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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Gov defends “average’ satisfaction rating
PHUKET TOWN: Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi today defended his performance during his first six months as Governor CEO, from October last year to March. The Governor’s defense of his record followed the release of the results of a survey by the Rajabhat Institute Phuket of local levels of satisfaction with Gov Pongpayome’s performance. Addressing a public forum held at the…
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Sex-change operation draws a crowd
PHUKET TOWN: A large audience of doctors, hospital staff and representatives of the press today watched a man become a woman during six hours of sex-change surgery. The onlookers, including some 40 visiting members of the Thai Physicians of America Association, snacked on lunch while they watched the video conference broadcast. Phuket’s own world-renowned sex-change expert, Dr Sa’nguan Kunaporn performed…
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Manhunt for second war weapons suspect
PHUKET: Police yesterday began a search for a second man they believe was involved in the transport of weapons seized at the fishing port Tuesday, after they discovered he was the registered owner of the pick-up truck seized for allegedly being used to transport the weapons of war. When Prachumpon Raampung, who had been driving the Toyota Tiger pick-up, was…
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Weapons of war seized at fishing port
PHUKET TOWN: Police yesterday seized a haul of weapons and ammunition at Por Pichai raft on Sri Sena Rd. The man arrested in possession of them told police that the weaponry was bound for “terrorists in Indonesia”. About 20 officers, including Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi and Phuket Town and Marine Police officers, nabbed 36-year-old Prachumpon Raampung, from Trang, while he…
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Property auction nets B239m
PHUKET: An auction at the weekend of 51 properties repossessed by banks brought in more than 239 million baht, and the Phuket Legal Execution Department (PLED) says there’s much more to come. Properties coming up in two more auctions could take the total over one billion baht, the PLED estimates. Saeksan Suksang, chief of the PLED, said the first day…
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Woman robbed in motorbike ambush
WICHIT: Three men on two motorbikes early yesterday morning forced a woman riding her motorbike along Sakdidet Rd to pull over and then robbed her of her mobile phone and 2,000 baht. Pol Lt Parichat Chaturonpan, from Phuket Town Police Station, told the Gazette that Jiemjit Baewtungnoi, 31, reported the robbery at 7 am yesterday. He said that K. Jiemjit…
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Man drowns in rescue attempt
NAI THON: A young man drowned off Nai Thon Beach Saturday evening while trying to rescue one of his friends. The victim was named as Prisana Sripetch, 23, from Trang, who worked as a loss prevention officer at the JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa. Pol Maj Suppawat Suksiri, an inspector at Tah Chat Chai Police Station, told the Gazette…
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Tour Royale drivers in airport protest
NAI YANG: The 65 drivers of Tour Royale Enterprise Co are staging a protest just outside the entrance to the Phuket International Airport (PIA) after the airport authorities refused to extend the company’s airport service concession, which expired yesterday. The protest began yesterday and has continued through today. Drivers have parked a long line of vehicles near the entrance to…
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Illegal aliens top arrest stats again
PHUKET: The number of illegal immigrants arrested between June 1 and 25 was more than double the number for the same period in May, according to the latest statistics from police. Last month, police arrested 198 illegal aliens, compared with 75 during the same period in May. However, May saw a huge drop in the number of aliens arrested, falling…
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Workplace anti-drug program announced
PHUKET: The Office of Labor Protection and Welfare of Phuket (LPWP) is urging businesses to join the “White Service Business” scheme, which aims to protect workers from illegal drugs. To join the scheme, a business must follow eight rules: 1. Have a clear policy about illegal drugs in the workplace. 2. Display anti-drug messages on signs. 3. Set up a…
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Drug offenders continue to fill prison
PHUKET: Of the 1,232 inmates at Phuket Provincial Prison, 622 have been convicted or are awaiting trial on drug-related charges, according to the latest statistics, released by prison officials on Thursday. A total of 488 men and 134 women are incarcerated in connection with narcotics offenses – more than half the prison population. Of the remaining prisoners, 220 are being…
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OrBorJor steps in to help Patong
PATONG: Following the recent release of a visitor survey that uncovered a number of complaints about the island’s most popular beach resort, the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) agreed on Monday to help Patong Municipality solve some of its problems. The survey, involving some 1,000 hotel guests, was conducted by six Patong hotels – the Club Andaman Beach Resort, the…
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Rotted corpse found behind Wat Chalong
CHALONG: The badly decomposed body of an unidentified man, who police believe may have died about six months ago from a drug overdose, was found behind Wat Chalong yesterday morning. Pol Col Sati Malakanont, Superintendent of Chalong Police Station, today told the Gazette that he and other officers went to investigate the gruesome discovery after a local resident called the…
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Gov arrests two, nets 600 ya bah pills
PHUKET TOWN: A squad of 12 officers handpicked by Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi this afternoon arrested a couple, Lateng Artharn, 46, and Sa’ard Somwang, 35, on charges of possession and trafficking in ya bah (methamphetamine). The officers, all members of Phuket’s Provincial Defense Office (PDO), arrested the couple at 12:30 pm in a sting operation at the 999 hotel on…
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Mayor denies he staged shooting
PATONG: The Mayor of Patong, Surasak Maneesri, today shrugged off allegations that he had staged Sunday’s assassination attempt on him in a bid to garner sympathy votes for the upcoming mayoral election. He also said it was not the first time that someone had paid to have him shot. In a previous incident, he explained, a gunman who was about…
