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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Phuket to launch a world-first
PHUKET: The Phuket yachting community stands to make history later this year with the launch of the Phuket Sports 8 racing/recreational yacht designed especially for local conditions. Mark Horwood of Phuket-based yacht builder Latitude 8 Yachting told the Gazette the first models ever built would be assembled in Phuket. “We expect the parts to arrive in about five weeks and…
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Thepkrasattri Rd renamed – again
PHUKET: The section of Thepkrasattri Rd from Kositwiharn temple to the Sarasin Bridge has been renamed Sathienthapanakij Rd, it was announced today. Visute Maiwattana, Chief of the Provincial Phuket Highway Office (PPHO), said at a meeting with the press, “Sathienthapanakij Rd was the name given to the road in 1950. It was named after the first Chief of the Provincial…
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Dolphin rescued at Kamala
KAMALA: A 2.4-meter bottlenose dolphin beached at Kamala yesterday was rescued by local residents and is now being cared for at Phuket FantaSea theme park. Kamala residents Inge and Don McMahon helped rescue the dolphin after villagers called for their assistance just after midday. Ms McMahon today said, “We ran down to the beach after Thai villagers told us about…
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Crown Prince to come to Phuket
CHALONG: HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej has named HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn as his Royal representative for a religious ceremony to be held at Wat Chalong on September 23. During the ceremony, the Crown Prince, accompanied by his wife, Mom Srirath Mahidhol Na Ayuthaya, will place a bone fragment of Buddha in its official resting place in the new chedi…
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Phuket plans against Apec terrorism
PHUKET: Lertkiat Vongpuaphan, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Governor’s Office, today announced that a team of high-ranking provincial officers have drawn up plans to defend against terrorism during the 3rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting next year. Phuket will host a peripheral meeting of the summit from August 14-23, with senior government officials from 21 Apec member economies expected to…
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New website targets top-end tourists
PHUKET: In a campaign to target high-end tourists and the Mice (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) business, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Los Angeles design firm Ignition yesterday officially launched the website ExperienceThailand.com. Napasorn Kakai, Assistant Director of the local branch of the TAT, said, “We’re focusing on the Mice market, especially from America. Despite the current situation,…
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Governor’s foray closes noisy venues
PHUKET: Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi last night ordered the closure of 30 entertainment venues for trading without proper licenses or for creating excessive noise. Gov Pongpayome, with Vice-Governor Manit Wattanasen and 28 officers from the Provincial Defense Office and Phuket Town Police Station, began the “silent night” raids at 9 pm in Saphan Hin, Phuket Town. No less than…
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Recycle and save Phuket
PHUKET TOWN: Schools, community groups and families are being urged to take part in a recycling contest aimed at making the people of Phuket understand the importance of classifying garbage correctly. The concept came from Wipapan Kusuwan, President of the Satree Phuket Former Students Association, who held a press conference at the Pearl Hotel yesterday to highlight the importance of…
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Police crack down on illegal aliens
PHUKET TOWN: Police plan to screen every Burmese in Phuket as part of a nationwide operation to rid the country of illegal workers. Pol Lt Col Samarn Chainarong, Officer in Charge of Investigating Aliens in Phuket, told the Gazette that he believes the number of Burmese coming to Thailand without papers is increasing every day. Officials attribute a disproportionate amount…
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Muslim drug war wins support
PHUKET TOWN: Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi has given his backing to a move by Muslim leaders to solve the problem of illegal drugs through community action. His support was expressed when leaders of Phuket’s Muslim community met at the S.T. Hotel in Phuket Town on September 3. “I am absolutely sure that the drugs problem will be reduced if…
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Governor warns on festival fireworks
PHUKET TOWN: Tourists and locals have been warned to be cautious with fireworks during this year’s annual Vegetarian Festival. In festivals of the past, scores of people have required hospital treatment. The warning came from Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi in advance of this year’s festival, to be held from October 5-15. Vendors traditionally sell firecrackers – some of them oversized…
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DJ can’t stop the music
PHUKET TOWN: A disc jockey plans to sing non-stop for 24 hours in a project that he hopes will set a new world record. He will keep on singing, even in the toilet, with a microphone that picks up his voice but no other sounds. He will eat and sing at the same time, too. The singing DJ is Issarakul…
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Talks boost China tourism market
PHUKET: More tourists from China are expected to come to Phuket as a result of talks between officials from the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce and local community bodies. Chen Jien Hua, Vice President of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, met Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi and private-sector representatives, including the Phuket Chamber of Commerce and the Phuket Tourism Association (PTA), yesterday…
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Man held for murder, stabbings
KATHU: Tung Tong police arrested a 22-year-old construction worker early this morning after he allegedly stabbed his wife and two men, leaving one man dead. Pol Capt Kittipong Klaykaew of Tung Tong Police Station named the attacker as Sitipol “Ta” Kotawan, from Nakhon Phanom, who worked at a construction camp near the Patong-Kathu intersection. Capt Kittipong said police arrived at…
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300 welcome Chinese leader
AIRPORT: Some 300 people were on hand today to welcome the Chairman of China’s National Assembly, Li Peng, when he arrived at Phuket International Airport as part of an official visit to Thailand. The greeting party included Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi, members of the Chinese community in Phuket and students waving Chinese flags as Mr Li stepped from his plane…
