News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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Sponsored 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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Andara’s new project bags 4 awards
PHUKET: Further entrenching the Andara brand on the island is the sweeping of four awards for the developer’s latest entry in Kamala, Andara Signature Resorts and Villas, at the Thailand Property Awards 2015 last week. Building up on the huge success of the 26 Andara Villas and 37 Andara Residences, the new phase was named Best Villa Development (Phuket); Best…
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Missing IUU vessel now chased internationally
PHUKET: The ongoing search for the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing vessel that slipped through the fingers of Phuket officials earlier this month (story here) is now the subject of an international pursuit, confirmed Vice Admiral Sayan Prasongsamrej, commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command yesterday. “As soon as we received the report that the vessel had…
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Local cycling team takes top honors
PHUKET: The Phuket-based cycling group Team Fourteen won the 40 kilometer Team Time Trial held in Surat Thani on Sunday. Daniel Amby, Greg Dick, Sunny Teerasak and Jonathan Fowler completed the out-and-back flat course in a time of 54:40 with an average speed of 44.23km/h. A total of 29 teams from throughout Thailand competed in the event, which was sponsored…
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Officials reveal plans for Surin beachfront makeover
PHUKET: Cherng Talay Administration Organization (OrBorTor) President Ma-ann Samran has revealed his dream project for Surin’s beachfront after the current land encroachment cases have been settled. “Originally I planned to have a public park, activity space and a walkway, as well as a stadium,” Mr Ma-ann said. “The plan was submitted to the governor several months ago with an estimated…
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Video Report: Phuket guides demand action
PHUKET: About one hundred tour guides descended upon Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong today, demanding that they be allowed to partake in the investigation into illegal tour guides and that the governor evaluate the performance of the current director of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) Phuket Office. “We are following up on promises made last year about foreign tour…
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Property Watch: Pitfalls in Thai property market
PHUKET: Inevitably I have seen a fair amount of unethical and immoral behavior in Phuket connected to my work and the experiences of clients. This, combined with the huge changes in the Phuket business, infrastructure, development and demographics, has led me to conduct a quick mental check on where we stand in Phuket when it comes to morals, and how…
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A Decade Ago: Water woes, camel toes
PHUKET: Water woes – how many times has the Gazette used that headline in the last ten years? Well, it soaked through page one again as Phuket’s sole public reservoir in 2005 was ‘down to [its] last few drops’. Not too long ago, when those of us currently on the island were knee deep in flood waters, we found out…
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New 3D smartphone app aims to help tourists – but not in Phuket
PHUKET: Thailand’s Tourist Police launched a new smartphone application last week in hopes of improving service and convenience for tourists – but not for those on the tourist island of Phuket. The augmented reality application, ‘Thailand Tourist Trips and Tips AR Book’, enables tourists to use their smartphones to learn about the basics of Thai culture; to get tips on…
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First Person: Helping Patong’s growth
Preechavude ‘Prab’ Keesin, 39, a Patong native, is best known as the Managing Director of the Pisona Group. He attended Kasetsart University in Bangkok where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. He now holds a PhD in public administration from Phuket Rajabhat University. Here he talks about the changes needed for Patong to move forward and meet the demands…
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Phuket air pollution warning lifted
PHUKET: Officials have lifted an air quality health warning for the island after the haze caused by Indonesian wildfires decreased yesterday. “Air pollution levels dropped to an average of 94 micrograms per cubic meter for the last 24-hour period,” Pornsri Suthanarak, director of the Regional Environmental Office, told the Phuket Gazette. On Saturday, air pollution on the island maintained levels…
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“Stinky Squid’ shroom to bring good luck, says local
PHUKET: Locals believe that the rare ‘stinky squid’ mushroom they discovered in a jasmine pot after making merit in Chalong yesterday morning will bring them good luck. “My family and I had just returned to from Wat Chalong, and I was watering the plants when I saw the mushroom. It looked so weird to me: it was like a squid…
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Island View: Market for creativity
PHUKET: Having just moved to Phuket Old Town from Bangkok a couple of months ago, the huge difference between the great metropolis and this petite community is unavoidably on my mind. Of all its charming features, particularly the Sino-Portuguese architecture which harks back to the island’s long history, it is the Lard Yai Sunday Walking Street market which really delights…
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Illegal Phuket gun dealing conducted in closed Facebook groups
PHUKET: Closed groups on social media platforms are facilitating a boom in illegal factory built and homemade firearms, confirmed the head of the Phuket City Police this week. “A decade ago, people would need the know-how or a special connection to get their hands on a firearm. But now, with Google and YouTube, as well as social media, such as…
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Haze prompts officials to issue health warning
PHUKET: Phuket officials issued a health warning today, after air pollution on the island maintained levels above the public safety standard for the last 24 hours. “Phuket’s air pollution level has continuously been above 120 micrograms per cubic meter for a 24-hour period,” Pornsri Suthanarak, director of the Regional Environmental Office, told the Phuket Gazette. According to their research, Phuket…
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No health warning issued for Phuket haze
PHUKET: The Regional Environmental Office has yet to issue a health warning for the thick Indonesian haze that settled over Phuket today. However, the current air conditions on the island have raised concern among experts despite it being deemed safe. “We are monitoring it very carefully,” Pornsri Suthanarak, the director of the Regional Environmental Office told the Phuket Gazette. “We…
