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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5 hidden healthcare costs in Thailand and how to avoid them
Thailand's healthcare system is affordable and supported by the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme, offering essential services to most citizens. However, hidden healthcare costs can surprise patients and lead to unexpected expenses. These include specialist fees, insurance gaps, emergency services,...
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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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King&’s Cup Regatta fast approaching
PHUKET: The 16th Phuket King’s Regatta begins two weeks from today, returning to Phi Phi for the first couple of days’ racing, before moving to the west coast of Phuket. This year’s fleet, at 70 boats registered by this morning (November 16) and with more expected to tumble in at the last minute, will be bigger than last year’s, offering…
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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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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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Phuket Town signs up to save the planet
PHUKET TOWN: Phuket Town has joined a worldwide campaign to reduce pollution and protect the planet from global warming. Announcing the link to the Cities for Climate Protection campaign (CCP), Phuket Town Mayor Phummisak Hongsyok explained that the project is run by the International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). The CCP, which…
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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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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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Gov pushes for tougher work permit rules
PHUKET: In a meeting in Bangkok with the Parliamentary Committee on Labor, Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi last week proposed tougher rules for the issue of work permits. The Governor was invited to the meeting following a backlash from the Phuket and Pattaya Chambers of Commerce over the recent relaxation of permit rules. Speaking on 96.75 FM radio on Monday, Gov…
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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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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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Phuket must diversify – Governor
PHUKET: Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi yesterday reiterated his view that Phuket must develop industries apart from tourism. “Tourism is vulnerable. It’s like a crystal. We should create real-sector businesses, or businesses related to the service sector,” he said. Speaking at a meeting of the International Business Association of Phuket (IBAP) on the theme of “Phuket Tomorrow”, he said that such…
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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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Officials move to bolster tourism
PHUKET: A large group led by Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi will go to Europe next week to promote tourism to Phuket. Their visit to the annual World Travel Market (WTM) in London, comes amid concern about tourism prospects in the wake of the Bali bombing, and following travel advisories from a number of governments, including Britain’s, warning travelers to be…
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Dead fish spark hunger strike
PHUKET TOWN: Komin Buanoon today went into the second day of a hunger strike to protest over pollution that he says has killed the stock in his fish farm and those of nine other villagers. The villagers, from around Wat Saen Suk, in the southeast corner of Phuket Town, protested at the Phuket Provincial Hall over pollution which, they say,…
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Smile, please
PATONG: The Club Andaman Beach Resort has organized a “Siam Smile Contest” on November 22 to celebrate Thai culture. Wandee Chang-Ngam, Assistant PR Director of Club Andaman Beach Resort, said today that the winners will be the people with the most impressive “wais” and smiles. The contest, which will be in the morning, will be in two parts, the first…
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Eight held in immigration sweeps
PHUKET TOWN: Eight foreigners were arrested by Immigration Police yesterday and today in a series of sweeps through Patong, Kata and Karon. The raids coincided with a visit to Phuket by Pol Lt Gen Chanvut Vajrabukka, the Bangkok-based Director of Immigration, who came to Phuket to “motivate the Phuket office” in their work tracking down foreigners staying or working illegally…
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Lightning blamed for Customs boat blaze
AO MAKHAM: Lightning may have caused a fire aboard a 50-foot Customs inspection boat moored at the Deep Sea Port at about 10 pm on Sunday. Chanai Nakzsup, the Transportation Administrator at the Phuket Harbor Master’s Office, said, “I saw the top of the boat was on fire, and everybody was helping to put it out.” He added that it…
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Patong is safe, says Deputy PM
PATONG: Deputy Prime Minister Vishanu Krua-ngam officially launched the tourism high season last night and assured a throng of carnival-goers that Patong is a safe place. As Patong enjoyed the party, K. Vishanu said of his evening in the popular holiday town, “I didn’t see anything unusual that would cause worry either among tourists or organizers.” This year’s one-day season-opening…
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Smoking ban to be thoroughly enforced
PHUKET TOWN: The Phuket Public Health Office (PPHO) confirmed yesterday that a sweeping new national law that bars smoking in most public places will be strictly enforced in Phuket from November 8. PPHO health expert Somboon Aiyarak told a conference at the Provincial Hall that, with few exceptions, smoking will be banned in most public places, including cinemas, schools, hospitals,…
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Power bill payment hours extended
PHUKET TOWN: The Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority (PPEA) announced yesterday that electricity bills can now be paid on Saturdays at its offices in Phuket Town. Suthep Jitseree, Assistant Manager, said the 9 am-noon service was experimental until December 28 and would continue if there was sufficient demand. The office is at 173 Thalang Rd, Tambon Talad Yai, Phuket Town. For…
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Floating body a murder mystery
PHUKET: Police have few clues in the murder of a man whose body was found floating in the sea near Koh Maiton on Wednesday. The body – probably that of a fisherman – bore at least nine stab wounds on the back and stomach, and had been in the water about six days. It was clad only in a yellow…
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Illegal immigration arrests rise
PHUKET TOWN: The number of arrests for illegal immigration has risen, police statistics for October 1-25 reveal. In August, 195 people were arrested for illegal immigration, but the latest reported number was 239. There were 107 gambling raids, with 172 people arrested. The statistics show 79 narcotics cases with 81 people arrested, including 35 for offenses involving ya bah (methamphetamine).…
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Last chance to vie for Carnival Queen
PATONG: The organizers of tomorrow’s Patong carnival are still looking for more contestants – Thai or foreign – to compete for the title of “Queen of the Andaman”. Gifts will be provided for all contestants, as will costumes, with a choice of traditional Thai, colorful Hawaiian or “fancy”. Each of the 10 contestants who make the second round will earn…
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17 die in motorbike accidents
PHUKET: The island’s roads claimed at least one dead motorbike rider every two days between August 20 and September 20, the latest figures reveal. Statistics from Wachira, Thalang and Patong government hospitals show that motorcycle accidents claimed 17 lives in the period, the same number as in the previous 31 days. The statistics show that 851 people were injured on…
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Police set up Patong security center
PATONG: Sixty police officers from a variety of units met last night to coordinate security in the Patong area. The Kathu Police Station will become the Phuket Provincial Police Center in order to make the tourists feel more security at Patong beach. The meeting brought together officers from Phuket Immigration Police, Kathu Police, the Tourist Police, the Highway Police, the…
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Hotels urged to act on security
PHUKET TOWN: Thailand was a peaceful place but additional security measures were needed as a precaution, Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi told a special meeting of the Hospitality Club of Phuket today. He said he was satisfied with the measures in place for the 17th Patong Carnival, which marks the opening of the high season for Phuket tourism on Friday.…
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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