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.
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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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Hoteliers cautiously optimistic
PHUKET: Local hotel operators remain guardedly optimistic that the bloodless military coup staged in Bangkok last night will have a limited impact on Phuket tourism industry, provided that events do not turn violent.Wolfgang Meusberger, General Manager of the Holiday Inn in Patong, this morning told the Gazette, “I think it all depends what happens over the next 48 hours. At…
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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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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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Bank of Thailand Governor reportedly accepted to become the Prime Minister
BANGKOK (Nation): Bank of Thailand Governor MR Pridayadhorn Devakula has cut short his trip to attend the International Monetary Fund/World Bank meeting in Singapore and he will arrive Bangkok at midday. He has said that he has agreed to become Prime Minister. Regardless, it is expected there would be a press conference at the Armed Forces auditorium today.
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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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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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Bang Tao vendors get eviction reprieve
CHERNG TALAY: The stall operators on Bang Tao Beach were not forced to clear the beach yesterday, as threatened by eviction notices issued to the vendors earlier this month. Instead, they have been allowed to stay until a new site has been found for them, following progress in negotiations between the vendors and the provincial and local authorities.The news follows…
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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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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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On-arrival visas: 90 days and you’re out!
PHUKET: Phuket’s Immigration Chief has confirmed that Thailand will crack down on foreigners working illegally in the country by ending its policy of issuing an unlimited number of consecutive “visas on arrival” – tourist visas that allow the holder to stay a maximum of 15 or 30 days.The crackdown is intended to stop foreigners – typically bar owners and other…
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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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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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Tuk-tuk driver denies tourist rape
PATONG (Gazette, Kom Chad Luek): A tuk-tuk driver arrested yesterday afternoon has denied raping a 20-year-old female Australian tourist in the early hours of Thursday morning.Pol Col Teeraphol Thipjareon, Superintendent of Kathu District Police Station, today told the Gazette, “The suspect has admitted that he took the woman back to her hotel on the night in question but he denies…
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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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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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Italian tourist dead in blaze puzzle
CHALONG: Mystery surrounds the death of Italian tourist Marco Oniga, 44, whose charred remains were found on the bed of his apartment in Chalong on the afternoon of September 1. At about 4:30 pm, Mr Oniga’s naked body was discovered by one of the apartment building’s maids. As she was making her daily rounds, the maid smelled smoke coming from…
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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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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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Surge in petty crimes sees 30 police officers transferred
PHUKET: As the island seems to be suffering from a major surge in petty crimes, some 30 police officers have been approved for transfer out of the province in the upcoming annual round of promotions and transfers, on October 1. The main reason put forward by the officers for the transfers: “overworked”.At his monthly meeting with chief officers on Wednesday,…
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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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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…
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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