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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ARC summons media bosses to tighten controls
BANGKOK (Agence France-Presse, The Nation): The Administrative Reform Council today ordered media executives to army headquarters to tell them to stop carrying expressions of public opinion following the military takeover, an army official said.“At 4:00 pm [0900 GMT] Thursday, the Army Chief General Sonthi Boonyaratkarin called a meeting of media executives,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.“He will…
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Suan Dusit poll shows 84% support coup
BANGKOK (The Nation): Approximately 84% of Thais support Tuesday’s military coup, according to the poll conducted by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University.The poll showed that 82% of Bangkok residents, and 86% of residents in rural areas support the coup as they believe it end political and social tension and is a positive step for Thai politics.The poll contradicted the widespread belief…
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Police seize assault rifle at Sarasin Bridge
TAH CHAT CHAI: Police conducting a routine vehicle inspection at the Tah Chat Chai checkpoint on Sunday morning arrested a man for possession of an automatic rifle, ammunition and five ya bah (methamphetamine) tablets.Pol Lt Col Sakchai Limchareon, Deputy Superintendent of the Tah Chat Chai Police Station, identified the driver as 38-year-old Chatchay Nilata, a native of Trang Province. He…
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Haad Yai bombings prompt police call for public help
PHUKET: Following the six terrorist bombings that rocked central Haad Yai on Saturday night, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Col Decha Butnampetch has urged for public support in keeping the island free of any acts of terrorism that could harm the island’s tourism industry.Pol Col Decha called for the support at a seminar at Patong Hospital attended by a large…
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New dive rules stand until further notice – Governor
PHUKET: The new regulations affecting Phuket’s dive industry will be adhered to until the rules are reviewed and any changes agreed to, Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura has said.The Governor affirmed his resolve in seeing the new rules being applied at a meeting with Chatupol Chindapol, President of the Diving Sport Association of the Thai Diving Association (TDA).K. Chatupol met Governor…
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Ranong-Burma border closed
RANONG: The Burmese government has closed the border at Kaw Thaung, making it impossible for foreigners to make “visa runs” across the border there, the Gazette has learned.A representative with the Executive Visa Run company, which runs daily visa-run trips to the Burmese port of entry opposite Ranong, said that his firm learned of the closure this afternoon.Operators of a ferry…
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Phuket calm after coup
PHUKET: Top government and tourism industry officials in Phuket have largely adopted a wait-and-see attitude following the bloodless military coup staged in Bangkok last night.Meanwhile, Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura has announced that he will hold a press conference at Phuket Provincial Hall at 2 pm tomorrow to answer questions about the military takeover and its effect on the province.Earlier today,…
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Coup: Minimal economic impact “if no violence’
BANGKOK (The Nation): The business sector anticipates short-term negative impact from the coup d’etat, but expect the longer-term economic direction to be clearer with diminishing divisiveness in society and that should be in favor of local and foreign investors.Charlotte Dhonavanik, First Senior Executive Vice-President at the Bank of Ayudhya, said that from the Administrative Reform Council’s (ARC) first announcement, things…
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Soldiers keep close watch on media networks
BANGKOK (The Nation): Around 9 pm last night, before the Administrative Reform Council’s first announcement, soldiers entered Shin Satellite headquarters – the control room for the Thaicom III satellite.All employees were cleared out.“I had no idea what happened then. It’s startling,” said a control officer, who anticipated the soldiers could have blocked satellite transmissions.Hours later, UBC signals broadcast via Thaicom…
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Foreign leaders express concern, Thaksin cancels UN address
BANGKOK (Agencies, Nation): Foreign leaders reacted with concern over the military coup against caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan saying “this is not a practice to be encouraged”.Speaking to CNN television on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting, Annan said: “We as an organization [UN] have always supported governmental changes through democratic means, through…
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Human Rights Watch urges military to restore basic civil rights
BANGKOK (Agence FrancePresse, The Nation): Human Rights Watch has urged Thailand’s military to restore basic civil liberties. “Thailand needs to solve its problems through the rule of law and the people exercising their right to choose their own leaders,” said Brad Adams, Asia director for the New York-based group.He urged the military to restore basic human rights guaranteed by the…
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Thaksin eyes London move
BANGKOK (Nation): Sources claim that Thaksin Shinawatra may fly from New York Thaksin to join his family in London, where he owns a luxury real estate.As last evening’s coup took shape Khunying Pojaman Shinawatra, the wife of the caretaker prime minister, escaped to Singapore.It was reported that the former Cabinet members of the Thaksin government may try to form a…
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Gazette helps swamped Nation website
PHUKET: Following the coup last night, the website of The Nation newspaper is being overwhelmed by readers.To help report today’s unfolding events, the Gazette is posting Nation stories here on our website.Keep posted.
