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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The Great American Smokeout, held this year on November 17, is a nationwide event that encourages smokers to take their first steps towards a smoke-free life. If you’re an expat in Thailand, this day could be a timely reminder to...
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Man held for shooting, armed robbery
PHUKET: Police have arrested a man they believe was responsible for an armed robbery and an attempted murder, and have uncovered what may be a stolen mobile phone haul. Banjob “Nong” Pramphet, 32, freed from jail three months ago after serving a sentence for robbery and possession of stolen goods, was nabbed in a stolen pick-up truck in Ranong on…
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Robbers net B3m in jewelry raid
PHUKET TOWN: Robbers made off with jewelry and other items valued at about 3 million baht in an overnight raid on a Thalang Rd gold shop, police said today. Assara Nattavuttisit, 30, the owner of Teg Heng shop, discovered the raid when he opened for business this morning. The thieves had cut the cable of a closed-circuit camera that may…
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Police boost festive security
PATONG: Extra uniformed police officers will be on duty in Patong over Christmas and New Year to reassure tourists about their security – and to reinforce Thai culture. About 90 officers from Patong Police Station, the Phuket Tourist Police, the Immigration Police, the Highway Police and the Marine Police joined municipal and hotel security officers at the Baan Sukothai Hotel…
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Tourism meeting stresses environment
PHUKET: Sports and Tourism Minister Sontaya Kunplome yesterday met Phuket CEO Governor Pongpayome Vasaputi and officials from Phang-nga and Krabi to discuss tourism development in the region. At the meeting, held in the Royal Phuket City Hotel, K. Sontaya said, “We are working to promote a positive image of Thailand abroad and to ensure its safety as a tourist destination.…
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One tambon, one product, one Christmas
PHUKET TOWN: Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi has urged people to support the local economy this festive season by buying One Tambon One Product gift baskets. From Monday, baskets containing combinations of the 32 products made by Phuket villages taking part in the project will be available from Provincial Hall and major shoppping centers, including Big C, Tesco-Lotus and Ocean…
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Driving tests just got harder
PHUKET TOWN: Learner drivers looking forward to passing the traditional minimalist driving test to get their driver’s license now have to think again. The new driving test area at the Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO) was officially opened this afternoon and is in use. Phiyapan Jumpasut, Chief of the Department of Land Transportation, said that the Department was improving driving…
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Excise man hits the jackpot
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Excise Office (PPEO) has announced that it expects to collect at least 5 million baht in excise tax from “pleasure craft” in the current tax year (to September 30, 2003), along with at least 29 million baht in excise tax from golf courses. Narong Srivanitchakorn, Chief of the PPEO, said that his office had collected about…
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Mayor under fire for park bridge project
PHUKET TOWN: About 20 members of the Rak Suan Luang Club (RSLC) today descended on Phuket Town Mayor Phummisak Hongsyok’s monthly press conference to protest the construction of a bridge in King Rama IX Park, better known as Suan Luang Park. Protest leaders handed Mayor Phummisak an official complaint to stop construction of a bridge over concerns that it will…
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Pub hours extended for holidays
PHUKET: Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Maleenond has confirmed that entertainment venues with a pub license will be allowed to remain open all night on both Christmas Eve (December 24) and New Year’s Eve (December 31). The official closing times on both dates have been set at 6 am the following morning. K. Pracha asked club operators for cooperation in refusing…
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Austrian hangs himself over illness
PATONG: Austrian tourist Gerhard Buchhart yesterday hanged himself from a crossbeam in his hotel bathroom, just two weeks after his 50th birthday. Pol Capt Serm Kwannimit, of Kathu Police Station, told the Gazette that a hotel maid discovered his body about 3:40 pm when she checked his room at Paradise Mansion, on Rat-U-Thit Rd, after he failed to check out.…
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Deputy PM to lead Xmas Day raids
PHUKET: A Christmas gift to vendors with dodgy goods and iffy advertising or consumer contracts: Deputy PM Korn Dabbaransi will be in Phuket on Christmas Day to inspect companies about which the Consumer Protection Board has received complaints. It was announced today that DPM Korn will arrive in Phuket on December 24 and stay at The Metropole hotel. The announcement…
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Burmese blamed for healthcare drain
PHUKET TOWN: The chiefs of the five government hospitals in Ranong, Phang Nga, Krabi and Phuket yesterday singled out Burmese laborers as a burden on hospital funds in the Andaman region. The comments were made at a top-level meeting of Public Health officials, including Public Health Deputy Minister Pol Gen Pracha Promnog and Public Health Inspector Dr Narong Chayakul, at…
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Speedboat seized, owner sought
MAI KHAO: Phuket Marine Police last night seized the speedboat “Cedar Swan Tender” from a house near the Yacht Haven Marina. Pol Col Phira Boonliang, Superintendent of Phuket Marine Police, said, “The boat had been brought into the country illegally without any import duty paid on the hull or the engine.” He added that officers had tried to contact the…
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Booster for fight against polio
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) is offering free poliomyelitis vaccinations to Thai and foreign children under the age of five. PPHO Chief Dr Wanchai Sattayawutthipong explained that parents may take their children to any health center, hospital or medical clinic on December 18 to receive the primary polio vaccination, and on January 21 for a booster shot. “We…
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Officers to play hero for a day
