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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Moving to Thailand offers plenty of excitement and adventure, but the local healthcare system can be complex to navigate as an expat. From unique health risks to high costs at private hospitals, having a comprehensive health insurance plan is essential....
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German man dies in Phuket motorcycle crash
A German man has died after a motorbike crash in Thalang. The Thalang Police were notified of the incident last night on Srisoonthorn Road in Baan Manik, Thalang. The German man, 53 year old Carsten Elfried Koch, was the driver of a motorbike and sustained critical injuries as a result of the crash. He died at the scene. Police believe…
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Officers follow-up on slow loris tout on Phuket beach – VIDEO
Phuket officials are searching for a ‘loris tout’ who was offering photographs with a slow loris at a Kata beach. (Some video of a slow loris below) ‘Angelina Bratukhina’ posted a video with a message read “Where are the police??!! It’s right now at Kata Noi beach.” The man was offering photos with the slow loris for 200 -300 baht…
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Water shut offs to hit parts of Cherng Talay for two weeks
The Phuket Water Authority (PWA) has announced that water supply in some areas of Cherng Talay will be shut off from March 19 – 31 at ‘some times’ during the day. Water will be shut off while work is being carried out on moving main water pipes. Areas to be affected include parts of Cherng Talay. “Residents in these areas should save…
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25 year old electrical contractor electrocuted in Chalong, Phuket
FILE PHOTO A 25 year old electrical contractor has died after accidentally touching a high voltage power cabling in Chalong. Police say that the power was still connected when the man was working. Pakasit Raksakam was working on the cabling when he accidentally touched a cable that was still live, according to fellow contractors working nearby. Rescue workers arrived on Soi Na…
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Alleged Patong taxi driver killer surrenders to police
The taxi driver who allegedly shot dead a fellow driver in Patong last week has surrendered himself to Patong police. Read more about the the shooting of the Patong taxi driver HERE and HERE. An arrest warrant was issued for the 48 year old suspect Paradorn Puchaiyan last Friday, March 8. Read more the issuing of the arrest warrant HERE. Yesterday…
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Last day: Phuket Heroines Festival
PHOTOS: The Phuket PR office Today is the last day of the annual Phuket Heroines Festival at Thalang Historical Park. The Phuket Governor Phakkapong Tavipatana presided over the opening night on Wednesday where the historical show of light and sound was held. There are many activities showing the Thalang way of life, local markets, demonstrations of ancient desserts, traditional plays,…
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Construction of luxury condo in Kata Noi ‘slowed’
Officers from Internal Security Operations Command have now inspected the development of a luxury condominium development in Kata Noi as further construction has been ordered ‘slowed down’ whilst the investigation continues. Business operators and locals in Kata Noi marched to protest the luxury condo construction last month. Read more about that protest HERE. Meanwhile, the owners of the luxury development in…
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Court rules that National Park can limit numbers to Similan Islands
The Similan Islands national park will now be able to limit the number of visitors as a means to prevent ongoing environmental damage. This decision from the Supreme Administrative Court this week, overturning an earlier ruling from the Phuket Administrative Court. The Similan Islands are a popular diving spot in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Khao Lak. The…
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Almaty Governor from Kazakhstan visits Phuket
PHOTO: Almaty Governor Mr Batalov Amandyk Gabbasovich presents Phuket’s Governor with an ideal gift The Governor of Almaty city in Kazakhstan dropped in on Phuket’s Governor today for discussions on tourism, investment and culture exchange as a new Sister City. This morning Phuket’s Governor Phakkaphong Tavipatana welcomed Almaty Governor Mr Batalov Amandyk Gabbasovich from Kazakhstan at the Phuket Provincial City…
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Krabi celebrates National Elephant Day
The Southern Elephant Hospital in Krabi is today celebrating Thailand’s National Elephant Day. And seven lucky elephants, all patients at the hospital, were joining in. A religious ceremony was held at the hospital this morning. Then food and fruit treats were offered to the elephants, all patients at the hospital. There are seven elephants being treated at the hospital at…