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Head of Army confirms coup
BANGKOK: At 9:23 am, 23 minutes behind schedule, Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkarin, Army Chief and leader of the Administrative Reform Council (ARC), along with the Chiefs of the Royal Thai Navy, Air Force and Police announced that they had successfully seized power.Gen Sonthi announced that the Constitution of 1997 had been withdrawn and the senate, parliament, ministerial cabinet, and constitutional court had…
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Thai military declares holiday to announce “new policy’
THAILAND (Nation): Coup leaders have declared today a national holiday and called top civil servants and foreign diplomats to a meeting at military headquarters to update the situations.The coup leaders declared today “a holiday for government, banks and the stock exchange in order to quickly restore law and order,” according to a statement read on national television.They told top civil…
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The coup so far
September 198.00 am Thaksin Shinawatra calls an urgent teleconference with all armed forces’ commanders at Government House, but none attend.Gen Sonthi Boonyaratkarin, the army chief, later says the meeting is hastily called. Rumor then spread around the capital and the stock market that a coup is under way.Midday After finishing the web camera teleconference with Thaksin, who is in New York,…
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Scheduled September blackout
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority (PPEA) has announced a scheduled blackout for September 28 in order to continue its work on high-voltage power lines.The blackout will occur at the following locations:September 28 (9 am to 4 pm), Rawai. Wiset Rd: both sides of Wiset Rd from Muang Phuket School to Laem Phromthep, including Soi Suksan 1 and 2,…
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Penang halts issuance of double-entry tourist visas
PHUKET: The Royal Thai Consulate in neighboring Penang, Malaysia, has stopped issuing double-entry tourist visas for Thailand. The only tourist visa currently available there is a 60-day single-entry one.An official at the consulate this afternoon told the Gazette that Consul Pramote Pramoonsab had issued an order to cease issuance of double-entry tourist visas. Other visa categories are unaffected by the…
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Another local businessman assassinated
THALANG: Well-known local property developer Suriya “Aud” Chaowanich, 49, was shot dead in his Cherng Talay home last night. K. Suriya was the managing director of Phutawan Residence & Spa and owner of Phuket Laguna Riding Club.Thalang Police Superintendent Pol Col Chinnarat Rittakananond told the Gazette the victim was shot in the house where he lived with his lover.“We think…
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PGTV News Wednesday 13th September 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News today features stories about young tour guides, benzene prices which are now the same as diesel, a 21 country agricultural meeting, and Beach Sports. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, today’s show features a documentary about sailing in Phuket. PGTV, produced by the Phuket Gazette, is aired daily on the Gazette Website…
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PGTV News Tuesday 12th September 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News today features stories about the new Visa clampdowns on tourists wishing to extend their VOA (visa on arrival), new legislation on coastal fishing and hypermarkets,and the Nai Harn mini-marathon. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, today’s show features a interview with local author Jim Newport. PGTV, produced by the Phuket Gazette, is aired daily…
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Four teens arrested in Phi Phi murder
PHI PHI ISLAND: Four teenagers allegedly involved in the murder of a 24-year-old Belgian man after a fight have been arrested, police report.The man, Gregorey Vandervaeren, had been on the island only three days when he was shot early Sunday morning. Police said that Mr Vandervaeren was in a fight with the teens before one of them used a gun.…
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Bang Tao beach vendors face eviction
BANG TAO: People operating 48 businesses on Bang Tao Beach have been given until Friday to vacate the beach – or face having their premises demolished.At a meeting at Provincial Hall last Friday, Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Nivit Aroonrat told beach stall vendors that they must move out because the provincial government wants to clean up the area.He said the vendors…
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Hotels facing major staff shortage
PHUKET: The island’s tourism industry faces a shortage of labor in the coming high season and the Phuket Provincial Labor Office (PPLO) has warned that new hotels opening in Phang Nga are likely to draw more workers away from Phuket.PPLO Chief Decha Preukpatanarak told the Gazette, “We’re chronically short of labor in the high season, with hotel occupancy so high…
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PIWC calls for Gala Ball sponsors
PHUKET: Cindy Ratcliffe, President of the Phuket International Women’s Club (PIWC), has called for businesses and island residents to sponsor, donate prizes and attend the PIWC’s annual fund-raising Gala Ball, this year to be held at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Beach Resort & Spa on November 18.“We intend to make this event a glittering evening of revelry and fun. To…
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Poor people get solar power
PHUKET CITY: Solar power generation systems have been installed in the homes of 351 poor families in Phuket as part of a nationwide project to bring power to areas not yet connected to the main grid.Announcing this at a meeting at the Thavorn Grand Plaza hotel on September 4, Prawat Siripatrodom of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEC), said that a…
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Veg festival to go yellow
PHUKET CITY: Organizers of this year’s Vegetarian Festival have asked for those taking part to wear yellow shirts on the second day of the festival, October 23, to commemorate HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Diamond Jubilee.Participants traditionally wear white throughout the festival as a sign of purity.The announcement came during a meeting of the event’s organizing committee at Phuket Town Inn.Phuket…
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PGTV News Tuesday 5th August 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News today features stories about the Jungceylon opening date, Phuket police transfers, Central Phuket’s second anniversary and Koh Sirey’s colony of wild monkeys. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, today’s show features an interview with Phuket’s German Honourary Consul Dirk Naumann. PGTV, produced by the Phuket Gazette, is aired daily on the Phuket…
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Robber too quick for police
WICHIT: A man armed with a pistol robbed a gold shop in broad daylight on Saturday, making off with 705 grams of gold valued at about 470,000 baht.Pol Lt Somsak Thongklieng, Deputy Inspector with the Royal Thai Police, (Forensic Science Area 44 Office), based at Muang District Police Station, told the Gazette that shopowner Thippawan Limthongnopakhun, 31, and her employee…
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PGTV News Monday 4th August 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News today features stories about the flooding and landslides caused by recent rain, the Phuket boatshow in Bangkok, and an update on both Airport and crime statistics. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, today’s show features a interview with local author Jim Newport. PGTV, produced by the Phuket Gazette, is aired daily on the Phuket…
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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