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 goes for the burn | Thaiger

    Phuket goes for the burn

    PHUKET TOWN: In Bangkok they broke a world record with 47,000 participants. In Phuket the turnout – some 500 people – was rather more modest. Nevertheless, Exercise to Stay Healthy Day in the grounds of the Rajabhat Institute Phuket yesterday afternoon was counted a success, especially since Phuket was the last province to organize its day of exercise. The purpose…

  • Two murdered in stabbing attacks | Thaiger

    Two murdered in stabbing attacks

    PHUKET TOWN: Two men, both the victims of stabbing attacks, were found murdered at separate locations on Friday. Officers answering a call about 7 am found a body, dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt, beside Si Sena Rd, near the Rassada port. Pol Capt Kaneuing Pitakkultorn of Phuket Town Police Station said a work permit card in the name…

  • Rassada to become a municipality | Thaiger

    Rassada to become a municipality

    RASSADA: The port of Rassada and the surrounding district will be upgraded from a Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) to a municipality (tessabaan) in order to allow it to deal more effectively with some of the issues facing the area. The quality of roads and tap water, as well as the need to prevent flooding, were among problems discussed when Phuket…

  • New mayor pledges to boost “order’ | Thaiger

    New mayor pledges to boost “order’

    PATONG: The new Mayor of Patong, Chalermsak Maneesri, has met with Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi to set priorities for the tourist town. With the Governor and the Mayor at Phuket Provincial Hall on November 21 were Somkiat Kwansuwan, Palad of Patong Municipality, and the new Patong executive team. The Governor told them that Patong was an important tourism destination…

  • Something fishy going on | Thaiger

    Something fishy going on

    PATONG: The month-long, island-wide Seafood Festival will conclude in Patong with two days of activities along the beach road and Soi Bangla on December 1 and 2. The carnival was originally planned to last five days, but organizers have scaled it back to two. Samroeng Chaisorn, vice-president of Phuket Provincial Administration Organization and the president of the Seafood Festival, said…

  • Phuket rates high at world travel show | Thaiger

    Phuket rates high at world travel show

    PHUKET: A big roadshow to London and Paris last week did not have to persuade travel agents that Phuket was a safe destination, it was announced today. Feedback was “fantastic” and another roadshow is being planned, this time to Japan, returning officials told the Gazette. Dr Prasit Koeysiripong, President of the Phuket Provincial Administratrion Organization (OrBorJor), said, “The president of…

  • Tracking down a transport solution | Thaiger

    Tracking down a transport solution

    PHUKET TOWN: Serious consideration is being given to an electric tram service around Phuket, Dr Prasit Koeysiripong, President of the Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) announced today. He said a group at Prince of Songkla University was researching the feasibility of introducing trams. “The next thing to do is to find a route for the service and to check whether land…

  • OrBorJor launches website | Thaiger

    OrBorJor launches website

    PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) has launched its own website, in Thai and English, at https://www.phuketcity.org Apart from general information about Phuket and the surrounding islands, the website also features information about the OrBorJor’s current and future projects, details about budget allocation, and links to other government websites. The website also provides visitors with an email address and…

  • Paradorn cancels Phuket match | Thaiger

    Paradorn cancels Phuket match

    PHUKET: Thai tennis idol Paradorn “Ball” Srichaphan has canceled a planned visit to Phuket next month, during which he was scheduled to play a match against American Jan-Michael Gambill. Songsak Kitakrankul, Chief of the Office of the Sports Authority of Thailand in Phuket, said that K. Paradorn will play matches in Chiang Mai and Bangkok as scheduled, but will not…

  • Wide interest in travel show | Thaiger

    Wide interest in travel show

    PHUKET: The 2nd Phuket and Andaman Travel Trade (PATT) show will be held at the Royal Phuket City Hotel on December 3 and 4 with the aim of helping to stimulate the market and introduce new tourism products such as adventure tourism, health & spa tourism, and agrotourism. Arranged by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Southern Office, Region 4, the…

