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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Mechanic found dead at fishing port
PHUKET TOWN: The naked body of Thai boat mechanic Lertchai “Tui” Thammajong, 36, from Kanchanaburi, was found yesterday morning at the Saeng Aroon raft in the Rassada port area. Officers arrived about 7 am to find the body lying among barrels of boat fuel on the raft. His clothes were found nearby. A post-mortem showed that K. Lertchai had been…
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Property expo in HK a roaring success
HONG KONG: The Phuket & Samui Property Exhibition held in Hong Kong on Friday, Saturday and Sunday was, on all counts, a major success. More than 1,000 potential property buyers attended the event at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center. There were 22 exhibitors. “The feedback’s been excellent,” said Bill Barnett, Deputy Managing Director of Laguna Resorts & Hotels…
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Taxis protest over airport ban
PHUKET TOWN: Fifteen drivers from the new metered taxi company Natong Phuket Co Ltd (NPC) gathered at Provincial Hall this morning to lodge a complaint with Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi after being refused entry to Phuket International Airport (PIA). NPC’s Managing Director Adul Lakman and 10 drivers spent an hour discussing the issue with the Governor and PIA Director Lt…
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Italian killed in head-on smash
KATHU: Italian Gian Piero Sala, 32, died when his motorbike was in a head-on collision with a pick-up truck on Wichit Songkram Rd early on Saturday morning. His Thai companion, who was riding pillion, was left in a coma. Pol Capt Kittipong Klaykaew, an inspector at Tung Tong Police Station, told the Gazette, “We rushed to the scene after receiving…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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