Phuket News
Phuket news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s top island destination. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Phuket news source.
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Market vendors protest forced move
PHUKET TOWN: More than 150 market traders of the popular downtown market on Ranong Rd gathered at Provincial Hall this morning to protest their forced relocation to a site on Bangkok Rd by Thursday. If they do not move by Thursday, they each face a fine of 2,000 baht a day. Of the 300 vendors at the market, 88 unlicensed…
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Jobs go as hotel downturn bites
KARON: About 14,000 workers have been laid off from Phuket hotels in the wake of the tourism industry downturn, Yaowalak Yangyean, Chief of Phuket Social Security Office, told the Gazette today. Other workers have been told to take more days off each month. With tourist arrivals in Thailand reported to be 76% down this May on the same month last…
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Cabinet says “no’ to tourism cash boost
KARON: The central Government has refused to provide any direct financial assistance to Phuket tourism businesses suffering from the effects of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars). Speaking after the Cabinet meeting at the Phuket Arcadia Beach Resort today, government spokesman Maj Sitha Thiwaree said, “Instead of giving money to help Phuket tourism the Government will set up a tour package…
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Reporter’s “assassin’ nabbed
PATONG: Police have arrested a man in Bangkok who they say executed newspaper and TV reporter Surapong “Ord Patong” Rittee in a Patong convenience store for a fee of 60,000 baht. Officers say that the manager of a Patong go-go bar ordered the February 11 killing because K. Surapong reported on lewd entertainment at the venue that led to its…
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ACD calls for united tourism revival
CHERNG TALAY: A three-day gathering of members of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Tourism Business Forum has concluded with a call for regional cooperation on reviving tourism and in dealing with future emergencies. Business executives and government officials from the 18-nation ACD met at the Laguna Beach Resort until Saturday and will meet again in Chiang Mai next month. Discussions…
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Cabinet talks Phuket in Phuket
PHUKET TOWN: A Cabinet meeting in Phuket on Monday will discuss the effect of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) scare, the 100-billion-baht plan to develop the island, health tourism and the plan for a software park. Local Thai Rak Thai party leader Dr Yada Palimapan and Chawalit Na Nakhon, Vice-President of the Region 11 Community Relations Committee, listed the…
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Gov compiles “influential people’ list
PHUKET: Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi is to meet with officials to help him prepare a list of “people of influence” in Phuket to send to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The Prime Minister has given provincial governors 30 days from May 21 to supply lists of powerful people allegedly linked to illegal activities, including corruption, killings, vice, gambling and smuggling.…
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Cabinet to get a taste of Phuket
PHUKET TOWN: Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi is preparing to lobby Cabinet ministers with a taste of Phuket culture in the form of batik shirts and a feast of Phuket food. Members of Cabinet will arrive on Sunday for the meeting at the Phuket Arcadia Resort in Karon, to be attended by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and Phuket Governor CEO…
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Police launch vendor raids
PATONG: Officers from the Phuket Provincial Commercial Office (PPCO) and Kathu Police Station last night launched a series of raids on unlicensed businesses and pirate goods with unannounced inspections of 30 vendors’ stalls. PPCO Deputy Chief Tharadol Thongruang said that the raids, between 8 pm and 9:30 pm, turned up just one unlicensed business on Thaweewong Rd selling Game Boy…
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Computer whiz wins spot in US Olympiad
PHUKET TOWN: A Phuket student has been chosen as one of the four computer science students to represent Thailand in the International Science Olympiad competition, to be held in Wisconsin, USA, in mid-August. Nawanol Theera’ampornpan, an 18-year-old student in Mattayom 6 at Phuket Wittayalai School, will join between 600 and 800 students from more than 100 countries in the event.…
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Last phone call traps man’s killers
TAH CHAT CHAI: Two men, caught at Tah Chat Chai checkpoint early today after stabbing a man to death, were apprehended because of the victim’s last mobile phone call. Soonthron Nabin, 33, and Adul Katesiri, 32, who identified himself to police as Thanapolpan Katesiri, were arrested at the checkpoint on Phuket’s border after officers had been warned to look out…
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Liberians held over “black money’ scam
PATONG: Two men are being held by police over a “black money” scam that cost three Thai victims a total of 330,000 baht. The arrested men, said to be from Liberia, in West Africa, were named as Anthony Brown, 27, and Christopher Alliston, 31. The classic scam involves promising a big pay-off in return for a “loan” to buy special…
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Suspect held in Big C Slaying
PHUKET: Police are confident they have a strong lead in one of the recent spate of killings on Phuket and that breakthroughs in other slayings may follow soon. Col Apirak Hongtong, Deputy Commander of the Phuket Provincial Police, told the Gazette that a suspect was being held in Haad Yai, Songkla, over the killing at the entrance of the Big…
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Rugby Tens draw announced
PHUKET: Organizers of the Phuket Rugby Tens Tournament have announced the draw for the opening round of play. The weekend competition will take place May 31-June 1 at the Karon Municipal Stadium. There will be five groups of four teams each: Group A: Melbourne Rams (Australia), Samui Simians (Thailand), Bucks (Singapore) and Penang All Blues (Malaysia). Group B: Wanderers (Singapore),…
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Gazette Online back in action
PHUKET: Due to a software clash at the Gazette‘s Singapore-based web server, some data files became corrupted last night. Anyone who has placed a paid classified advertisement on the site is asked to check whether it is still there. If it is not, they should email classads@phuketgazette.net with details of the ad so that it can be restored as soon…