  • Chalermsak gets Patong mandate | Thaiger

    Chalermsak gets Patong mandate

    PATONG: The newly-elected Mayor of Patong, Chalermsak Maneesri, began work today after winning Saturday’s poll easily, scoring 4,236 votes against 2,514 for his nearest rival, Pian Keesin. K. Chalermsak is the brother of former mayor Surasak Maneesri, who was ordered to stand aside as mayor and not permitted to run in the election because of allegations of impropriety. K. Surasak…

  • US Marine sergeant jailed for rape | Thaiger

    US Marine sergeant jailed for rape

    CALIFORNIA: The US Marine sergeant arrested for raping, maiming and trying to drown a US Navy petty officer in Phuket in May has been sentenced to 25 years in military prison. Thomas Wolf, 26, on November 13 pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder, rape and maiming, and two counts of assault in connection with the May 8 attack…

  • Government pet clinic opens in town | Thaiger

    Government pet clinic opens in town

    PHUKET TOWN: Phuket Town Municipality has opened its own veterinary clinic and it is ready for customers, Phuket Town Mayor Phummisak Hongsyok announced on Thursday. The clinic, located on the second floor of the Municipality’s offices on Narisorn Rd, opened on November 1 staffed with officers from the Municipality’s Health Office and the Phuket Provincial Livestock Office. Services offered include…

  • Auction expected to raise B400m | Thaiger

    Auction expected to raise B400m

    PHUKET TOWN: An auction of more than 100 Phuket properties on December 7 is expected to raise total bids of more than 400 million baht. The properties, forfeited to the Bangkok Bank because of non-payment of debts, include small hotels in Chalong and Phuket Town. The Legal Execution Department will run the auction, with the Bangkok Bank offering special credit…

  • Health posse smoke out offenders

    PHUKET: Dr Wanchai Sattayawutthipong, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO), and a team of PPHO officers this morning conducted the province’s first inspection of venues to enforce the smoking ban that came into effect on Friday. The inspection began at 9 am at Phuket International Airport. The two Caffe Retazza cafes attracted the team’s attentions with their “Smoking…

  • Paradorn to play in Phuket | Thaiger

    Paradorn to play in Phuket

    PHUKET: Thai tennis idol Paradorn “Ball” Srichaphan is coming to play in Phuket next month as part of a three-match series around Thailand. Paradorn, world’s number 16, will be up against American Jan-Michael Gambill when they play at the court on Narison Rd, Phuket Town. Paradorn’s spectacular climb from Number 126 this season included two ATP titles and a victory…

  • HRH opens fuels symposium | Thaiger

    HRH opens fuels symposium

    KARON: HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn this morning presided over the opening ceremony of the 14th International Symposium on Alcohol Fuels (ISAF) at the Phuket Arcadia Beach Resort. HRH arrived in Phuket on Monday, attending a dinner that evening hosted by the Club des Chefs des Chefs – chefs to heads of state – and then taking time for private…

  • Much ado about makeup | Thaiger

    Much ado about makeup

    PHUKET TOWN: It was the case of the lipstick that ticked. A woman’s purse was lost on a bus, and was handed in to the Police Service Center in Tambon Witchit. Somehow it went astray again, turning up on a chair near the entrance to the Service Center – with spectacular results. Pol Maj Thanapong Mokthong, Inspector of Forensic Science,…

  • Four busted in ya bah raids | Thaiger

    Four busted in ya bah raids

    PHUKET TOWN: Four men are being held at Phuket Town Police Station after police launched a series of ya bah (methamphetamine) raids. Officers from the local Drugs Suppression unit on Monday arrested Narakwan Hutem, 30, and Winit Chotepichit, 31, for dealing ya bah. Acting on a tip-off, officers raided a house in Tambon Taladyai where they found Narakwan with 42…

  • Hunger protest brings help – and a problem | Thaiger

    Hunger protest brings help – and a problem

    PHUKET TOWN: A hunger strike by a one-armed fisherman protesting at the death of his community’s fish stock has brought help from officers at Phuket Provincial Hall. But the protest also had a downside, with government officials saying that the fish farms, which are in tin mine lagoons near Wat Sean Suk, on the southeast edge of Phuket Town, may…

