Phuket News
Phuket news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s top island destination. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Phuket news source.
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PGTV News Monday 28th August 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News today features an update on the missing tourist in Phang Nga, an announcement that Phuket is rabies free and a visit to a The Phra Tong Buddha. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, today’s show features an interview with Phuket’s German Honorary Consul. PGTV, produced by the Phuket Gazette, is aired daily on the Phuket…
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Dive regulations signed
PHUKET CITY: The new regulations governing Phuket’s dive industry have now been signed by Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura and will come into effect on September 1. Aekachai Soonthorn, secretary to Provincial Chief Administrative Officer Nivit Aroonrat, told the Gazette that the new regulations were signed by the Governor at 4.30 yesterday afternoon.A draft of the regulations has been under review…
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US consular services in Phuket
KARON: Officials from the Consular Section of the American Embassy in Bangkok will visit Phuket on September 15 to provide consular services to US citizens.The following services will be available from 8 am til noon in the Similan Room of the Phuket Hilton Arcadia Resort & Spa:– Passport renewal applications (US$67 or 2,680 baht for adult passports);– Insertion of additional…
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Police continue hunt for abductor
CHALONG: Police are still searching for the second man allegedly involved in the abduction of Jitra Soonsud, 35, who was found handcuffed and drugged in a house in the Phuket Country Home estate, on Chao Fa East Rd, on May 29.“We know who he is and we have had a warrant issued for his arrest, but I don’t want to…
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Missing tourist believed found
PHANG NGA: A woman’s body, believed to be that of missing Scottish tourist Shenaz Kapoor, has been found near the Song Phraek waterfall in Phang Nga. Miss Kapoor has been missing for nine days following a white-water rafting accident on August 15. (See earlier story here.) The body was found in the water at around 6am today by a police…
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Beer bottles bombard cop shop
PHUKET CITY: A gang of teenagers, possibly angry with the police for setting up roadblocks to crack down on motorcycle gangs, launched an attack on Phuket City Police Station in the early hours of yesterday morning, lobbing beer bottles at the building.Pol Lt Theeradet Jiraksa told the Gazette, “While I was on duty, a teenager stopped his motorcycle on the…
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PGTV News Wednesday 23 August 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News today features an update on the desalination plant in Kata, an announcement that there are not enough “smart” ID cards available and a visit to a school for underprivileged kids. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, today’s show features a documentary about the recent visit to Phuket by the Singapore Porsche Club. PGTV, produced by…
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Underwater park ready for divers
PHUKET: Sculptures worth 4 million baht have been placed on the seabed at a depth of 15 meters close to Koh Racha Yai, and are being promoted as a special “must see” site for divers in the coming high season.Phuket Diving Park, as the site is now known, features sculptures including Thai demons (yak), traditional decorative arches, a sala, two…
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Okay. Now will you marry me?
PHUKET: People can once again get married in Muang and Thalang Districts after fresh supplies of marriage certificates were received from Bangkok yesterday.Both districts ran out of certificates and Kathu District was down to very limited supplies after government printers in Bangkok received orders late and were unable to fill them in the time required. They cited the difficulty of…
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Excise tax B6 million over target
PHUKET CITY: Revenue collected from excise tax in Phuket so far this fiscal year, from October 1, 2005 to July 31, 2006, is about 145 million baht, some 6 million baht above projections, the Phuket Excise Office has reported.Phuket Excise Office chief Supatra Horsrisamphan said the figures included fees collected for permission to sell alcohol, tobacco and playing cards as…
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PGTV News Tuesday 22nd August 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News today features a story about foreigners wishing to become Thai, an update on the missing UK student in Phang Nga and we a look at collecting taxes from the island’s hotels. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, today’s show features a new interview with Phuket based writer Jim Newport. PGTV, produced by…
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Desal plant “ready by high season’
KARON: Construction of a 528-million-baht desalination plant is now 90% complete and the plant should be ready to begin providing 12,000 cubic meters of tap water daily to Patong and Kata-Karon in the upcoming high season – if all the necessary permits can be obtained in time.At the Kata Beach Resort on Friday, Phuket Vice-Governor Niran Kanlayanamit chaired a meeting…
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PGTV News Monday 21st August 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News today features a story about Thai Airways strengthening security on it’s flights, an update on the missing UK student in Phang Nga and we look at a Phuket cheerleader competition. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features a documentary about the Art scene here in Phuket. PGTV, produced by…
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PGTV News Friday 18th August 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News today features a story about the next Baba Peranakan festival, an update on the marriage certificate shortage and a look at the damage caused by recent storms in Phuket. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features a documentary about The Singapore Porsche Club. PGTV, produced by the Phuket Gazette,…
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British tourist missing after rafting accident
PHANG-NGA: (Gazette, KomChadLuek) A 22-year-old Scottish tourist has been missing in Phang Nga for two days and is presumed to have drowned after an accident while white-water rafting. Shenaz Kapoor was in a rubber raft with three other foreign tourists and two Thai guides in the area of the Song Phraek waterfall when the raft capsized. The other five people…
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THAI tightens security on flights
