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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Sponsored Promoting sustainable tourism at Blue Tree Phuket: Initiatives and impact
Blue Tree Phuket has been offering experiences that are both fun and environmentally conscious for many years. The comprehensive entertainment hub and waterpark has implemented numerous programs to enhance the sustainability of its practices, with its most recent endeavour being...
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Phuket Governor and Vice Governor deny million baht bribe accusation
Recently, an audio clip went viral, claiming to have recorded a conversation between an anonymous man and an employee from a project accused of having encroached on Sirinat National Park (in Phuket’s north west). Phuket Governor, Pakkapong Tawipat, says that he had nothing to do with the voice recording, which detailed a 7 digit negotiation deal to end an encroachment…
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Daytime closure looms for Patong beach road
The mayor of Patong, Chalermluck Kebsup, has announced that from August 25, Thaweewong Road, better known as the Patong beach road, will be closed during the day while power and communication cables are installed. Apologising for the inconvenience, Mayor Chalermluck explains that the closures will be between 6.00am and 4.00pm and expected to last until September 30. She says the…
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Palang Pracharath MP chastises Karon Police for not offering protection during condo visit
VIDEO & SCREENGRAB: M Today The Palang Pracharath member of parliament from Bangkok, Sira Jenjaka, had an argument with Lt Col Pratuang Polmana, Deputy Superintendent of Karon Police during his inspection to the controversial Peak Condominium in the Karon area of Phuket. MP Sira was surveying the construction site of the project and the sales office, which also serves as…
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How to be charged 2,600 baht for having a flat battery in the Jungceylon car park
A rant… Started off with trying to exit the Jungceylon carpark in Patong, Phuket, late on a Sunday night. After watching a film in their tawdry cinemas, I was assured by ticket sales staff that I should present my ticket stub with the car park card for free exit. Getting to the exit gate and I was told I had…
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Government MP receives death threats after exposing illegal condo project in Phuket
PHOTO: Sira Jenjaka MP, says he has received death threats A government MP for Bangkok says he has received death threats for revealing a Phuket condo project that allegedly sits on land without the proper documentation. The project, at this stage, remains un-named. Sira Jenjaka is an MP with the ruling Palang Pracharat Party and claims that two people had already…
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Turtle rescued on Nai Harn Beach, Phuket
PHOTO: Aroon Solos Today (August 15) at about 1pm, the lifeguard team at Nai Harn Beach rescued a small turtle, which had become stuck in a fertiliser sack. They found the turtle washed up ashore with the sack wrapped up around its neck. They tried to carefully remove the sack from the turtle’s neck but found that the turtle had…
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Compensation paid to victims of VIP Condo construction site collapse in Phuket
“Kraichitti Chensappakit, assistant MD of the project owner VIP Thailand, expressed sympathy and said the company will provide assistance to the affected workers.” The Labour Ministry has provided monetary assistance to the families of the three Burmese migrant workers killed and the eight others wounded from the collapse of a scaffolding at the VIP condominium construction site in Rawai on…
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Drunken tourist rescued at Karon Beach after swimming in red flag area
PHOTOS: Phuket HotNews Earlier today, the Karon Tourist Assistance Centre was contacted by a hotel reporting a tourist who was in trouble while swimming off the beach, near the Naga (snake) statue area. The area is notorious for dangerous rips on some days during the monsoon season. At the scene Foundation responders found two foreigners, whose nationality wasn’t clear. They…
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3 Burmese workers dead following collapse at VIP Condo construction site in Rawai
Two workers have been found dead following yesterday’s collapse at the construction site of the VIP Mercury and VIP Galaxy condo and villa site in Rawai. The two migrant workers were trapped under scaffolding that collapsed bringing the death toll to 3. Eight others were hurt. The site was going to be the showroom for the VIP Galaxy villas being constructed…
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Radisson brand add another Phuket hotel to its portfolio