  • Police maids clean up, clear out | Thaiger

    Police maids clean up, clear out

    PHUKET TOWN: The theft appeared to have all the characteristics of an inside job. But who would be foolish enough to rob Phuket Town Police Station? Police listed the stolen items: several mobile phones, some cash and a camera. One day, a wall clock disappeared. Eventually the officers put the clues together and on Wednesday made their move. They raided…

  • Surasak barred from election | Thaiger

    Surasak barred from election

    PATONG: The Phuket Provincial Court this morning upheld an order by former Interior Minister Purachai Piemsomboon instructing Patong Mayor Surasak Maneesri to quit his post as mayor because of conduct likely to bring the Patong Municipality into disrepute. It therefore barred K. Surasak from running in the Patong Mayoral election, due to take place on November 16 and 17. K.…

  • Dane wins Tour of Thailand | Thaiger

    Dane wins Tour of Thailand

    BANGKOK: Peterson Solen from Denmark won the Tour of Thailand 2002 in Bangkok yesterday and his team, Giant Asian Racing, took the first four places. Solen was followed home by fellow team riders Iratov Damir from Uzbekistan and Sergey Derevyanov of Kazakstan. Another Uzbeki rider, Kahramon Mominov, crossed the line second on the day, but placed fourth overall in the…

  • Phuket Prison to be closed | Thaiger

    Phuket Prison to be closed

    PHUKET TOWN: Manit Suthaporn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, has announced that the 100-year-old Phuket Provincial Prison will be closed, with inmates being relocated either to Bangkok or to a new jail in Thalang, on which construction has just begun. Speaking after an inspection of Phuket’s antiquated and overcrowded prison yesterday, K. Manit said, “It’s very crowded, especially…

  • Smoking ban law in force from midnight | Thaiger

    Smoking ban law in force from midnight

    PHUKET: The Chief of the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) today issued a reminder that the new law clamping down on smoking in a wide range of public places comes into effect at midnight tonight. However, Dr Wanchai Sattayawutthipong told the Gazette that his inspectors will probably not start making checks on compliance until tomorrow morning, since most places affected…

  • Phuket tourism “better after Christmas’ | Thaiger

    Phuket tourism “better after Christmas’

    PHUKET: The Bali bombing has affected Phuket tourism but the situation will improve after Christmas, a leading figure in the industry said today. Opas Netraumpai, Vice President of the Thailand Incentive Convention Association (TICA) and Managing Director of Club Andaman Beach Resort, said there were three stages to reactions. The first, about a week after the bombing, left Phuket hotels…

  • Officials move to bolster tourism | Thaiger

    Officials move to bolster tourism

    PHUKET: A large group led by Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi will go to Europe next week to promote tourism to Phuket. Their visit to the annual World Travel Market (WTM) in London, comes amid concern about tourism prospects in the wake of the Bali bombing, and following travel advisories from a number of governments, including Britain’s, warning travelers to be…

  • Dead fish spark hunger strike | Thaiger

    Dead fish spark hunger strike

    PHUKET TOWN: Komin Buanoon today went into the second day of a hunger strike to protest over pollution that he says has killed the stock in his fish farm and those of nine other villagers. The villagers, from around Wat Saen Suk, in the southeast corner of Phuket Town, protested at the Phuket Provincial Hall over pollution which, they say,…

  • Eight held in immigration sweeps | Thaiger

    Eight held in immigration sweeps

    PHUKET TOWN: Eight foreigners were arrested by Immigration Police yesterday and today in a series of sweeps through Patong, Kata and Karon. The raids coincided with a visit to Phuket by Pol Lt Gen Chanvut Vajrabukka, the Bangkok-based Director of Immigration, who came to Phuket to “motivate the Phuket office” in their work tracking down foreigners staying or working illegally…

  • Miss Andaman to win B1m | Thaiger

    Miss Andaman to win B1m

    PHUKET: Kittiya Chaiyo, 17, from Cherng Talay is Phuket’s last hope in the Miss Andaman 2002 beauty contest, with competitors chasing a million-baht prize and the chance to spend a year promoting the Andaman region throughout Thailand. Sakda Sutthisathit, chairman of the pageant’s organizing committee, explained that the contest is a joint effort by the Chambers of Commerce of Ranong,…

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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