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.
-
Sponsored This Christmas, give the gift of health: essential options for expats in Thailand
The holiday season is here, bringing warmth, joy, and a chance to reflect on the year gone by. As an expat in Thailand, this Christmas is a great time to invest in something that truly matters: health. Whether for you...
-
Diamond Cliff row “must be solved fast’
PHUKET TOWN: Conflicts between hotel workers and their employers should be resolved quickly in the interests of the Phuket tourism industry, a conference heard today. Union leaders and other interested parties met for the first time to discuss worker-boss relations in the island’s increasingly unionized hotel industry. A focus of their attention was a dispute at the Diamond Cliff Resort…
-
Guides protest against foreign tour staff
PHUKET TOWN: Some 300 Phuket tour guides gathered at the Lan Nawamin square on Phuket Rd this morning to protest Cabinet’s resolution last Tuesday to allow tour agencies that bring in more than 5,000 tourists in the preceding year to hire 10 foreign workers. The resolution also stated that Cabinet would consider reducing the threshhold to 1,000 tourists a year.…
-
Rock Hard dancer murdered
PATONG: Police are hunting the ex-boyfriend of a go-go girl from Rock Hard after she was found stabbed to death with a peeling knife. Pranee Asasri, 41, from Mukdaharn, was found dead at 2 am on August 23 by her niece, Pachanee Rattabhat, 22, who went to the victim’s rented room after she had failed to turn up for work…
-
Pakistanis cleared of terrorist links
PHUKET TOWN: Two Pakistani men arrested on Saturday night for illegally entering the country have been cleared of links with terrorist groups. Police named the men as Abid Khan and Bashir Mehmood, both 23. Officers found that Khan had entered Thailand on an Israeli passport while Mehmood had entered the country on a Portuguese passport. The men were also found…
-
“Intelligent’ traffic lights switched on
PHUKET TOWN: The island’s capital stepped up to a new level of technology yesterday with the switching-on of an “intelligent” traffic light system at the intersection of Thepkrasattri Rd and Komarapaj Rd. Phuket Town Mayor Phummisak Hongsyok explained that the Komarapaj Rd intersection is the location of the town’s longest traffic delays, which was why it was chosen for trials…
-
Korean store busted for dodgy drugs
PHUKET TOWN: A Taiwanese man was arrested this morning for illegally selling traditional Thai and Korean medicines. The arrest came when officers, led by the national Commander of the Tourist Police, Pol Maj Gen Panya Maman, raided a store on the bypass road after complaints from tourists. Gen Panya said that officers moved to raid the store after the South…
-
Apec in talks on high-tech counter-terrorism
KARON: The use of high-tech scanners and integrated databases listing details of passengers and flight crews were among the latest methods of identifying terrorists discussed yesterday at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting at the Phuket Arcadia Beach Resort. The timely meeting – coming in the wake of the Marriott bomb in Jakarta and the capture of top terrorist Hambali…
-
Indonesians cleared of terrorist links
PATONG: The three Indonesian fisherman who washed ashore at Kalim Beach yesterday morning have been cleared of connections with the terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), Pol Maj Narong Laoprathumviroj, an Inspector at Kathu Police Station, has told the Gazette. “They were all investigated and we have verified that they did not come to stage acts of terrorism in Thailand during…
-
Airport to get B200m makeover
PHUKET: In a move to improve Phuket International Airport, 200 million baht will be spent upgrading the docking aprons, improving the terminal facilities to cope with more travelers and doubling the cargo area, the airport’s director told the Gazette today. Lt Cdr Boonchart Prompoon, Director of the Airports Authority of Thailand, Phuket, explained that the upgrade will be implemented in…
-
Fishermen survive 5 days adrift
KALIM: Three Indonesian fishermen who spent at least five days adrift without food after their boat was caught in not one but two storms, washed ashore at Kalim Beach this morning and are now recovering at Patong Hospital. Pol Maj Narong Laoprathumviroj, an Inpector at Kathu Police Station, told the Gazette today, “Three men and their fishing boat washed ashore…
-
Patong praised for fake goods blitz
PATONG: Deputy Director of Phuket Commercial Affairs, Tharadol Thongruang, has announced that the blitz on fake goods has resulted in 90% of offenders in Patong either closing down or turning to selling authentic, legitimate goods. “Now there’s only less than 5% of fake goods left [in Patong], mostly fake brand-name sports shirts. “Fake watches, glasses, bags, CDs and shoes are…
-
Cracking start to safety campaign
PHUKET TOWN: Four-hundred motorcycle riders turned out today to exchange their substandard headgear for free safety helmets of life-saving quality. In a ceremony at Phuket Town Provincial Hall, officials used hammers to crack some of the old helmets as a way of demonstrating their ineffectiveness. The safe-riding campaign, which urges motorcyclists to use quality helmets and to ride with headlamps…
-
Subsidized computers scheme launched
PHUKET: A nationwide scheme to allow Thais to get laptop computers more cheaply has been launched as a way to boost computer literacy and skills. Applications to buy the state-subsidized “Notebook ICT” computers are being accepted at Thai post offices across the country until the end of this month. Seven different models are available, including machines by Jade Quantum, SVOA,…
-
Four arrested for reporter’s murder
PATONG: Police yesterday arrested four more people they believe were involved in the execution-style murder of newspaper and TV reporter Surapong “Od Patong” Rittee in Patong six months ago. One of those arrested is a police officer who was formerly stationed at Kathu Police Station. K. Surapong, 43, was gunned down by two .38 rounds fired close to his left…
-
Lobster fest underway
PHUKET: The month-long Phuket Lobster Festival got underway on Friday with a promotional event organized jointly by the local Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) office and the Phuket Tourist Association (PTA). The festival, which coincides with the August 14-23 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meetings in Phuket, is intended to boost tourist spending on the island for the period to 500…