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Truck crash in Rawai pulls down power lines causing six hour blackout
PHOTOS: PEA A truck accident in Rawai has caused a blackout in Rawai for over six hours. (Some residents from Rawai contacted The Thaiger explaining that the power was off for 12 hours, not six as claimed by the PEA.) The Phuket Provincial Electric Authority reports that at 9.30pm last night a truck accident pulled down two power poles. The…
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Phuket police gear up for pre-election safety
More than 200 Phuket police yesterday lined up in a showcase parade to ‘assure’ locals, tourists and expats that they’re set up and ready for safety before the March 24 election. 245 police and Phuket’s Vice Governor Thanyawat Chanpinit lined up in front the Phuket City Police Station last night at 6 pm. The Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen…
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“Nothing to do with the election” – Deputy PM Prawit
Senior government security officials are claiming the series of bomb blasts last weekend in the southern provinces of Phatthalung and Satun are related to insurgency activities in the predominantly Muslim region. They say there is no connection with the upcoming election and that the timing is just co-incidence. The South has been racked by violence from an ongoing insurgency since…
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Security stepped up in Phuket in the wake of Satun and Patthalung bombs
Phuket security officials have increased safety and tourist security after suspects set off pipe bombs in Statun and Patthalung during the weekend. Although the southern provincial trio of Songkhla, Pattani and Narathiwat have been the site of a 20 year insurgency between southern Thais and Muslim insurgents, provinces north of the region have been largely spared any insurgency-related violence. That…
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Demolition order for illegal balcony at luxury villas in Ao Sane
PHOTO: Chatchanon Na Thalang A demolition order has been issued for an illegally constructed balcony, which also leads to a pool and spa, at the controversial villas being constructed overlooking Ao Sane beach near Nat Harn. Rawai Municipality put a halt to construction activities on the villas last week after Rawai officials noted that the balcony was not part of…
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Phuket 1988: Thai expat digs out his old Super 8 movies
David Barrett gets out his Super 8 projector for another film night – this time we see Patong in 1988, already quite developed even though mass tourism was still more than a decade away. The few high-rise are certainly not cluttering up the skyline at this time. David is sharing his early Super 8 movies with us as we wallow…
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Phuket airport numbers soar, despite the sag in the second half of 2018
“India became the fastest growing source market last year with more direct flights in 2019.” by Bill Barnett of C9 Hotelworks In 2018, Phuket tourism experienced volatile trading. While the first half year achieved a record high 4.8 million passenger arrivals, the second half year dropped unexpectedly due to the impact of the boat tragedy in July when 47 Chinese…
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Top 5 Phuket (and Thailand) hotel trends for 2019
by Bill Barnett Moving through high season in 2019, hoteliers are starting to look for strategies for the rest of the year in order to not be reliant only on volatile mass markets. The following is C9 Hotelworks read on key trends for the year. Pressure On Demand – Good Hotels Perform, Others Left Out Diving into the numbers, the reality is that…
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Phuket’s aircraft selfies to be moved from end of runway
PHOTO: Teerasak Saksritawee Phuket airport authorities are looking to restrict photography of aircraft from the northern end of Nai Yang beach, at the western end of the single Phuket International Airport runway. The beach has been a popular photo opportunity for visitors but is causing additional aviation safety concerns as the photography and airport traffic increase. Phuket Airport deputy director…
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Water restrictions on the agenda again as Phuket’s dams get low
The Phuket Water Authority, swinging wildly between ‘water restrictions’ and ‘there is plenty of water’, now says that water restrictions are again on the cards in a raft of suggestions being put to the Phuket Governor. The chief of the Provincial Waterworks Authority, Graisorn Mahamad, has raised the prospect of water restrictions (again) following the PM Prayut Chan-o-cha ordering water…
