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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Crackdown on students in Internet shops
PHUKET TOWN: The owners of 25 Internet shops have agreed to impose greater controls on youngsters using their facilities, Pol Col Paween Pongsirin, superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station, said today. Speaking at a meeting with the press, he explained that police had received complaints from parents that their children were spending too much time playing computer games in the…
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Phuket worries about effects of US horror
PHUKET: The Governor of Phuket, Pongpayome Vasaputi, has ordered local officials to report to him any effects on tourism arising from Tuesday’s horrific events in the United States. “I think there may be some effect on tourism in Phuket during the coming high season,” he told the Gazette, “because some people may feel uncomfortable about traveling abroad.” He said that…
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Kathu police got mail
PATONG: The Kathu Police Station now has an email address for people who wish to ask questions or make suggestions to the police. Pol Col Chalit Thintanee, superintendent of Kathu Police Station, told the Gazette, “I think this will be good for people who want to contact us to complain or make suggestions about the problems in Patong. We will…
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Memorial service for US terror victims
CHERNG TALAY: An short memorial service will be conducted by Father Richard at the Laguna Beach Resort tomorrow (Thursday) evening for those lost in yesterday’s terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Everyone is welcome to join in the service, which begins at 5 pm at the Layan Ballroom. For more information, call O. B. Wetzell at 01-8929207. Meanwhile,…
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US Embassy closes after NY carnage
PHUKET (Gazette, AFP): American citizens have been asked to refrain from calling their embassy in Bangkok following the carnage in New York City and Washington. Will Hebler, American Consular Warden in Phuket, told the Gazette, “I have received a call to say that the US embassy in Bangkok is closed until further notice. “A desk is manned, but US citizens…
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Bars facing Bangkok-style drug raids
PHUKET TOWN: Owners of entertainment places in Phuket Town were warned yesterday to expect raids “soon” by police and health officers clamping down on the distribution and use of narcotics. The warning came at a meeting attended by more than 200 owners of entertainment businesses at the Phuket Town Police Station. Among those attending were owners of pubs, bars, restaurants,…
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Ya bah dealer dies in shoot-out
THALANG: Bunyat Tangman, 34, wanted by police for his involvement in ya bah trafficking, was found dead this morning in a rubber plantation near the Shell Gas Station on Thepkrasattri Rd, after a shoot-out the previous evening with undercover police. Pol Lt Col Wuttichai Khamphut, Deputy Superintendent of Thalang Police Station, in charge of investigations, said that police officers had…
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Government tells doomsayers to hush up
BANGKOK (AFP): Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra today admonished bankers and economists for a rash of gloomy pronouncements on the economy, saying their comments were inaccurate and damaging. “You don’t know more than the government, and your comments are based only on feelings,” he said. “It will affect the country and it will make the public feel discouraged.” The Bangkok…
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Phuket locals win regional Isuzu rally
KOH KEAW: Watcharin Areerob and his team, all from Phuket, won the southern qualifier for the Isuzu Di 4×4 National Championship Rally on Saturday in a 2.8-liter Isuzu Rodeo with a total time over the six stages of 10 minutes 28 seconds. Rodeo 4WDs dominated the rally, finishing in four of the top five places. The exception was Amnuoy Somjai’s…
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Police release photo of drowning victim
KATHU: Police have released a photograph of the foreigner who drowned off Patong Beach on August 31 in the hope that someone may recognize the unidentified man. The victim, who was wearing a black swimming costume, was about 6 feet (1.83 meters) tall and was in his mid- to late 30s. He had short hair with patches of gray. He…
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Another Thai minister rebukes foreign press
BANGKOK (AFP): Interior Minister Purachai Piemsombun has lashed out at the foreign media for its criticism of his “social evils” campaign which, he claims, is aimed at ridding Thailand of drugs and underage drinking. Purachai attacked a report in Time magazine that he thinks suggests that his crusade to shut down nightclubs, bars and karaoke joints by 2:00am is merely…
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Couple lose everything in blaze
CHALONG: A couple lost everything they owned on Thursday when the tin shack in which they lived burned to the ground. Thewa Hirunkerd, 31, a construction worker who lived in the shack with her husband, told Pol Capt Sanae Panmee of Chalong Police Station that she had started a charcoal fire to cook some rice, but forgot to douse it…
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Sex show gets Flash bar closed again
PATONG: Phuket Governor Pongpayome Vasaputi has ordered the closure of the Flash A-Go-Go bar in Soi Bangla for a month after it was caught staging lewd shows a second time. At the beginning of last month Gov Pongpayome ordered Flash to close for 15 days for staging such entertainment. He told the Gazette today, “After they had been open again…
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New drive to register foreign labor
PHUKET: Kopit Temsongsai, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Employment Service Office (ESO), yesterday announced that the ESO has begun a drive to register all Burmese, Laotians and Cambodians working in Phuket. The drive is part of a national campaign, launched last Tuesday at a ministerial-level meeting in Bangkok, to verify that people of these nationalities are working legally in Thailand.…
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What’s gone wrong at the Gazette Online?