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Immigration chief appeals for help
PHUKET TOWN: Pol Col Apirak Hongtong, Superintendent of the Phuket Immigration Office, today appealed for people to report to him any misconduct by Immigration officials. Speaking at the Gazette’s offices, Col Apirak said, “I don’t want to see the behavior of a few bad officers destroy the image of all the other officers. “Anyone wanting to report any misconduct by…
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Governor adds “Rainmaker’ to his titles
PHUKET: Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi revealed today that he has asked the Ministry of Agriculture to “seed” clouds passing over Phuket in order to induce rain. The Gazette understands that the rainmaking, which will be done by dropping chemicals on passing clouds from a helicopter, may start as early as tomorrow (Thursday). Gov Pongpayome explained, “Normally, we should have had…
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Girl, 17, steals B50,000 from Gov’s house
PHUKET TOWN: A 17-year-old girl being held on a charge of stealing 50,000 baht from the Governor’s Residence yesterday tried committing suicide by slitting her wrists with pieces of her broken plastic bracelet. Pol Capt Akkanit Danpitaksasna, of Phuket Town Police Station, today said the girl was being held at the station after confessing to stealing 50,000 baht belonging to…
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Bike deaths keep climbing
PHUKET: Motorcycle accidents claimed 15 lives between June 20 and July 20, according to the latest statistics from Wachira, Thalang and Patong government hospitals. In the previous month, 14 people died in accidents involving motorbikes. The statistics also show that 950 people were injured on motorbikes during the period, compared with 35 injured in cars and 29 in other road…
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Chinese leader flying to Phuket
PHUKET: Li Peng, Chairman of China’s National Assembly, is flying to Phuket on Friday for a three-day official visit. With him on the special flight will be a delegation of senior Chinese officials. Mr Li holds the Communist Party’s No. 2 post. Observers attribute to him the 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy dissidents in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. As a guest of…
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Dane drowns at Nai Harn
NAI HARN: A 62-year-old Dane who was pulled from the sea unconscious died as rescuers tried to resuscitate him on Nai Harn beach this morning. Police named him as Helge Andreasen, a retiree who lived in Happy Home Village. Mr Andreasen’s death was the latest in a series of drownings and narrow escapes this monsoon season, which has increased pressure…
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Immigration steps up controls
PHUKET TOWN: As part of Phuket Immigration’s plan to tighten immigration control, more than 100 hotel employees attended a workshop at the Phuket Immigration Office on Friday night. Speaking at the workshop, Pol Col Apirak Hongtong, Superintendent of Phuket Immigration Office, said, “The seminar is aimed at training hotel staff, especially front office staff, in what to do if they…
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THAI discounts internal fights
PHUKET: Thai Airways is offering special discounts on domestic flights from now until December 31 to Thais and, in some cases, foreign residents. The discounts are as follows: – Young people aged 12-24 years old who are traveling on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays (except for public holidays or days in lieu of public holidays) receive a 25% discount. – Other…
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Police get tough on traffic offenders
PHUKET TOWN: In a crackdown on traffic offenders, police on Saturday night arrested 38 people at a checkpoint set up at the intersection of Yaowarat Rd and Thalang Rd. Pol Lt Col Weerasin Kwanseng, Deputy Superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station, said today that officers set up the checkpoint after receiving many complaints about people dangerously ignoring traffic laws in…
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Major switch in Patong budget
PATONG: About 50 million baht is to be spent on community services such as education, public health and community activities in Patong’s budget plan for 2002/2003. The budget represents a major switch from heavy infrastructure spending to an emphasis on developing people and communities. After Patong Municipal Council approved the plan yesterday, Sakorn Cheua-yuan, Deputy Mayor of Patong, said, “We…
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Drug offenders keep prison full
PHUKET TOWN: More than 50% of the inmates at Phuket Provincial Prison are behind bars for drug-related offences, according to the latest statistics released by the prison. Of the 1,241 inmates, 503 men and 130 women are serving time for narcotics offenses. Of the remaining prisoners, 213 are being held for theft, 163 for murder or attempted murder, 46 for…
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Hotels pay only 30pc of provincial tax
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) has collected about 30% of the much-reviled hotel room tax and plans to pursue the hotels that have failed to cough up the remaining 70%, which is worth close to 95 million baht. The 40 million baht collected so far is to be spent on various tourism-related projects, including the provision of lifeguards…
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Warning on wet-season power
PHUKET TOWN: The Manager of the Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority (PPEA), Sornchai Uparamai, has warned that wet and windy conditions during the monsoon season may cause electrical accidents. Anyone who sees broken power lines, poles, or other potentially dangerous situations is urged to call the PPEA on 076-210427/8.
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26 arrested, but gambling boss escapes
PHUKET TOWN: Police raided a gambling den in a shack behind the Metropole Hotel early this morning, arresting 22 men and four women. Phuket Town Superintendent Pol Col Paween Pongsirin, who led the raid, said, “We acted on tips from our sources who said there were people gambling behind the hotel. We arrested 26 gamblers, who are all being held…
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Prostitution? Odds are against it
PHUKET: Latest police statistics reveal a big contrast between the crimes of prostitution and gambling in the period between August 1 and August 25. While 223 people were arrested for gambling in that period, up by 21 over the same period in July, there was not a single arrest for prostitution, compared with the 12 made between July 1 and…
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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