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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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…
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Academic coalition calls on Thaksin to quit
BANGKOK (The Nation): More than 40 academic groups yesterday called for the prime minister’s resignation and warned that existing discord could lead to civil war.“Thaksin Shinawatra must halt all political activities immediately and allow an investigation into alleged abuses of power,” said Anan Laolertworakul, a leader of a network of 43 academic groups.Anan urged civil servants to ignore “unjustified instructions”…
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Jungceylon to open “by December 1′
PHUKET CITY: The long-awaited Jungceylon project will open for business by December 1, a top executive for project owner Phuket Square Company Ltd told the Governor today.Prawit Janyasittikul, Deputy CEO of Phuket Square, visited Phuket Provincial Hall this morning to brief Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura on the progress of the project, located on Rat-U-Thit 200 Phi Rd in Patong.Jungceylon, originally…
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Tax revenue up more than a quarter
PHUKET: The Phuket Area Revenue Office (PARO) expects to have raised 5 billion baht in taxes by the end of this fiscal year on September 31, an increase of a billion baht from last year. PARO Chief Pensri Passakul said at Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura’s monthly meeting with Provincial Office Chiefs on August 30, that between October 1 last year and…
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The usual suspects
PHUKET: Crime statistics for August, released by the Phuket Provincial Police, show that the usual two crimes – gambling and drugs – yet again topped the list of offenses committed in the month.A total of 181 people were arrested on gambling charges during the August 1-25 reporting period. Eleven of these were held for their involvement in the underground lottery.Of…
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JD pools to sue for 100 million baht
PHUKET: JD Pools today announced that it plans to sue both Desjoyaux Pools (Thailand) and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) following the DSI raid of the JD Pools Phuket warehouse on August 18.At a press conference this morning, Thanusak Phungdet, Managing Director of JD Pools Group, said that JD Pools will claim for damages arising from a distortion of…
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Prepare for October floods – Governor
PHUKET: Following the recent downpours that caused minor floods and landslides around the island, Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura yesterday warned officials to prepare at-risk areas for potential floods and landslides in October, when more heavy rains traditionally deluge the island.The unusually heavy rain in Phuket in August has led forecasters at the Southern Meteorological Center (West Coast), based at Phuket…
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Eerie hush over stolen tsunami money
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura has warned that government officers must shoulder the burden of responsibility of their positions and accept the “sharp thorns” of a government career.He was referring to the lingering police investigation into whether Apichart Nooprod was involved in the theft of 2.05 million baht in tsunami funds on February 15 last year.K. Apichart, Chief of…
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PGTV News Wednesday 30th August 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News today features a story about the recently amended dive regulations, a look at scholarships to China, information about a tax hike at Thai airports and we discover a Phuket street that aims to to have the cleanest and tastiest food. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, today’s show features a documentary about Thai kickboxing.…
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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