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American held on dope charge
PATONG: American Charles Elliott Rook, 55, was arrested on May 19 on charges of possession of cannabis with intent to sell. Pol Lt Col Sanguan Muangtham of Patong Police Station told the Gazette that Rook was arrested after a raid on his home in Nanai Rd turned up a kilogram of cannabis. Undercover police had originally tried to buy cannabis…
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Gov prepares for meeting with PM
PHUKET TOWN: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the Cabinet will meet with Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi on in Phuket on May 26 to discuss major issues affecting the island’s future, the Governor announced yesterday. Top of the agenda will be the effect of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) scare on Phuket’s tourism industry, which is estimated to be losing…
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B150 million plaza for Chalong Circle
CHALONG: A 150-million baht retail complex incorporating 700 shops is to open on 40 rai close to Chalong Circle, on the Kata road, around the end of the year. It will be called the Phuket Legend Plaza Center. Atthawut Tangpradapkul, President of Eat and Art Management, told a media conference at the Royal Phuket City Hotel today that the company…
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Big C joins recycling program
PHUKET TOWN: A recycling scheme is to be introduced under an arrangement between Big C supercenter and the Governor’s Office. Dry recyclable waste, including sorted bottles cans and newspapers, can be deposited in the underground car park at Big C daily between noon and 7 pm from May 24. The island produces 300 tons of rubbish each day but Phuket’s…
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Top tourism forum set for Phuket
PHUKET: The 18-nation Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) is to hold a tourism business forum at the Laguna Beach Resort from May 22 to 24. The Ministry of Tourism and Sport, the Industry Council of Thailand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host the gathering. Two representatives from government and business in each country will discuss a number of issues…
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Rh-negative blood donors sought
PHUKET:The Phuket Blood Donor Club, based at Wachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town, is looking for donors of the rare Rh-negative blood type. Rh-negative is difficult to find, occuring in 0.3% of Thais and 15% of Caucasians. Although the club is looking at the moment especially for people with Rh-negative blood, donors of any type are welcome at all times.…
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Good hair days for schoolgirls
PHUKET: At last, after almost a century of short cuts, the girls can let their hair down. Female students at Satree Phuket have been told that from the new school semester this week, they can grow their hair to eight inches in length. At Satree Phuket, Assistant Director Ajarn Duangkamol H said that fashions and rules today were different from…
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Warrant issued for Bang Tao murder suspect
CHERNG TALAY: An arrest warrant has been issued for a man named Suwat Kaewkong on a charge of murder following Saturday’s double killing at the Freeway restaurant on Bang Tao beach. Pol Lt Col Sirisak Wasasiri, Duputy Superintendent of Cherng Talay Police Station, alleged today that Suwat was one of the three men who shot dead Suwim Noodang, the owner…
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Tourist sub on its way
PHUKET: A US$2.5 million (107 million baht) submarine, designed to carry tour parties underwater, will arrive at Phuket Deep Sea Port on June 6 and go into service in November. Steve Nutting, President of Phuket Submarine Ltd, said today that the DS-48 submarine had left Florida aboard a ship on May 8. Thai staff will spend about six months in…
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Gov raids drug-dealing suspects
PHUKET TOWN: Police raided the houses of suspected drug dealers last night and seized pills and property valued at about 5 million baht. The raid, about 7:30 pm, was led by Pol Lt Col Paween Pongsirin, Superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station, and Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi. The Governor said today that he believes the alleged dealers, a married couple,…
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Gulf War of words ends in court
PHUKET TOWN: Around the world protestors are turning out in their thousands almost every day to protest the prospect of a US-generated war on Iraq. There was the protester at a recent international golf tournament who held up a sign saying “Make par, not war”, and a woman in a street demonstration who held a banner saying, “The only bush…
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Patong killing: police arrest two
PATONG: Police have arrested a man and charged him with strangling and killing another man in the shallows at Patong Beach early on Sunday. Suchart Torkratoke, 24, from Korat, a laborer working in Patong, was charged with the murder of Surasak Saensuwan, 42, from Chiang Mai, who worked as an accountant with a Phuket company. Suchart was arrested at his…
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Vendors caught with B500k in fakes
KARON: Police raided shops and stalls in Patong and Karon yesterday and seized 6,300 fake brand-name items with a street value of more than 500,000 baht. Seven vendors admitted selling imitation goods. The officers in the raid, from Chalong Police Station, were accompanied by Suparerk Tohwatcharakul and other officials from Bangkok, who were acting on behalf of Christian Dior and…
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Police arrest “Dr Feelgood’
PHUKET TOWN: Police arrested a doctor and three others in raids early yesterday that uncovered dealings in marijuana, the “love drug” ecstacy and cough syrup containing the opium derivative codeine. Dr Somchai Wongbanterng, 35, who has a clinic on Wichit Songkram Rd and lives at Joe Mansion, near the Phuket Hill Hotel in Mae Luan Rd, was due to face…
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Police call for officer to turn himself in
PHUKET TOWN: Phuket Town Police have filed murder charges against a Kathu Police Station officer for the murder of his wife. The officer is expected to turn himself in soon. The killing occurred on March 6, apparently following a dispute over underground lottery winnings. The victim, 49-year-old Bang-on Chookam of Surat Thani, had been living with her husband, Pol S/Sgt…
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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