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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The Great American Smokeout, held this year on November 17, is a nationwide event that encourages smokers to take their first steps towards a smoke-free life. If you’re an expat in Thailand, this day could be a timely reminder to...
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One dead after double ride-by shooting
PHUKET CITY: Two ride-by shootings on Sunday night left one dead and two seriously injured in what police believe are gang-related incidents, said Pol Lt Col Somkid Boonratof Phuket City Police Station.Chaiwat Jaemjan, 21, was riding his motorcycle on Damrong Rd, when he was shot by a member of a gang of about eight youths on motorcycles, said Col Somkid.Friends…
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Serial burglar nabbed
PHUKET CITY: After a series of unsolved home burglaries, Phuket City Police finally arrested 28-year-old Wirat Nookue at his home in Rassada Village 3 on September 8.Stolen goods valued by police at 600,000 baht were recovered.At a press conference yesterday, Phuket City Police Superintendent Pol Col Nos Svettalekha explained that Wirat, described as a “dealer in used goods”, was spotted…
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Man arrested for Koh Kaew murder
PHUKET CITY: Police have arrested and charged one of two suspects wanted for the beating murder of a disabled man in Koh Kaew on the night of September 2.Police identified the suspect as Somyot Longlode, 22, apprehended in Phang Nga’s Koh Yao District at about 5 pm Thursday night.Case investigator Pol Lt Theeradet Jiraksa of Phuket City Police told the…
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Phuket Airport disaster drill hailed a “success’
PHUKET: The emergency response drill at Phuket International Airport (PIA) on Thursday was a “success”, PIA Director Sq Ldr Pornchai Eua-aree told a press conference after the event.The drill started at 10 am with PIA air traffic control guiding a Thai Airways International Airbus A300-600 simulating engine trouble in to land.Once safely stopped on the tarmac, the aircraft was quickly…
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One million mangrove trees pledged for Phuket
PHUKET CITY: Phuket is due an injection of greenery with the news that a memorandum of understand (MOU) has been signed by Deputy Prime Minister Paiboon Watthanasiritham stating that one million mangrove trees will be planted around the island between now and the end of 2009 as part of the nationwide Yoo Dee Mee Suk (“Good Life and Happiness”) program.Mangroves…
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Phuket to host “sufficiency education’ expo
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Rajabhat University (PRU) will host a regional conference and exhibition demonstrating how to implement sufficiency economy practices with respect to education in the South from September 13 to 14.The exhibition will include explanations and discussion on applying His Majesty the King’s sufficiency economy philosophy and policy in public and home schools. Four home schooling Phuket families will…
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Cops nab rape, robbery gang
TUNG TONG: Police have arrested a gang of six youths who last week forced their way into two homes in Kathu, where they stole cash and valuables and gang-raped one female occupant at knifepoint.The arrests were announced during a press conference led by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampetch at Tung Tong Police Station late Tuesday afternoon.The suspects…
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International superyacht brokers to descend on Phuket
PHUKET: Yacht Crews Ltd of Thailand (YCL) will host 10 international superyacht brokers from around the world on a fact-finding visit to Phuket, the Gazette learned today from Khun Thidarat Pimson, Managing Director of YCL.K. Thidarat has organized a four-day tour of the Phuket-Phi Phi-Krabi area aboard the motor yacht Taipan, a 172-foot superyacht managed by Emerald Yachts of Florida,…
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Phuket Airport to stage disaster drill
PHUKET: A full-scale, emergency-response drill will take place at Phuket International Airport on Thursday as part of Phuket Airport’s Emergency Plan Exercise 2007 (PEMEX 2007).Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Phuket International Airport Director Sq Ldr Pornchai Eua-aree said the exercise, to begin at 10 am, is being co-organized by Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT).Taking part will be 14…
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Morning blaze ravages Patong shophouses
PATONG: A shophouse fire along the beach road in Patong gutted 10 small vendors’ shops before dawn on Monday. It was the third such blaze in the past 15 months. No injuries were reported.Police Station Superintendent Pol Col Grissak Songmoonnark told the Gazette that the fire broke out at about 5 am inside a shophouse located between the Holiday Inn…
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Agreement reached over illegal Korean guides
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit, representatives of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Southern Region 4 office and representatives of Korean tour operators yesterday agreed on the conditions to be included in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will ensure that Korean tour operators hire Thai guides. Signatures to the MOU will be Governor Niran, TAT Southern Region 4 office…
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OrBorJor to revamp Phaya Thai Hospital
PHUKET CITY: The long abandoned Phyathai Hospital building is due a major makeover with the confirmation by press release that the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) last month completed its 327-million-baht purchase of the site from Thai Asset Management Corporation.After surveying the hospital building and its facilities, located on 14 rai of land, it was announced that OrBorJor will spend…
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Israeli man drowns as Phi Phi dive boat capsizes
PHI PHI ISLANDS: An Israeli tourist died this morning when a boat sank off Maya Bay after becoming overwhelmed by stormy conditions.The boat was returning to Koh Phi Phi Don from a diving trip, said Suriya Kitimonthon, chief of Krabi Marine Office.Fifty-five tourists were out diving when Suriyan Sroyson, captain and owner of the Jor Kingfisher, noticed dark clouds beginning…
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Chalong Circle blaze claims five motorbikes
CHALONG: A fire at Chalong Circle before dawn on Thursday reduced five motorcycles to charred frames.The fire, reported to police about 4:30 am, quickly engulfed five motorbikes parked side-by-side in front of the “Ha Yak Mobile” mobile phone shop, opposite the Bank of Ayudhya Chalong branch.Pol Capt Parichat Jaturonphan of the Chalong Police told the Gazette that three of the…
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“Compromise’ reached on illegal Korean guides
PHUKET: South Korean Ambassador Han Tae-Kyu met Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit yesterday to discuss the thorny issue of Korean tour guides working illegally in the province, but with few tangible results other than an agreement “to compromise”on the issue.Meanwhile, the terms of a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be signed by Korean tour operators in Phuket are under review…