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Locals take road safety measures into own hands
PHUKET: Four local men used money from their own pockets to help fix dangerous sections of the bypass road near the Samkong underpass construction site yesterday. Kanin Raksaraj, Jiradet Sawatjan, Somsak Juapsri and Suthisak Srikong bought two bags of asphalt, costing 350 baht, to fix the road. “We have seen so many accidents happen over and over again on the…
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Movie museum to break ground in November
PHUKET: The island’s first-ever “movie museum” is expected to break ground in November, according to local officials. “The Department of Tourism will be leading the project,” Santi Pawai, director of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports Phuket office, told the Phuket Gazette today. “The contract has been signed and the work is expected to start in November and be completed…
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Police: New governor likely to act on Surin Beach encroachment
PHUKET: Police expect Chamroen Tipayapongtada, who will be the governor of Phuket as of October 1, to strongly back their efforts to evict a number of Surin Beach clubs and businesses that are allegedly encroached on public land. “I don’t think it will take long once the new governor takes charge. He was previously a vice governor for the province…
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Patong requests expansion of entertainment zone
PHUKET: Nightlife venue operators have requested an expansion of the Patong entertainment zone in a letter to the Ministry of Interior that also requested a change for the closing time of their bars and clubs. The letter, which was supported by the Kathu District Office, Patong Entertainment Business Association and a number of private nightlife venue owners, was sent after…
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Lifeguards issue warning against marine activities
PHUKET: Lifeguards issued a marine activities warning to tourists and island residence following the death of a teen fisherman whose body was recovered yesterday evening (story here). “Rough seas claimed another life this year. I urge everyone to avoid marine activities of any type, especially swimming and fishing, during these current weather conditions,” said Kata-Karon Chief Lifeguard Uten Singsom. Mr…
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Phuket lifeguards recover missing teen’s body
PHUKET: Lifeguards have recovered the body of a missing teen off Kata Beach yesterday evening. Boonchiaw Thongdonmuang, 18, was fishing with friends on a rock outcrop known as ‘Laem Fa‘ when he was struck by a large wave and taken out to sea Wednesday afternoon (story here). “His body was brought to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where relatives identified him,” confirmed…
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Business Buzz: Don’t forget the database
PHUKET: Almost every business these days has at least some form of website and social media presence. What still amazes me, though, is how few are creating a database – which is actually their biggest asset. Simple Marketing 101 suggests you need potential customers to make a sale. And the easiest way to get potential customers is to create a…
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Finance: Continuing education
PHUKET: I have always been a big fan of education. It was instilled in me by my father from the time I was young and saw all of my friends leaving education early for the allure of a quick paycheck. Obviously, the short-sightedness of that only becomes apparent in hindsight, but I don’t think it is ever too late to…
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F1 racers heat train on Phuket
PHUKET: Adding to Phuket’s appeal as a first-rate sports destination is the recent arrival of two Formula 1 drivers, Jenson Button and Marcus Ericsson, to acclimatize to the heat at a local training camp prior to the Singapore Grand Prix. Aside from heat training at the Thanyapura sports facility, the pair are also doing some triathlon training with fellow triathletes…
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Lessons from AMCHAM: Waking the Sleeping Dragon’s FIT market
PHUKET: Few, if any, of those in the hospitality industry are unaware of the importance of high-end free independent travellers (FIT) from the ‘Sleeping Dragon’. In order to better understand the Chinese market and adjust marketing strategies sufficiently, the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Thailand will host an event tomorrow at the JW Marriott Mai Khao Ballroom. “It is all…
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Plastic bag possibly killed dolphin, says Phuket expert
PHUKET: A striped dolphin found washed up on Nai Yang Beach on Tuesday most likely died from the consumption of a plastic bag, explained marine experts today. “It was about 15 years old, 2.45 meters long and approximately 90 kilograms. It had a wound near its eye,” said Patcharaporn Gaewmong, a Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) veterinarian. “The results from…
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Opinion: Social media opens floodgates for gun trade
PHUKET: The wide-scale presence of homemade guns is nothing new in Phuket, but the increased ease with which potential buyers can source firearms through the social media should be a source of great concern for law enforcement agencies – as well as society at large. The revelation that these gun purchases are now often conducted through social media platforms, such…
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Deputy PM launches Thailand Yacht Show
PHUKET: Deputy Prime Minister General Thanasak Patimaprakorn officially launched the much-anticipated Thailand Yacht Show yesterday. The marine festivities will run for seven days from February 8 to 14 at Ao Po Grand Marina, the event organizers, Singapore Yacht Events Pte Ltd (SYE), announced earlier this month (story here). Activities will range from recreational sailing, paddle boarding and water sports to…
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Two killed in head-on motorbike crash
PHUKET: A head-on motorbike collision early this morning killed two men and put two others in hospital as one of the drivers attempted to navigate around roadworks in Rassada, Phuket City Police confirmed. Rescue workers rushed the two Indonesian survivors, named only as Lain, 23, and Dusoe, 24, to Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) Hospital. “When we arrived at the…
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Kiwis off the hook after paying ‘dine and dash’ tab
PHUKET: Police yesterday released two New Zealanders who were arrested upon arrival at Phuket International Airport on Monday after the pair settled their 2-year-old unpaid restaurant bill with Blue Marine Resort and Spa in Patong (story here). “The settlement was made yesterday evening,” Capt Yingyong Chuoykij of the Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette. Brian Russell Finn, 54, and his…
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