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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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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Black money scam busted
PATONG: Four West Africans were arrested last night after two were caught on videotape performing the classic “black money” scam. Sleweon Friday Emmanue, 29, and Camara Malam, 33, were charged with swindling while Leon D. Earley, 26, and Sailatee T. Toe, 19, were charged with entering Thailand illegally. All four are from Liberia. Pol Lt Col Jakawath Boontaweekulsawas, of Kathu…
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Center for disabled to open soon
PHUKET TOWN: A new training center for the disabled will open next month on Montri Rd, opposite the Seng Ho bookstore. Formerly a government warehouse, the two-story center will have classrooms and a meeting room equipped for training in computer skills, arts and crafts, languages and other studies. Sawai Promjinda, President of the Phuket Association of Disabled People (ADP), said…
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Deadline for local businesses
PHUKET: Businesses wishing to appear in the 2003 Gazette Guide, Phuket’s ‘yellow pages’, have until 5:30 pm this Thursday, 31 October, to enter (or update) their listings. Any entries made after the deadline will not appear in the hard-copy book until January 2004. Standard listings are free of charge, but they are limited to genuine businesses in Phuket, Phang-nga, Krabi…
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Politician injured in hammer attack
PHUKET TOWN: Patong politician and lawyer Sarayuth Mullum was attacked by a hammer-wielding assailant yesterday, ending up in hospital with seven stitches in his scalp and his right arm in plaster. K. Sarayuth had just finished lunch with Phuket MP Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr and her husband at the Sala Muslim restaurant on Surin Rd when the assault took place. His attacker…
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Plea for game fish to be protected
PHUKET: Swift action must be taken to control the number of sailfish being caught by commercial fishermen in Phuket waters, a game fishing advocate has told the Gazette. If action is not taken, a sport that brings millions of baht a year to Phuket will be at risk, said the game fishing advocate, who asked that his name be withheld.…
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Interior Minister in snap visit to Patong
PHUKET: Recently appointed Minister of Interior Wan Muhamad Nor Matha last night made an impromptu three-hour inspection tour of Patong and stayed at the Royal Paradise Hotel. The minister made his first public appearance in Phuket earlier in the day at a meeting of about 100 police and government officers and community leaders at Phuket Provincial Hall. K. Wan Nor…
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Police pounce on bag snatchers
PATONG: Three bag snatchers were caught in Patong over the weekend soon after they ran off with gear belonging to a Russian couple on vacation in Phuket. The bag snatchers chose the wrong time to strike because police security was tight on Saturday as Pol Col Chalit Thintanee, Superintendent of Kathu police station, made the rounds of Patong’s beachfront with…
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Missing teacher found dead
PHANG NGA: The body of a teacher who went missing while on a fishing trip was found in a canal near the Sarasin Bridge on Friday. Sophol Paenklai, 48, who taught at a school in Tai Muang district, “went out to catch fish and fell into the water by accident,” said Apidaj Chuaykua, Pol Capt of Kok Kloy Police Station…
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Big party, big guest list
CHALONG: The elephants partied big yesterday, and it was the kind of celebration none of them will ever forget. For starters there were apples, sugarcane, bananas, watermelons and pineapples – three tons of goodies to share among the 25 pachyderms at Island Safari. “It costs us about 300,000 baht for the fruit and everything needed at the party,” said Chokchai…
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Phuket scoops eight tourism awards
PHUKET: Phuket has proven to be the country’s leading tourism destination with the announcement of two national Tourism Awards and six Tourist Guide Awards going to the province. Laguna Phuket took the Best Tourist Resort Accommodation Outstanding Performance Award 2002 while Phuket FantaSea received the Best Attraction Award 2002. Phuket’s Paitoon Monpanthong proved to be a star guide for the…
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Gov rebuts foreign governments’ warnings
PHUKET: Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi has hastened to reassure travelers that Phuket is safe, following advisories from a number of Western governments – most recently Denmark and Sweden – that their nationals should be cautious about traveling to Thailand, and especially to tourist areas such as Patong. Gov Pongpayome thanked the two countries for their concern but stressed, “We…
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Free concert for flood relief
PHUKET TOWN: Tesco-Lotus Superstore will stage a free concert this Saturday (October 26) to collect relief items for victims of the floods in Northern Thailand and Isarn. Original artists featured on the limited-release CD “Pleng Phuket” (called “Pleasant Tunes of Phuket” in English), along with Phuket student bands, will take to the stage in the supercenter’s carpark from 2 pm…
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Patong wins carnival after all
PATONG: The annual one-day carnival to mark the opening of the tourism high season will be held in Patong on November 1 after all. There was doubt over this year’s carnival, a fixture for many years, because it falls in the midst of campaigning for the municipal elections on November 16 and 17. Having at first decided to postpone the…
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Southern economy looks good: central bank
PHUKET TOWN: A review of the main industries in southern Thailand indicates a healthy outlook for the local economy, said Boonlert Luengnakthongdee, Director of Operations, Bank of Thailand, Southern Region, on Thursday. Speaking at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, at a meeting with business leaders and provincial officers from Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi, K. Boonlert said, “We are quite…
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Tax explained to eco-tour companies
PHUKET TOWN: About 20 companies that make up the Phuket Eco-Tourism Association (PETA) have had the tax system explained in detail to them by the Phuket Provincial Revenue Office (PPRO). The four-hour meeting at the Royal Phuket City Hotel was requested by PETA “because many members were asked for taxes retrospectively,” said Soonthorn Sakulsan, President of the PETA. “Some were…
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Bali’s loss is Phuket’s gain
PHUKET: Bali’s loss has been Phuket’s gain, it seems, with hotel bookings on the island soaring as holidaymakers and conference organizers switch following the Kuta bombing. A prime indicator is the Phuket.Com hotel booking website, which has seen a huge surge in bookings over the past few days. Neil Cumming, the company’s CEO, told the Gazette, “The big change for…
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Phuket to gain another sister?
