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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F1 boat racing for Phuket in 2008
PHUKET: The Formula 1 boat racing that was due to come to Phuket in March 2005 but was canceled following the tsunami, will come in 2008 instead, the Gazette learned today. Bangkok-based organizers Paragon Events announced that the Phuket race will take place from March 14 to 16, 2008, in the Deep Sea Port at Ao Makham. “The F1 UIM…
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Road deaths dip in June
PHUKET: Sixteen people died in traffic accidents in Phuket in June, according to official figures obtained from Vachira Phuket, Thalang and Patong government hospitals. This was slightly less than the monthly average of 18 deaths for the year to date.Of the 16 dead, 15 died in motorcycle accidents. The remaining death came in an accident involving a bicycle. During the…
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PGTV News Thursday 20th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features an update on the proposed Chalong-Patong highway, a look at how mobile phone numbers will be increased to ten digits, music from a famous Tibetan monk and musician and a story about how changing a flower’s name made it popular. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show…
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Gov calls meeting for dive industry regulation
PHUKET: Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura will convene a public hearing to discuss impending changes aimed at regulating the island’s dive industry, some members of which have come under suspicion of evading taxes and employing foreign nationals without work permits.Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Nivit Aroonrat told the Gazette on July 18 that the Governor has accepted the general concept of…
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Phuket unaffected by Java earthquake
PHUKET (Gazette, Nation, Kom Chad Luek): Thailand was not affected by the 7.2-Richter magnitude earthquake that sent deadly two-meter tsunami waves crashing into the Indonesian island of Java on Monday, killing at least 300 people.Although the quake was stronger than the 7.0 Richter threshold used by the Nonthaburi-based National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) for issuing tsunami warnings, the distance from…
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Mobile phone numbers to change
PHUKET: Mobile phone users will be giving their thumbs a serious workout between September 1 and November 30 as the country switches from nine-digit mobile numbers to 10-digit ones.The change, which will not apply to land lines, will be brought about by adding the number 8 after the initial zero. For example, a mobile number beginning with 01 will be…
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Gov backs Chalong-Patong highway
PHUKET CITY: Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura has thrown his weight behind a proposal to build a 206-million-baht six-lane highway linking Patong with Chalong.At a meeting held today at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, Governor Udomsak explained that the highway would be 4.5 kilometers long and would follow the route of the current two-lane road leading to Wat Luang Phu Supha in…
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Police arrest school-run mum, seize 6,000 ya bah pills
PHUKET CITY: Police yesterday stopped a 25-year-old woman after she dropped her daughter off at Kajornkietsuksa School on Pattana Rd, and searched her car. In it they discovered 3,000 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills. She was also found to have 63,000 baht in her possession.Pol Col Phuwadol Vudduccanok, Deputy Superintendent of Phuket City Police Station, yesterday named the woman as Aroonporn…
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PGTV News Monday 17th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features a story about a possible second helicopter service in Phuket, a warning about the strong currents at this time of year, and a trip to a butterfly farm. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with photographers Dan Miles and Khun Poy – the “Ting…
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Jungceylon underway again
PATONG: After a lull of five months, construction of the huge Jungceylon mall project in Patong is once more underway, with the mall’s new owners saying that much of it will be open for business in November or December.Suchad Chiaranussati, Managing Director of Recap, which in February bought 95% of Phuket Square, which in turn owns Jungceylon, said that the…
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PGTV News Friday 14th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening finds features a story about four new libraries being built in Phuket, a look at two fairs and the Hotel exhibition and a tasty visit to one of the island’s Thai cooking schools. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with a local transexual. PGTV,…
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Raiders heading for Phuket
PHUKET: The island may still be waiting for the F1 boat races to come but, in the meantime, waterborne entertainment of a different kind will be heading for Phuket in December, in the form of the Rubson Raid Turquoise 2006. The Rubson Raid, now in its sixth year, was devised by Belgian Philippe Martin as an event for large, fast,…
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PGTV News Thursday 13th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening finds features an update on the 46 million Baht “Welcome Gateway” to Phuket, a look at three new attractions at Phuket Fantasea, and a first hand account of Bungee jumping in Phuket. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with a local transexual. PGTV, produced…
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Phuket to get four new libraries soon
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) is close to completing what it calls “E-Libraries” at four locations on the island, with the goal of providing wider access to reading materials and information technology to all island residents.The libraries will, naturally, have books, with staff keeping track of those out on loan through a computer network linking all four…
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PGTV News Wednesday 12th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening finds out why an angry mob blocked Thepkrasatri Rd. We also look at the World Cup final in the Green Man and visit the Kathu Waterfall. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with a young “Luk Kreung”. PGTV, produced by the Phuket Gazette, is aired daily…
