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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Conference center go-ahead “in January’
PHUKET: The island’s proposed international conference center (ICC) is expected to get the go-ahead from the cabinet in January, with a project budget of more than 1 billion baht, Sports and Tourism Minister Sontaya Kunplome announced this week. The overall proposal has already been submitted to Bangkok for approval, he said. “I expect that in January we will get permission…
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Prison still packed
PHUKET TOWN: Phuket Provincial Prison remains massively overcrowded, according to the monthly statistics released by prison officials yesterday. The figures reveal that there are 955 men and 204 women incarcerated at the jail, where the official capacity is 666 male and 83 female prisoners. Of the 1,159 inmates, 458 are being held for narcotics offenses, 256 for theft, 157 for…
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Send the backpackers packing: Deputy PM
PHUKET TOWN: Backpackers should be discouraged from visiting Phuket because they bring problems such as drugs, Deputy Prime Minister Korn Dabbaransi has told local officials. In a wide-ranging meeting with local leaders at Provincial Hall on Wednesday, he also mentioned that employers in Phuket should take responsiblity for controlling levels of Burmese laborers and that the runway at Phuket Airport…
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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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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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Safari tours protest tuk-tuk “bullying’
PHUKET TOWN: About 100 staff from four safari tour companies turned out today to demonstrate against tuk-tuk and taxi drivers, their rivals in a dispute over who may ferry customers between hotels and the safari companies. The protesters sat in about 30 vehicles outside the offices of Phuket Member of Parliament Suwit Sa-Ngiamkul on Phang Nga Rd, saying they had…
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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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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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Another murder in port area
PHUKET TOWN: The “Burmese Cemetery” has claimed yet another victim with a vicious weekend stabbing of a Burmese fisherman. Pol Lt Parichat Jaturonpan, of Phuket Town Police Station, said a motorbike taxi driver called police just after midnight on Sunday after seeing a man’s body by the side of Si Suthat Rd, near Rassada Port. Although police did not release…
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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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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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Antiques seized in raid on shop
PHUKET TOWN: Police this morning raided antiques store Tommy Vintage and Collectibles, on Thalang Rd, and seized two antique carved wooden doors and an ornate Buddhist prayer table, all believed to be about 100 years old. Thamrongsak Sukhajiradej, the store’s Manager, was charged with selling antiques without a proper license. He told the Gazette that the antiques belonged his father.…
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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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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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Immigration Chief promoted
PHUKET TOWN: Pol Col Apirak Hongtong, Superintendent of Phuket Provincial Immigration Office (PPIO), has been promoted to Deputy Commander of Phuket Provincial Police. He will take up his new post on Monday (December 16). Speaking with the Gazette, Col Apirak said that in his new post he would continue the fight against all aspects of the illegal drugs trade. “We’ve…
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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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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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Police find Kamnan killer’s shotgun
THALANG: Police have found the gun used in Sunday night’s hitman-style slaying of Moo Baan Saku’s village leader Somboon Panyawai, the area’s police chief said today. Pol Lt Col Jakrit Srisuwan, Chief of Tah Chat Chai Police Station, told the Gazette that the gun was found 300 meters from the scene of the shooting during an extensive search of the…
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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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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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Winds tease King’s Cup racers again
KATA: The wind faded again after a good start to racing on day two of the King’s Cup Regatta yesterday. Winds of 10 to 12 knots at Phi Phi as the fleet headed for Kata on Phuket had faded by lunchtime. Some of the Racing Yachts failed to complete the course. In other groups, the first race was shortened to…
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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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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…
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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