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TAT targets Indian travelers
PHUKET: Representatives of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Southern Region 4 Office will tomorrow set off for the subcontinent as part of a nine-day “Amazing Thailand Roadshow to India 2007″, with stops in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.The road show, with funding by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), will promote Phuket tourism and facilities to Indian travel agencies,…
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OrBorTor elections set for October 7
PHUKET: The four-year terms of eight tambon administration organizations (OrBorTor) in Phuket ended yesterday, with elections to replace them to be held on October 7, Phuket Election Commission (PEC) Director Supap Akkam has told the Gazette.Would-be representatives in the eight constituencies will be given from September 4 to 8 to register their candidacies with the Phuket Election Commission (PEC).Polling in…
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Spice scare threatens local producers
PHUKET (Nation): Tests on southern-style shrimp-chili paste and spicy-fish curry samples from Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi found that about half contained microbes or excessive levels of preservatives, a researcher from the Ministry of Public Health’s Regional Medical Sciences Center in Phuket said on Tuesday.News of the findings could affect sales of the foods, which are often sold as souvenirs…
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Half of Phuket’s population still unregistered
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit’s campaign to encourage people to register themselves as citizens of the island resulted in some success this month, with Phuket’s official population increasing by 1,231 to 324,891 people between July 21 and August 20.Launched last year, the campaign seeks to increase the number of Thai citizens whose names appear on household registration forms.Muang District saw…
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Wanted for TV: Property reports from Brits and Thais
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette has learned that ITV, the oldest and largest commercial television network in the UK, is currently making a prime-time, one-hour documentary about British people who own a property abroad. The program will feature a wide range of experiences from individuals buying or building holiday homes or a permanent residence overseas. It will air on ITV1 early…
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Bitter lover murders rival
PHUKET CITY: A birthday party turned bloody in the early hours of Monday morning when local painter Sorapong Waimitta, 28, was stabbed to death in what police believe was a love crime.Lt Col Somkid Boonrat, investigation inspector at Phuket City Police Station, told the Gazette that K. Sorapong was drinking with his brother and about 10 male friends, one of…
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ATM card scanners found in Patong
PATONG: Police are warning credit card and bank card holders to exercise caution when using ATMs and other “swipe” machines in Patong after an ATM on Soi Bangla was found fitted with devices capable of recording card data and pin numbers.Kathu Police Superintendent Col Grissak Songmoonnark told the Gazette that Patong police received a call from an English tourist about…
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B34m of “fake’ goods destroyed
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Provincial Police incinerated fake goods worth some 34 million baht at Phuket City Municipality Incinerator on August 25.The imitation brand-name goods, totaling 68,809 items, were seized in raids over the past four years. The contraband included clothes, watches, bags, shoes, sunglasses, VCDs, DVDs and electronic games.Overseeing the burn-off was Police Region 8 Deputy Commissioner Maj Gen Worawet…
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Bank, Bass, Boss make Sgt Major’s day
PHUKET CITY: Staff at the maternity ward at Vachira Phuket Hospital received a treat on Sunday when Pol Sgt Maj Supat Ruangsri and his wife K. Thipawan arrived to have their triplets delivered.The couple arrived from their home in Phang Nga Town after K. Thipawan, who was eight months pregnant, started having contractions about two hours earlier.Sgt Maj Supat, an…
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ICEC location down to two sites
PHUKET CITY: After studying four proposed locations for the long-awaited Phuket International Convention and Exhibition Center (ICEC), project investor ING Funds (Thailand) Co Ltd has whittled the field down to just two sites: Anuphas and Sons’ 250 rai off Chao Fa West Rd in Wichit and 130 rai of government land at Tah Chat Chai.The announcement was made at a…
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Island authorities sign trash management MOU
PHUKET: With the island’s only landfill perilously close to capacity and its sole incinerator incapable of burning even half the volume of trash sent to it every day, all of Phuket’s 18 local administrations on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) pledging to tackle the mounting problem through trash separation and recycling.The signing ceremony, at the Royal Phuket City…
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Burmese concert hits bureaucratic barrier
PHUKET CITY: An ambitious plan to stage a concert to bring some fun into the lives of some 30,000 minimum-wage Burmese laborers living in Phuket received a lukewarm reception from Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima yesterday, who said the event would need to be organized in accordance with all provincial regulations imposed on migrant workers – including the controversial 8 pm curfew.…
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Rough seas sink ferry
PHUKET: A ferry carrying 34 passengers and four crew sank yesterday afternoon, with all aboard left floating in the sea off Koh Phai until they were rescued by the Krabi Marine Police.Krabi Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Phuwadol Vudduccanok identified the vessel as Sea Breeze 2, owned by the Phi Phi Island Cabana Hotel.While awaiting rescue, all passengers and…
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AOT slashes number of airport limousines
PHUKET: The Phuket Limousine and Business service Cooperative (PBC) is seeking support from the provincial government after Airports of Thailand Public Co Ltd (AOT) slashed the number of vehicles it is allowed to operate at the airport from 150 to just 90 under a new concession. At an August 15 meeting with Phuket Vice-Governor Tri Augkaradacha, PBC President Manode Chupak…
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Rubber vendor killed in mystery shooting
THALANG: In a crime that police have no suspect and no motive for, a man died on his way to hospital after being shot in the back while riding his motorcycle on Srisoonthorn Rd on Sunday afternoon. About 3 pm, a local villager alerted police of a man lying on the sidewalk near the first corner of the road to…
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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