BANGKOK: Thai Airways International (THAI) has announced more stringent security measures following the uncovering of a supposedly Al Qaeda-led terrorist plot to detonate liquid-based explosives on flights between Britain and the US. Somchainuk Engtrakul, Chairman of the THAI Board, has announced that the airline has tightened security measures for flights to the US and UK, and also to the Philippines,…
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No bias in bookings for Surakul Stadium: Anchalee
PHUKET: The President of the Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr, has denied allegations that Surakul Stadium is for the use of Thais only, though the OrBorJor has rejected a request to hold the Phuket International Soccer 7s tournament, planned for November, in the stadium. “I know the organizers of the Phuket International Soccer 7s competition would like to hold…
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New dive rules reviewed for loopholes
PHUKET CITY: Aekachai Soonthorn, secretary to Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Nivit Aroonrat, today told the Gazette that the new regulations for the diving industry are being reviewed by the Chief of the Phuket Provincial Public Prosecution Office, Bantoon Thongtan, who is checking for loopholes that dive operators might use to avoid compliance.“The regulations have been in the Public…
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Hospital, hotels, sign MOU on medical tourism
PHUKET: Bangkok Hospital Phuket has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with nine hotels to promote medical tourism in Phuket. Dr Kongkiat Kespechara, Director of Bangkok Hospital Phuket, said that the hospital would arrange first aid training for staff of the nine signatory hotels and would ensure staff knew what to do in the event of an emergency. The hotels…
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Photographer confesses to murder
PATONG: A freelance photographer has confessed to murdering a cashier from a Patong shopping mall, after a police search uncovered the .38 revolver used in the slaying stashed away inside a pillow in his rented room on Soi Larb Ped, Patong.Pol Lt Col Chaowalit Niamwadee of Kathu Police Station said the body of the victim, identified as 22-year-old Kanjanee “Rung”…
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Want to wed in Phuket? Sorry, not now
PHUKET: Want to get married in Phuket City? Thalang? Then you’re out of luck. Both offices have run out of marriage certificates. The only district office that still has supplies – now in very limited numbers – is Kathu.An official from the Muang District Registration Department, who asked not to be named, admitted that her department ran out of certificates…
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PGTV News Friday 11th August 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News today features a story about two rude Koreans who were refused entry to Phuket and who have since lodged a complaint, a protest against the proposed price hike for entry into public parks and we visit “The World” which docked overnight in Phuket. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features a…
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Phuket chosen as venue for TV adventure show
PHUKET: The first Isuzu Adventure Race Thailand Championship, involving climbing and kayaking among other events, will be staged in Phuket from October 27 to 29. The competition will be filmed and broadcast by satellite to viewers worldwide, say the organizers. Teams of four people, each including at least one woman, will have to prove their physical and mental toughness over…
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Hospital “dream’ still mired in standoff
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) President Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr has spoken out against Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura’s decision to delay the buyout of the abandoned Phya Thai hospital.“The purchase of the abandoned Phya Thai hospital is like a dream that has fallen apart. I started the process with the Governor on January 13, and the provincial committee for this…
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Tour operators protest plan to hike park fee
PHUKET CITY: All of the operators running tours in Phang Nga Bay – some 500 of them – staged a peaceful protest at the TAT Southern Region 4 Office this morning to demand that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment reconsider its plan to double entry fees for national parks with effect from September 15.Police blocked off a section…
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PGTV News Wednesday 9th August 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News today features a story about the latest tsunami drills, a ride with the Singapore Porsche Club in Phuket and we ask people how they will celebrate Mothers Day which in Thailand falls on the 12th of August. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features a documentary about the Soi Dog Foundation.…
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Gov raps “overzealous’ Immigration officer
PHUKET: Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura yesterday morning asked the head of Immigration at Phuket International Airport to transfer a subordinate who refused entry to two loud South Korean tourists on July 11.But the Immigration chief defended his officer’s actions and said he would refer the matter to his superiors before taking any action.The meeting, at the Governor’s Office at Phuket Provincial…
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Dive industry rules imminent
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Nivit Aroonrat confirmed today that although the new dive industry regulations have not yet been signed by Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura, he believes that they will be “soon”.Yesterday K. Nivit told the Gazette that the documents had already been signed but this afternoon, after rechecking, he said that they were currently awaiting…
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Ya bah busts yield 4,692 pills
KATHU: Thun Tong Police arrested two ya bah (methamphetamine) dealers on Saturday night in Soi Thida, Kathu, seizing 4,692 pills of the illegal stimulant.An undercover officer, posing as a dealer, paid 20,000 baht for 100 pills from Somsak Lertprakit, 34, from Korat. Once the sale was complete, officers led by Pol Maj Gen Theerachai Raktiprakorn of the Tung Tong Police…
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Police colonel linked to killing of editor
PHUKET: A police lieutenant-colonel has been arrested in connection with the murder of local newspaper editor Opas Noothong in April this year.The arrest came after a gun belonging to Pol Lt Col Hattakarn Klinlokai, Inspector for Crime Suppression at Tambon Suksamran police station in Ranong, was found in the car of another suspect, Veenakorn Boonyiun. Forensic tests later confirmed that…
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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