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 A World Kindness Day: Spread kindness, prevent illness - Get your 10% discount
With World Kindness Day just two days away on November 13, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how empathy and care can make a real impact, not just in our relationships but in our health, too. This day is...
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Watch leather back sea turtle eggs on Phang Nga beach via cams
PHOTOS: DMCR Fences have been set up on Kuek Kak Beach in Khao Lak, Phang Nga to prevent thieves and animals from disturbing turtle eggs that were laid there earlier last week. There are now six CCTVs monitoring the area. A mother leather back sea turtle laid 93 eggs at the beach in Khao Lak, Phang Nga last week. The 89…
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Annual Red Cross Fair ‘Phuket Brand Phuket Best’ begins
PHOTOS: The Phuket PR Office The Phuket Annual Red Cross fair, under the name ‘Phuket Brand Phuket Best’ kicked off at Saphan Hin last night and runs until January 6. The fair was officially opened last night led by Phuket’s Governor Pakkapong Tawipat. The popular 11 day fair features hundreds of stalls selling local delicacies, knickknacks, clothing and a huge…
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No deaths in the first day of ‘seven days of danger’ in Phuket
FILE PHOTO As reports are tallied for the first full day of the ‘Seven Days of Danger’ road and marine safety campaign, no deaths were reported but five people have been injured. According to statistics issued by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Phuket Office the island saw 5 road accidents on Day One of the campaign, resulting…
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Patong’s beach road closed for an hour for new year celebrations
The Patong beach road will officially close for an hour as Patong revelers celebrate New Year 2019 at the island’s most famous beach. Thaweewong Road (Beach Road) will close from 11.30pm-12.30am. The closure is meant to be a safety measure to stop the volume of tourists and new year revelers from being run over. But last new year the traffic was…
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Two whale sharks sighted off Kamala Beach
PHOTOS: ชารีพหัวควน VIDEO: Newshawk Phuket Two whale sharks have been spotted off Kamala Beach this week. A Facebook user ‘Niruj Kdtv Kamala’ has posted two photos on his personal facebook with a message reading, “Kamala fishermen have spotted two whale sharks which were swimming with the boat about three nautical miles off Kamala Beach.” Meanwhile, a large whale shark has…
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GoAir expands flights to Phuket with daily operations
Budget passenger carrier GoAir has announced that it is enhancing its operations to Phuket with the launch of daily directly flights from Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru. According to the airline, it expanded the services effective December 22. “At the beginning GoAir started two direct flights per week to Phuket from Delhi, three direct flights per week to Phuket from…
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Religious ceremonies held at the Tsunami Memorial Wall in Mai Khao
Three religions ceremony were held yesterday at the Tsunami Memorial Wall in Mai Khao yesterday commemorating 14 years since the deadly tsunami that struck the island. About 100 people joined the ceremony conducted in the style of three religions – Buddhism, Islam and Christian. Flowers were placed at the wall by survivors and the families and friends of those that perished…
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Tsunami survivors gather for the 14th anniversary of the Boxing Day tragedy
Services remembering the tsunami victims were held in six southern coastal provinces of Thailand, because they all shared in this tragedy. On the 14th anniversary of Thailand’s only recorded tsunami, relatives of those killed by the waves gathered yesterday to remember their loved ones. “I lost 11 family members in that tsunami and I could not locate all their bodies,”…
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Tsunami remembrance ceremony held on Patong Beach
Locals, tourists and provincial dignitaries gathered this morning at Patong Beach for a remembrance ceremony commemorating 14 years since the deadly tsunami that struck the island on the morning of December 26, 2004. The ceremony, presided over by Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup started at nine 9am. Flowers were placed on Patong Beach to remember those that died in the disaster. Official…
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New Chalong Circle traffic conditions for New Year traffic
PHOTO: The Phuket PR Office The Phuket Highway Office has announced new traffic conditions for the Chalong Circle roadworks during New Year. In the announcement there is no date mentioned for the start of what they call “new year festival’ but most of the changes listed are already in force. The map (below) provided by the Phuket Highway Office is…