The Radisson Hotel Group has signed a deal for a 222 key mixed-use hotel on Phuket’s north west coast at Mai Khao. Set to open in early 2023, the hotel has sales and leaseback units under a hotel residences program. Radisson Phuket Mai Khao Beach is being developed by Thai-Chinese Property Holdings. Phuket’s ongoing development surge continues to attract Chinese…
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Scaffolding collapse at VIP Mercury Condominium in Rawai, Phuket kills 1
PHOTOS: Antonio Patong A three storey building and scaffolding collapsed in Rawai at 2.15pm Sunday afternoon, killing one person and injuring many other workers. The construction site is for the VIP Mercury Condominium project on Wiset Road in Rawai – near the Rawai Municipality Office heading towards Nai Harn Beach Park (map below). Eight people were rushed to Chalong Hospital, Vachira…
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Three storey construction site collapses in Rawai, Phuket – 8 injured, 2 missing
PHOTOS: เสียงประชาชน คนภูเก็ต Phuket People’s Voice A three storey building has collapsed in Rawai around 3pm this afternoon. The construction site is on Wiset Road in Rawai – near Rawai Municipality Office heading towards Nai Harn Beach Park. At least eight people have already been taken to Chalong Hospital whilst others are believed to be trapped under the wreckage as rescue…
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Phuket police tracking down snatch & grab thief
PHOTOS: Phuket Hotnews A couple from Malaysia, 44 year old N Shiyamala Navaratnam and 45 year old Sivakumar Patchymuthu, reported to Saku police that they had been robbed near Nai Yang Beach, near the Phuket Airport. The incident happened on August 8. They told police they were riding a motorcycle heading back to their hotel between the beach road and…
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Accused pedophile arrested in Phang Nga after 14 years on the run
PHOTO: Police questioning Honchao Sae Oun – Crime Suppression Division A man, wanted over the indecent assault of a five year old girl in Yala 14 years ago, has been arrested in Phang Nga. 62 year old Honchao Sae Oun was arrested at a house in Thai Muang district yesterday by the Crime Suppression Division. Officials say that Mr Honchao…
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Phuket’s wake-up call. The hard work starts here.
OPINION More hotels, a changing tourist mix, an exodus of expats and a decline in tourist numbers. Despite the new Tourism and Sports Minister pumping up the local tourism tyres during his visit last weekend, there’s a lot of hand-wringing and the sound of closing shop shutters around the tourist island of Phuket. To make things more complicated the situation…
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Kamala development is positive – a personal view
This week The Thaiger posted a few photos and prediction that the vacant corner, as you drive into Kamala from Patong, was going to another backwards step to the sleepy seaside town. The post provoked a lot of comment, including this one. The author’s identity has been hidden. What do you think about his response? https://www.facebook.com/thethaigerphuket/posts/1636282186509280?comment_id=1636333889837443&reply_comment_id=1638894932914672¬if_id=1565318229144276¬if_t=feed_comment “The funny thing about…
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Wreck of the Lady D could be a new recreational diving attraction off Koh Racha Yai, Phuket – PHOTOS
by Guy (Charlie) Lidureau Officials, unable to get water to the ‘Lady D’ as it burnt out of control on Wednesday morning, were forced to tow it away from the Ao Po Grand Marina. The burning superyacht was cut adrift and towed offshore to Koh Thanan, near Ao Po. Unfortunately, the damage done by the fire on Wednesday morning, is completely…
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Thai weather man issues rain warnings for south and east
The Thai Meteorological Department has issued a warning to residents of eastern and southern provinces to brace themselves for heavy rains until Sunday. In its warning, issued at 5am today, the department said the rains would be unleashed by influences of the southwest monsoon across the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, which is intensifying, and by a low-pressure…
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Chinese swimmer drowns at Nai Harn Beach, Phuket
VIDEO: Cetin Demirci An un-named Chinese man has drowned today whilst swimming at Nai Harn Beach. He was dragged back onto the beach after being rescued by an on-duty guard with a surfboard around 4.30pm this afternoon. The beach had red and yellow flags along the shore where the man was swimming meaning that there were lifeguards on duty. The…
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Flood warnings for six southern provinces, and provinces east of Bangkok
Forecasts for Phuket and Bangkok below… People living in six southern provinces, and some provinces east of Bangkok, are being warned to brace for possible flooding and flash floods due to heavy rain forecast until Sunday. The warning is due to the strengthening of the southwestern monsoon, which is looming over the Andaman Sea, the Gulf and the southern region,…