PHUKET TOWN: Officials from Phuket and Hainan in China are discussing the prospect of joining the two islands as “sister cities”, it was announced today. “Hainan really wants to become sister cities with Phuket,” said Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi at a press conference following his meeting with Wang Xiaofeng, Governor of Hainan Island of Guangdong province. “I’ll consider it and…
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Project Raindrop drips to a close
PHUKET: They came, they seeded, and the rain fell. And now the great Phuket rainmaking project is drawing to a close. But has it worked? Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi was pleased enough with the results to host a dinner last night at the Royal Paradise Hotel, Patong, for the team of 34 rainmakers, who return to Bangkok in a…
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Patong election puts brakes on festival
PATONG: The annual festival to mark the first day of the high season has been postponed indefinitely, Pattanapong Aikwanich, President of Phuket Tourist Association (PTA), said on Tuesday. Speaking at the Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, K. Pattanapong said, “The Patong Municipal Council has disbanded so there are no councilors to help organize the event. This has forced us to…
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Gov calls for tighter security after Bali
PHUKET TOWN: Phuket needs greater protective security following the Bali bombing, Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi told a meeting of 30 officials today at Provincial Hall. The terrorist outrage would not bring any direct benefit to Phuket in increased tourism, but it was essential that the danger be understood and dealt with effectively, he told the gathering of police, immigration officials,…
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Thai-Burma border reopens
RANONG: Thailand’s border with Burma reopened at 6 am today for the first time since May 22 and the situation quickly returned to normal. Pol Cpl Nopadol Chompuboot, of Ranong Provincial Immigration Office, said Burmese were crossing to Thailand to buy food and goods while tourists were crossing to Burma. Cpl Nopadol added, “People from Thailand and Burma are happy…
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Teen beauties bound for Phuket
PHUKET TOWN: The 30 finalists in the Miss Teen Thailand 2002 competition will be in Phuket from next Friday until October 23 preparing themselves for the contest. The girls will be staying at the Phuket Orchid Resort in Karon. On Saturday the group will be guests at a dinner party at the Karon Beach Resort, which will also be attended…
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Vegetarian Festival toll
PHUKET TOWN: Two people died when their motorcycle hit a pole and a Singaporean tourist was admitted to hospital with damage to his eyes caused by fireworks during the Vegetarian Festival, statistics from hospitals reveal. Hospitals reported that 14 spirit mediums needed treatment for face piercings. Four people suffered from burns and 15 were injured by firecrackers. Including those hurt…
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Calm reaction in Phuket to Bali horror
PHUKET: Reactions in Phuket to Saturday’s horror in Kuta, Bali, have so far been measured, with tourists saying they plan to complete their vacations and travel companies, though worried, reporting business as usual. Maxine Pearson, 43, from London, told the Phuket Gazette, “It was sad, but it happens everywhere … it wouldn’t stop me from going to Bali, and it…
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Warning over no-travel “visa runs’
PHUKET: Pol Col Apirak Hongtong, Superintendent of Phuket Provincial Immigration Office (PPIO), warned again today that foreigners needing visas renewed must complete the process themselves by traveling to another country. Pol Col Apirak said, “Many foreigners still renew their visas through agents and don’t go outside the country. The numbers have not decreased at all. We have also received reports…
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Foreign teachers learn Thai ways
PHUKET TOWN: A group of 18 foreigners about to start teaching non-Thai languages in Phuket schools today began a five-day training program in Thai culture, society, language and laws. The 30-hour course at the Provincial Primary School Office is designed to help the teachers adapt to local customs and be good role models for their students. Once the course is…
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Review panel finds sea-walking unsafe
PHUKET: After a six-month study of the sea-walking industry in Thailand, a review panel of the Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (TISTR) yesterday said that current safety provisions were inadequate. Speaking at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall to garner feedback from sea-walking operators in Phuket, a TISTR officer said that there is an urgent need for Thai…
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Glue-sniffers come unstuck
PHUKET TOWN: Two teenagers were taken into custody for substance abuse yesterday after local residents reported three boys and a girl sniffing glue in the public park at Phuket Villa 1. When officers arrived at the park, the four teenagers fled in different directions, leaving behind a plastic bag containing rubber adhesive. Officers gave chase and caught two of the…
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Taxi boss fails to get cabs into airport
PHUKET: A metered taxi company has been denied space to operate at Phuket International Airport despite repeated applications and high-level discussions. Today the Phuket Land Transportation Office Committee held a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall with involved parties including Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi; Lt Cdr Boonchart Prompoon, Director of Phuket International Airport (PIA); Weera Kruepanich, representative of Phuket Limousine &…
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Classy thief robs government officers
PHUKET TOWN: A well-dressed thief who allegedly specialized in daring walk-in robberies of government offices is being questioned by police. Prayoon Kruekaew, 26, of Phuket, was arrested at his home on Patipat Rd this afternoon after what appeared to be his latest stunt. He confessed to pulling eight robberies in Phuket and five in Haad Yai. His method was to…
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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