-
Island security stepped up for Apec
PHUKET (Gazette, Nation): A team of 150 officers from Region 8 police headquarters in Surat Thani are in Phuket to bolster security during Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings, Pol Col Ronapong Saikaew, Superintendent of Investigation Police Region 8, said today. Col Ronapong told the Gazette, “There are 150 investigation and inspection policemen covering every area where Apec [meetings] will take place…
-
Yacht import duty close to being scrapped
KARON: The Customs and Excise Departments have recommended that the government scrap import duty on foreign-made yachts, the Director General of the Customs Department, Chavalit Sethameteekul, said today. K. Chavalit made the announcement before joining the meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Sub-Committee on Customs Procedures this morning at the Phuket Arcadia Beach Resort. “Phuket will be a haven…
-
Thai center to drive Apec life sciences growth
PHUKET: Thailand and private US interests have agreed to establish a Center of Excellence for the Life Sciences in Thailand that will lead growing interest in the topic throughout the region, a ground-breaking Apec conference has been told. The announcement came from Deputy Prime Minister Suwit Khunkitti in the lead-up to the opening of the first Life Sciences Innovation Forum,…
-
Island’s tourism tide turns
PHUKET: Latest airport arrival figures and resort occupancy rates indicate that Phuket’s tourism trade is recovering rapidly from the Sars scare, with some hotels already planning to hang up “House Full” signs soon. Official statistics for the first 10 days in August show that 8.7% more international visitors flew to Bangkok compared with the same period last year, an increase…
-
Island gears up for OrBorTor elections
PHUKET: Moves to publicize the August 30 elections for Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) members are underway, with the Phuket Election Commission Bureau (PECB) and the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) lending a hand. At a meeting at the PECB offices yesterday, OrBorJor President Dr Prasit Koeysiripong pledged four sound trucks to promote the elections for 10 days, while the PECB…
-
MP calls for commission into farmers’ rights
PATONG: Local Democrat MP Chalermlak Kebsup today called for a commission to be set up to determine local farmers’ rights to own land that they claim to have occupied before it was declared Forest Preserve or Zone C land – declarations that led to it being issued with SorPorKor 4-01 land occupation papers. K. Chalermlak said that people in Phuket…
-
Ganja and magic mushrooms seized
PATONG: Four men were arrested on Monday in two separate drug raids along the Patong-Karon road that netted quantities of marijuana and “magic” psilocybin mushrooms allegedly packaged for re-sale. In the first raid, Pol Capt Sophon Borirak led Kathu Police officers to the Rasta Bar just south of Patong and arrested three Thais and a German at about 8:30 pm.…
-
Fake goods raids set vendors running
PATONG: Police seized about 500 items of fake goods with a street value of 500,000 baht in raids on two Patong stalls last night as the crackdown on imitation products continued. The people selling the goods ran off. Led by Deputy Director of Phuket Commercial Affairs, Tharadol Thongruang, officers moved in on one stall near the Holiday Inn at 9…
-
Korean drowns at Karon
KARON BEACH: A middle-aged Korean woman drowned in heavy surf in front of the Phuket Arcadia Beach Resort just after midnight yesterday. Pol Maj Sanae Panmee, of the Chalong Police Station, told the Gazette that the victim, identified as 41-year-old En Seck Sea, entered the dangerous surf with a friend after drinking together at a local bar. The pair were…
-
Marine Dept regional HQ to move to Phuket
PHUKET TOWN: Wanchai Sarathulthat, Director-General of the Marine Department, yesterday announced that the Marine Department’s Region 5 headquarters, which includes Phuket, will move from Trang to Phuket, with regional office chief Capt Arnut Sombathiwee at the helm. K. Wanchai made the announcement at a meeting of nearly 100 government officials and members of Phuket’s marine leisure industry at the Royal…
-
Water aplenty, says Governor
PHUKET: Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi has confirmed that Phuket should have no water shortages until at least the end of this year and perhaps beyond. Gov Pongpayome told the Gazette that heavy rain had alleviated the problem, which at one stage saw Patong and Karon with water rationing and the prospect of restrictions also looming for Phuket Town. The completion…
-
TAT tips increase in African visitors
PHUKET: Officials believe a tourism road-show to South Africa last month will lift the number of visitors to Phuket and the region by more than 20,000 based on the levels of interest. Anupharp Thirarath, Director of the local Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) office, visited South Africa from July 13-20 with representatives from 40 tour companies based in Phuket, Phang…
-
Wanted: a spy for the AMLO
PHUKET: Always wanted to work for the government but never been keen on a desk job? The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has the role for you – they are looking for spies. But wait, it gets better: no experience is necessary and no qualifications are required. All you have to do is apply by filling in the appropriate form at…
-
2,000 fake CDs seized in Bangla
PATONG: Police this afternoon raided two stores on Soi Bangla and seized more than 2,000 copy CDs and many other imitation brand-name goods with an estimated total street value of at least 2 million baht. Led by Pol Col Chalit Thintanee, Superintendent of Kathu Police Station, officers at 2:30 pm raided the stores and arrested storeowners Kampan Sakornnitikul, 25, and…
-
Officers inspect Bunchoo land
PHUKET: Crime Suppression Division Deputy Superintendent Pol Lt Col Korawath Panprapa this morning inspected seven properties either owned by or involving former Chief of the Kathu District Land Office, Bunchoo Limraksasin. Accompanied by land officials and officers, Lt Col Korawath inspected two shophouses on Soi Baan Hua Kuan, in Kamala, one of which houses a Thai massage business. The shophouses…
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.
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.