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PGTV News Tuesday 11th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features a story about the airport limousine concession, news about rising gold and sugar prices, and a look at “pretty” girls. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with property consultant Bill Barnett. PGTV, produced by the Phuket Gazette, is aired daily on the Phuket…
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Police stumped by gold shop shooting
PHUKET CITY: Police say they have no leads in their investigation into the murder of Theeradet Patarapranee, 48, who was gunned down while closing up the family’s shop, Bangkok Gold, on Phang Nga Rd on Thursday last week.Pol Lt Col Somkid Boonrat of Phuket City Police Station, who is leading the investigation, quoted witnesses as reporting that a gunman on…
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Angry mob blocks main road after crash death
MAI KHAO (Krungthep Turakij): A mob of around 200 villagers from Baan Kho En blocked Thepkrasattri Rd near the entrance to Yacht Haven on Saturday in protest after a local woman was knocked off her motorbike and killed on a tight bend in the road.Following the accident, at around 1 pm, a crowd came from the village and erected tents…
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Dates set for provincial by-elections
PHUKET CITY: By-elections are to be held to fill two positions in the Phuket Provincial Council after one member resigned and another died. The first by-election will be held on July 22 in the Kathu area in District 2. The 17 polling stations will be open from 8 am to 3 pm. The member for this constituency, Boonma Eabsub, resigned…
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Telecoms giant picks PGTV as partner
BANGKOK: Phuket’s own English-language TV service, PGTV, has been chosen by Thai telecoms giant TT&T as a provider for its new MaxnetTV.net website.Maxnet carries real-time programs from TV stations and local cable TV for broadband Internet users.Prachuab Tantinon, President of TT&T plc, explained at the recent soft launch, “MaxnetTV.net is home to a variety of multimedia content to match the…
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FantaSea to add “attractions’
KAMALA (The Nation): Phuket FantaSea theme park will add three new attractions this year: the Similan Entertainment Center, the Songbird Luminarie and the Tiger Adventure Safari.Phuket FantaSea CEO Kittikorn “Pin” Kewkacha said the Similan Entertainment Center, to be located in the park’s Festival Village, will open July 14. The center will showcase the ocean world and feature games, novelty shops,…
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Book Fair comes to Phuket
PHUKET: The annual Southern Book Fair, which is traditionally staged in Haad Yai, will this year be in Phuket, at the Big C supercenter, on the bypass road, from July 12 to 16.Apichart Kaewkubpet, Chairman of the Phuket branch of the Book Lovers’ Club, told the Gazette, “At the fair will be a wide variety of books at more than…
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PGTV News July 6th 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening looks at an exhibition of HM the King’s paintings, news about Phuket flora going on show in Chiang Mai, and a story about the opportunities for prison inmates. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features a documentary about beliefs and superstitions in Phuket. PGTV, produced by the Phuket Gazette,…
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PGTV News Wednesday 5th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features a story about inflation in Thailand, related news about an increase in the use of pawn shops, and a story about the Phuket Thai boxing team who are leaving for Nonthaburi. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features a documentary about kick boxing in Phuket. PGTV, produced…
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PGTV News for Tuesday 4th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features a story about what the “Aftermath” movie crew left behind, a meeting with a group of kids from Bermuda wishing to help tsunami victims, and a story about 100 free knee surgeries being offered by the Vachira hospital. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features a…
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Woman found murdered on beach
RAWAI: The body of Tada Sa-nguansuk, a 49-year-old motorbike taxi driver in Phuket City, was found on the beach near Wichit Bungalow late in the afternoon of June 28.She had been raped and her throat had been slashed.Pol Col Chalit Kaewyarat, Superintendent of Chalong Police Station, told the Gazette that staff at Wichit Bungalow made the gruesome discovery and reported…
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Phuket to send plants to Jubilee flower show
PHUKET: Phuket is preparing to send four kinds of plants to display at the Royal Flora Ratchapruek 2006 flower show, to be held in Chiang Mai from November 1 to January 31 next year as part of celebrations to mark HM The King’s Diamond Jubilee.Phuket will send a Phuket pineapple plant as well as a lang khao palm – the…
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Special tickets for Phuket-Suvarnabhumi inaugural
PHUKET: Thai Airways International (THAI) is offering special inaugural flights between Phuket and Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi Airport on July 29. All passengers will receive special boarding passes and certificates from THAI as souvenirs. A total of 50 tickets, one-way, are for sale in business class at 2,999 baht apiece, while the 325 economy class tickets, one-way, are priced at 1,999 baht.Bookings…
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PGTV News Monday 3rd July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features an update on the “Mick the Pom” trial, good news about the water level in Bang Wad Dam, a chat with the new Finnish Honorary Consul and a look at the unique Thai instrument the Kim. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with the German…
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“Aftermath’ set to be converted into tourist spot
LAYAN: A “destroyed” building specially constructed at Layan Beach by the team shooting the TV tsunami mini-series Aftermath, will not be knocked down.Instead, it is to be taken over by the Sirinath National Park authorities and converted into a rest area for tourists and park officials.The crew shooting the mini-series, which will be shown on the BBC and HBO networks,…
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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