PHUKET: Our most profound apologies to our more than 7,000 Gazetteers, as well as all others who have attempted to use the Gazette website over the past eight days. The problems are not in any way related to the re-engineering of our site, or the launch of the makeover which, unfortunately, occurred just a few days before the site entered…
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Sharp rise in drug arrests
PHUKET: The latest crime figures released by police here show that they made 128 drug raids and 150 drug-related arrests between August 1 and August 25. This is nearly double the number of arrests for drug offences during the same period in July. Slightly more than half of the drug arrests involved ya bah (methamphetamines), including the bust of a…
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Airport passenger throughput still rising
PHUKET: While islanders enjoy the relative peace of the low season, figures just released by airport officials show that the number of passengers arriving or departing through Phuket International Airport is still rising. The statistics show that passenger throughput last month rose by 5.15% to 281,205, compared with 267,436 during July last year. The number of international passengers rose by…
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Pamuke elected Chamber leader, again
PHUKET: Pamuke Achariyachai yesterday resigned as Chairman of the Phuket Chamber of Commerce, but within minutes was re-elected to the post. K. Pamuke was originally elected Chairman on July 24 by a rump committee of just nine members, after the other 12 on the 21-man committee were found to be ineligible to serve because of membership irregularities. Of the nine…
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Aussie Navy trounces Vagabonds 36-10
KOH KEAW: After a tight game in the first half, the team from the visiting Australian Navy ship HMAS Newcastle took charge to score a convincing 36-10 victory over the Phuket Vagabonds at Dulwich International College field on Monday. The Vagabonds were the first on the scoreboard with an unconverted try in the 10th minute of the game. Their lead…
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Unidentified foreigner drowns at Patong
PATONG: Police have appealed for help in identifying a Caucasian man who drowned yesterday off Patong beach near the Phuket Cabana Resort. Pol Lt Col Sanguan Muangtham of Kathu Police station told the Gazette that he received the initial report about the drowning at 3:10 pm yesterday. Beach guard Jaroon Tohtat had attempted to help the man, Col Sanguan said,…
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Tourists assaulted, raped on Koh Samui
BANGKOK (AFP): Two female tourists from Britain and Ireland were sexually assaulted on the island resort of Koh Samui, police said yesterday. Deputy Police Chief Sant Sarutanond said a search had been mounted for two Thai men suspected of raping the British national and sexually abusing the Irish tourist over the weekend. Sant said he had asked local police to…
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Tourists raped, assaulted on Koh Samui
BANGKOK (AFP): Two female tourists from Britain and Ireland were sexually assaulted on the island resort of Koh Samui, police said yesterday. Deputy Police Chief Sant Sarutanond said a search had been mounted for two Thai men suspected of raping the British national and sexually abusing the Irish tourist over the weekend. Sant said he had asked local police to…
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Gov Pongpayome to be Phuket’s first CEO
PHUKET: The office of Phuket Governor Pongpayome Vasaputi was today flooded with bouquets from well-wishers congratulating the Governor on being appointed Phuket’s first Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Gov Pongpayome told the Gazette, “I’m glad the government trusts me and I appreciate having the chance to stay in Phuket, because there are still a lot of problems that I intend to…
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Missing in action
PATONG: A sailor from the visiting Australian frigate HMAS Newcastle, feared to have drowned early yesterday in the surf off Patong, apparently had a miracle escape – he resurfaced later in the day, 15 kilometers inland, at a soccer match at Surakul Stadium. A full-scale search for the sailor, named by police as “James”, was sparked after his companion for…
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Sunset trip ends in tragedy
LAEM PROMTHEP: A man drowned and a young woman is still missing after a fishing boat sank 800 meters off Laem Phromthep around 7 pm yesterday. The body of the boat’s owner, Somsak Nakaew, 30, was discovered about 11 am today at Yanui beach. Narthanong Kaewkanha, 19, remains missing. She is believed to have drowned. Pol Lt Col Narong Nerdbuth,…
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Residents object to promotion of sex surgery
PHUKET (AFP): Residents of Phuket have reportedly objected to plans to promote bargain-priced sex-change surgery as a means of attracting more tourists to the island. The campaign risked harming the reputation of the southern resort, known for its white-sand beaches, reefs, nightlife and restaurants, they told the Thai-language daily ‘Khao Sod’. “I disagree with the idea of promoting tourism by…
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Bar crackdown dismays party-loving Bangkok
BANGKOK (AFP): A government crackdown on pub closing hours in Bangkok, which has dismayed tourists and infuriated nightspot owners, drew warnings today that the campaign could also do major damage to the economy. In recent weeks, squads of police have descended on popular bar districts to enforce antiquated laws which stipulate that last drinks must be ordered at midnight and…
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Prison appeals for donations
PHUKET TOWN: Phuket Provincial Prison plans to set up a closed-circuit TV system between the prison and the Phuket Provincial Court Office – if the public will help to come up with the 120,000-baht estimated cost of the project. Phairoj Phankaew, Governor of the prison, told the Gazette that jails in other provinces such as Surat Thani, Chiang Mai already…
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Chamber meeting fails to resolve chaos
PHUKET TOWN: The Phuket Chamber of Commerce held an extraordinary meeting yesterday at The Metropole hotel to resolve its membership problems, but the tense evening ended only in further disagreement. Only 59 of the 220 members attended, barely a quorum under the Chamber’s constitution. The new chairman, Pamuke Achariyachai, announced that all memberships that had previously been voided because of…
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Hotels cough up 30% of rooms tax
PHUKET: Dr Prasit Koysiripong, president of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), told the Gazette yesterday that Phuket hotels are finally coming forward to pay the much-disputed hotel tax. “Hotels have been coming to the OrBorJor to pay the tax,” he said, adding that at least 10 hotels had come forward since last month and paid their dues, boosting the…
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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