Reform Office Chief…
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Phummisak named Austrian Consul for the South
PHUKET: Phuket Senator Phummisak Hongsyok, a former Phuket City Mayor and a major businessman on the island, has been appointed Austrian Honorary Consul for Southern Thailand. K. Phummisak replaces his younger brother Chuchai Hongyok, who has held the position for more than 10 years. “K. Chuchai just wants to retire,” K. Phummisak told the Gazette. “I’m very happy that the…
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Vanity plates auction raises B14m
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Transport Office (PPTO) held its fourth annual vanity car-registration plate auction over the weekend, raking in 14 million baht from 301 special plates auctioned off at the two-day event.Bidding kicked off at 9:30 am Saturday in the Phrapitak Grand Ballroom of The Metropole hotel, where a line of professional presenters – attractive young women in…
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Food Fest draws big weekend crowds
SAPHAN HIN: The 11th annual Phuket Food Festival kicked off on Wednesday with an official ceremony presided over by Phuket Vice-Governor Smith Palawatwichai.Seventy food and drink stands from Phuket and neighboring provinces are serving food at the event, organized by the Phuket Food Vendors’ Club and the Phuket City Municipality.The first day featured a competition to find the tastiest “Hor Mok…
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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