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‘Lady D’ super yacht set adrift after firefighters fail to reach the burning yacht in Phuket
Local Marine officials in Phuket were notified at 8.30am this morning of a fire aboard a luxury yacht parked at the Ao Po Grand Marina. Responding to calls from Ao Po Grand Marina staff, firefighters discovered the ‘Lady D’ was out of reach, as it had parked 500 metres beyond the furthest extremity of the port. Officers had to order…
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Phoenix still up for grabs in Phuket – AMLO still seeking a buyer
The Thai Anti Money Laundering Office is still trying to auction off the Phoenix, the 30 metre tour boat that sank in July 2018, causing the drowning of 47 Chinese tourists off Phuket’s south east coast. A meeting was held by AMLO officials at the Phuket Provincial Hall this morning to discuss the auction of the boat. Starting bid is 900,000…
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Superyacht ablaze at the Ao Po Grand Marina in Phuket
PHOTO: Newshawk Phuket A yacht, the ‘Lady D’ caught fire this morning at the Ao Po Grand Marina in the north of Phuket. Marina staff were notified of the fire at 8.25am this morning and called the local fire department. Marina staff called the Marine Police for assistance as well. One fire truck arrived to fight the fire which has…
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Power off in Kamala, Phuket this Friday. Check if you’re affected.
Electricity will be out around large chunks of Kamala this Friday (August 9). The power outage will be from 9am-5pm, according to the Phuket Electrical Authority. Most of the town’s main businesses, restaurants and bars will be without power, unless they’re at the northern end of the town. Phuket Fantasea will not be affected. Areas affected include from the Khao Loob…
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New tourism minister says tourist numbers in Phuket “not as bad as media say”
PHOTO: Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, Thai Sports and Tourism minister, on his weekend fact-finding mission – Manager Online Thailand’s new Sports and Tourism minister says that the drop in tourism in Thailand has been greatly exaggerated in the media. Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, for whom it is very difficult to find any information online about his past posts or qualifications, told reporters in Phuket at…
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Potential for retirement properties in Thailand
by Bill Barnett of c9hotelworks.com While a number of property offerings in Phuket, Hua Hin, Pattaya, Chiang Mai and more recently in Bangkok have promoted themselves as retirement-centric offerings, the jury is still out on the broad success of the sector. Despite retirement communities and assisted living being mainstays in Western countries like the US, UK and Australia, these are…
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South Korean fugitive arrested in Chon Buri, and two other immigration cases
by Jessada Chantharak A 29 year old South Korean man, wanted for alleged involvement in an online gambling operation in his home country, has been arrested in Chon Buri. Police allege he had been “laying low” in Thailand for two years. The man was wanted under a Seoul Central District Court arrest warrant issued on May 2, 2017, and by…
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Injured sea turtle rescued by tour boat operator in Phuket – VIDEO
PHOTO: Nikorn Marine An injured sea turtle has been rescued by a tour boat operator in Phuket today. The boat crew of Nikorn Marine found a sea turtle while sailing the ‘Nichakorn 2’ near Coral Island, off Chalong. The turtle was found injured, trapped in a fishing net, with its rear left flipper missing, though the wound seemed old and…
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Phuket’s tourist bookings looking good – Diversity is the best option Part 3
by Guest Writer Over the past few months or so, we have read and noted much negativity in the world of tourism to Thailand’s most popular island of Phuket. As everyone is aware, May and June were particularly poor months for most tourism operators and hoteliers with several factors being mentioned to justify the drop which everyone is fully aware…
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Stormy weather approaching the Andaman provinces
The Thai Meteorological Department has announced that a regional tropical depression will affect provinces in the Andaman region including Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Trang, Ranong and Satun until August 6. The local ‘Met’ office says that people living in the affected areas should beware of dangers from heavy rain. There will be increasingly large waves in the Andaman sea, expected…
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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