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Ocean Property launch first Phuket development
Thai real estate developer, Ocean Property, are continuing to expand outside of the capital with the launch of their first real estate development in Phuket – a townhome and modern commercial home office project “Ocean Town Muang-Ratsada”. Located in the heart of Phuket providing owners with easy access to all major infrastructure and island facilities, prices start from just 2.69…
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Government considers blanket alcohol bans on April 13
There’s a 24 hour ban on alcohol on the weekend preceding AND the actual election weekend this month. And next month is Songkran with the Government mooting possible blanket bans on Songkran day, April 13. This year the Government says they want an alcohol ban on the biggest annual holiday for Thais. It’s also part of the week when there…
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UPDATE: Arrest warrant issued for Patong taxi driver killer
An arrest warrant has been issued for the taxi driver who shot dead a fellow driver in Patong yesterday morning. The Patong Police were notified of the incident at 10.20am at a taxi stand on Phra Metta Road in Patong. Read more about yesterday’s daylight murder HERE and an update HERE. The Phuket Provincial Police Investigator Chief Col Akanit Danpitaksard says, “At…
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Two more king cobras caught in Kathu, Phuket – VIDEO
PHOTOS: Pannakorn Pongpao/Kathu Rescue Foundation/Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation Two 3-5 five metre king cobras have been caught at a Burmese worker’s house in Kathu, close to where another of the large reptiles was caught last weekend. Read more about the first snake caught in and around the camp HERE. Kusoldharm Rescue workers were notified that a king cobra was discovered by a…
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UPDATE: Taxi driver shot dead in Patong
A taxi driver was shot and killed in Patong this morning, apparently over an ongoing dispute at a taxi rank they worked at together. Patong police headed to the scene at 10.20am on Phra Metta Road (aka. Phang Muang Sai Kor Road) in Patong (third road back from the beach). The incident occurred at a make-shift taxi stand between The Marina…
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Taxi driver shot dead over taxi queue disagreement in Patong
A taxi driver has been shot dead in Patong this morning. The Patong Police were notified of the incident at 10.20am at a taxi stand on Phra Metta Road in Patong. Patong Police report that the suspect’s shooter was 48 year old Paradorn Puchaiyan. The injured 46 year old Songpon Suwansa-ard was taken to Patong Hospital where he was pronounced…
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Drunk woman recovered from lagoon in Rassada
PHOTOS: Tan Promedic Phuket Police have reported that a drunk woman walked straight into a lagoon in Rassada last night. Rescue workers helped to bring her back to shore before she drowned. She was rambling about wanting to see a mythical creature. Kusoldharm rescue worker were notified at 10.30pm that someone had walked into the lagoon in Soi Paneang in…
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Three Chinese arrested for working as photographers in wedding shoot
Three foreigners have been arrested for illegally working as pre-wedding photographers and assistants in Chalong . Officers arrested three Chinese for illegally working as pre-wedding photographers at the Wat Chalong yesterday. The arrest follow officers receiving a tip-off that there were foreigners doing photos shoots for pre-wedding pics at the popular Chalong Temple. There were three couples who were having…
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Two killed when motorbike rider and passenger ploughed into a house
A motorbike driver and passenger have died after a collision in Thalang this morning. The Thalang Police were notified of the accident on Thepkrasattri Road in Thalang at 3.10am. Police and emergency responders arrived to find a motorbike after it had collided head-on with a wall at the front of a house. Nearby they found two bodies, later identified as…
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Wanted Russian arrested after hiding in Phuket for four years
PHOTOS: Immigration Bureau A Russian man, wanted over illegal financial business dealings after hiding in Phuket for four years, has been arrested. The Immigration Bureau says that the suspect, 36 year old Alexey Dolzhenkov, a Russian national, was arrested last week. Immigration officers allege he was a broker who operated illegal financial businesses in the Russian language, from Phuket. They claim he…
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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