PHUKET: Emergency rescue service teams will stage several rescue exercises this Saturday (December 14) to boost people’s confidence in the authorities’ ability to cope with emergencies. Starting at 10 am in Patong Bay, officers will simulate rescuing people from a boat on fire, then perform a cliff rescue at Laem Phromthep. They will then perform a rescue of a scuba…
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Policeman shot with own gun
THALANG: A policeman’s wife used her husband’s own pistol to shoot him dead yesterday morning after they had a heated argument near the Sarasin Bridge. Pratheuang “Tim” Saesue, 45, shot Pol Sgt Maj Siripong Aimjad, 35, of Tah Chat Chai Police Station, at 10 am in front of many witnesses. She did not try to flee the scene. Pol Lt…
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Taxi, tuk-tuk drivers block road in protest
KATA: A mob of 200 tuk-tuk and taxi drivers this morning blocked Koktanode Rd to protest safari tour companies depriving them of customers. The mob gathered at about 7 am near the junction with Patak Rd and demanded that four safari companies – Siam Safari, Island Safari, Southern Eco and Amazing Bhukit – continue to honor a verbal agreement reached…
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New rules to govern local elections
KATHU: New regulations coming into force on July 9 next year stipulate that committees set up by the Office of the Election Commission of Thailand (OECT) will oversee the running of local elections instead of officers from the Ministry of Interior. Phuket Senator Paiboon Upatising made the announcement at a seminar on Friday entitled Distribution of Authority and Elections Under…
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Yo wins King&’s Cup
KATA: A fifth place in today’s race off Kata was good enough for Peter Ahern and his crew on board Yo! to take provisional first place overall in the Racing Class of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta. Yachts crossed the start line at 8:30 am with a breeze of up to 15 knots breathing new life into the regatta, which…
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Property auction sparks protest
PHUKET TOWN: About 50 people gathered outside the Merlin Hotel this morning to protest the sale of repossessed houses and land by Bangkok Bank. Noppon Siemhan, a lawyer and member of Phuket Property Protection, said that many properties at today’s auction would be sold at 50%-80% of the original value. “I think they should give a discount of 50%-80% to…
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Park chief deals with abuse claims
PATONG: Authorities at the Similan National Park are making changes to the ticketing system to stave off allegations of abuse and corruption. Representatives from about 30 dive companies met yesterday evening at Crissey Village with the park’s chief. Alistair Beveridge, President of the Phuket Chapter of the Dive Operator’s Club of Thailand (DOCT), told the gathering that he had been…
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Pla Loma leading King’s Cup race
PHUKET: Pla Loma has held onto the lead in the Racing division on the third day of the King’s Cup Regatta. Provisional series rankings for all classes are as follows: Racing 1. Pla Loma – Keith Moore, 2. Yo – Peter Ahern, 3. Linklaters Mandrake – Robert Elliot. Premier Cruising 1. Australian Maid – John Wardill, 2. Elektra – Marcel…
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999 ride for the King’s birthday
THALANG: A total of 999 bicycle riders headed off today from Thalang District Office to Surin beach and back on a ride to celebrate the 75th birthday of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Sending them off on the 30-kilometer round trip were the President of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization, Prasit Koeysiripong, and MP Chalermlak Kebsab. Dr Prasit said, “I’m very…
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Naked lady clue to mystery body
CHALONG: Police are hoping the tattoo of a naked lady will help them identify the body of a man found floating yesterday in Ao Chalong, near Koh Lone. The tattoo is on the right leg of the man, who appears to be either Thai or Burmese. He was dressed in a white t-shirt and baggy trousers and police think he…
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New lists of visa exemptions
PHUKET: A revision of the lists of countries whose citizens can obtain a 15-day visa or a 30-day visa on arrival will come into effect on December 29. Visitors holding passports from specified countries for a temporary visit not exceeding 15 days can obtain a tourist visa on arrival at the airport. This list has been reduced from 96 countries…
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A feast for franchisees
PHUKET TOWN: The third Franchise B2B Thailand event will be held at The Metropole hotel on December 9 and 10, organized by the Department of Business Development. During the event there will be more than 70 Thai food and beverage and service franchises present to meet with potential franchisees. There will also be a seminar with lectures covering different topics…
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New Pay at Post service
PHUKET: The Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT) has launched a service called Pay at Post, under which customers can pay various bills and traffic fines at any post office. Services – some at a fee of 40-50 baht – include annual vehicle tax payments, compulsory motor insurance, general vehicle insurance, third party insurance payment service, traffic fines, mobile phone services…
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Beauty in a million
PHUKET: The new Miss Andaman 2002, Waraporn “Oy” Ongkaloy, was crowned on Saturday night and received her prizes – one million baht, a pearl necklace, a pearl crown, and the chance to spend a year promoting the Andaman coast. K. Oy, 21, also won the titles of Miss Photogenic and Miss Popular, netting another 150,000 baht. For the next year…
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Gusts hamper King&’s Cup opener
PHI PHI: A good breeze that aided the start of King’s Cup racing today vanished around noon, leaving some yachts fighting variable winds or drifting past the wrong side of gates. The wind was described as “very flukey”. In some instances, yachts were becalmed while others not far away managed to capture gusts. Despite conditions, there were finishes in every…
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Bar closed over lewd show
PATONG: Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi has temporarily closed a go-go bar in Patong’s Soi Seadragon after complaints that a lewd and immoral show was performed there. Two Norwegian tourists took photographs to Kathu police as evidence of Norwegian women competing with Thai bar girls in what they described as a “shameful performance.” At first the Pink Panther bar was fined…
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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