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Tuk-tuk drivers agree to fares
PHUKET: A two hour-meeting today between officials and representatives of the island’s tuk-tuk drivers finally achieved agreement on a scale of official fares for journeys between towns. In principle, fares for trips of less than 15 km will be lower than the tuk-tuk drivers wanted but for trips longer than that they will get more than they originally negotiated for.…
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Another stabbing in “Burmese Cemetery’
PHUKET TOWN: The body of a man believed to have been a Burmese fisherman was found floating in the water near Sri Sena Rd on Monday afternoon. The victim had been stabbed about 30 times. Pol Lt Col Tawate Pleumsuk, an inspector at Phuket Town Police Station, told the Gazette that the man was found by villagers floating face down…
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Police take vow to battle drugs
PHUKET TOWN: Police and village representatives vowed today to fight drugs. About 60 officers from Phuket Town, led by Superintendent Pol Col Paween Pongsirin, joined 184 villagers to make the anti-drug pledge in front of the police station. Col Paween also revealed that in the first five months of this year, 24 people had been arrested for marijuana offenses, 85…
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Attacker sought for Karon murder
KARON: A man is being sought by police over the killing of a construction worker in a drunken quarrel late on Sunday night. Witnesses told police that the wanted man, another worker known only as Noi, disappeared after bludgeoning the victim, Nikom Sungkapia, over the head with a piece of wood. The men were drinking at a camp behind Karon…
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Patong Mayor survives murder attempt
PHUKET TOWN: Patong Mayor Surasak Maneesri last night survived an attempt on his life when a gunman fired three shots through the driver’s side window of his Mercedes Benz as he waited at a red light outside the Tesco-Lotus Supercenter. K. Surasak suffered only light cuts to his arm from flying glass. Speaking at Thung Thong Police Station last night,…
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US envoy to reward recovery efforts
PHUKET: The United States Ambassador to Thailand, Darryl Johnson, is to recognize the work of organizations involved in sea rescues when he visits Phuket next month. On July 19 he will present certificates to the Royal Thai Navy, the Marine Police, and the Marine Police Underwater Search and Rescue Unit. The Navy and Marine Police were involved recently in recovering…
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Tuk-tuk drivers reject revised fares
PHUKET TOWN: Representatives of the island’s tuk-tuk drivers today rejected the Phuket Transportation Office’s (PTO) revised scale of proposed fares, even though they would be the highest in the country. At today’s meeting, held at the PTO’s offices in Phuket Town, Transportation Chief Prasit Amarapal initially proposed a rate of 30 baht for the first two kilometers plus four baht…
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New flight to link Phuket and Israel
PHUKET TOWN: Direct weekly flights between Phuket and the Israeli city of Tel Aviv are to begin in November, an Israeli diplomat told the Gazette today. Subject to confirmation in September or October, El Al Israel Airlines will provide a weekly service for six months. Edward Shapira, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of Israel, said the aim was…
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Frenchman drowns at Kata
KATA: A 74-year-old French tourist who was staying at Club Med drowned near the resort yesterday morning. The body of the man, named by police as Rene Massoud Hogege, washed up on the beach about 9 am. Others on the beach thought Mr Hogege had gone for a walk, and when his body was found, called Chalong police and Phuket…
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Phuket governor’s performance under fire
BANGKOK: Two of Thailand’s five governors with CEO-style powers turned in worse performances in their first six months on the job than governors in five control provinces where traditional administration is still in place. ‘The Nation’ reported today that The governors of Phuket and Narathiwat scored lower on their six-month evaluations than the traditional, non-CEO governors of Phang Nga and…
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Phuket Town trash levy to rise 200%
PHUKET TOWN: In September, if Phuket Town Municipality gets its way, households in Phuket Town will be required to pay 200% more for their trash to be collected. Businesses face a 50% rise. Aryoot Tamsiriroj, Vice-Mayor of the town, yesterday told the Gazette that the municipality has proposed a rise in its trash collection fee from 10 baht per house…
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Gambling raid nets three women on ya bah
PHUKET TOWN: Police in the early hours of yesterday morning arrested three women for possession and sale of ya bah (methamphetamine) in a house on Vanich Rd, near Si Sena Rd in Tambon Rassada. The women were named by police as Thanomsri Mongkut, 35; Pranee Pengjan, 30; and Sunat Jithong, 35. Pol Maj Vichakom Kamchampa, an inspector at Phuket Town…
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Tourism discount program set to launch
PHUKET: Phuket Province and the Phuket Tourism Association (PTA) are launching a “Phuket Super Save Super Value” promotion on July 1 to stimulate tourism over the low season. Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi yesterday held a meeting with Kitti Phatanachinda, Vice President of the PTA, along with representatives from several hotels, to discuss strategies to bring in more low-season business.…
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Man killed in drive-by shooting
PATONG: A young man was shot dead early yesterday morning in Loma Park by a motorcycle passenger in what police believe was a case of mistaken identity. Pol Lt Col Manop Kositanant, Deputy Superintendent of Kathu Police Station, named the victim as Vichit Srisangchai, 21, a worker in a Patong restaurant. He died from a single shot in the stomach…
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Twin cities seek tourists
PHUKET: How twin cities could get closer was the topic when representatives from Yentai in China met Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi on Friday. Luan Bingliang, Yentai’s Vice-Mayor, led the delegation to try to improve awareness and opportunities for exchanging tourists. Gov Pongpayome said afterward, “I suggested to them that if they want Thai people to visit Yentai, they should…
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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