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AMLO seizes ‘Phoenix’, plans to sell by auction
The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has seized the ‘Phoenix’ which will now be sold by auction. The Thai Immigration Bureau Chief, Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn, has already confirmed that many aspects of the ‘Phoenix’ design and operation were substandard. The issues which made Phoenix illegal and substandard are mostly fixable, including proper marine-grade glass, marine-grade propulsion, proper bulkhead doors, ballasting and approved…
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Two Russian tourists from Phuket lost in Phang Nga forest, found safe
Officers were searching more than four hours for two Russian tourists who got lost in the Sa Nang Manora Forest Park in Phang Nga last night. But good news, they were both eventually found safe. Phang Nga police were searching for two Russian tourists, a 28 year old Russian woman and 29 year old Russian man. They were found at the…
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Fire damaged an embroidery shop in Phuket Town, put radio station off air
A fire has damaged an embroidery shop in Phuket Town yesterday afternoon. The damage bill is estimated about many hundred thousand baht. The Thaiger 102.75 FM has its transmitter and tower on the same building. The radio station was off air until 11am this morning as the power had been cut as a precaution. Firefighters were notified of the fire…
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4,600 million baht in assets seized from illegal tour company
The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has seized 4,600 baht in assets from the OA Transport Company after a court judgement over their operations in Phuket and other provinces. At a media scrum held at the Police Region 8 headquarter in Mai Khao yesterday, officers made the announcements, led by Royal Thai Police Deputy Chief Gen Rungroj Sangkram, Secretary – General of…
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Fisheries Department warns of fake news that a woman died from shells in Phuket
The Fisheries Department has issued an official statement after a website published ‘fake news’ that a woman was killed by shells on Phuket beach this weekend. The Fisheries Department is reporting that “a website www.Gmmwork.com has published news stating that a woman has died on a Phuket beach. The story claims that, under her body, they found ‘Neverita didyma’ which is…
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Chinese parents present four life insurance policies to Kamala police
“They believed that Zhang didn’t have money of his own.” Chinese parents have presented four life insurance policies, valued at almost 100 million baht, to Kamala police after their daughter was murdered in Phuket in October. A Chinese man, who allegedly murdered his wife, ‘Xiaojie’ (not her real name), remains in custody at the Phuket Provincial Court. The Kamala Police…
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87 year old bedridden woman killed in Phuket fire
An 87 year old bedridden woman was burnt to death last night in a house fire in Phuket Town. The Phuket City Police were notified of the fire in Soi Cherng Keeree in Phuket Town at 7.10pm Saturday night. Police, emergency responders and firefighters arrived to find the wooden house with a zinc/steel roof ablaze. It took firefighters about 15…
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Phuket’s most romantic dinner at Thavorn Beach Village Resort & Spa
A Unique Experience – Amy Bensema Looking for a memorable dining experience while in Phuket? Today, we had the chance to dine at Nakalay Beachfront Dining by Thavorn Beach Village Resort & Spa. The dining experience offers up the chance to enjoy a unique romantic beachfront dinner in an idyllic setting. Perfect for couples seeking a romantic evening by the…
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Two suspects arrested with drugs in Phuket
Police have arrested two suspects with 4,187 methamphetamine pills and 65.04 grams of crystal methamphetamine this week. Police arrested 31 year old Sorrawit ‘Ball’ Singkornrat from Phuket and 22 year old Lalita ‘Aui’ Boonchadoo from Roi-et at a department store in Phuket Town. Police seized the 4,187 methamphetamine pills and 65.04 grams of crystal methamphetamine after they arrested the two…
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Pulp Fiction – Phuket tourism by numbers
by Bill Barnett This week netizens have been captivated over a photo in the blogosphere proclaiming that “Phuket high-season was dead as a dodo.” Excuse me as I digress for just a minute on the subject of dodo’s, which is clearly something I know nothing about, hence putting myself on par with the individual proclaiming the ‘end of days’ for…
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195K meth pills seized inside wheels on a truck at Phuket Checkpoint
Officers have arrested a Thai man trying to smuggle 195,810 methamphetamine pills hidden inside a pickup truck’s wheels on vehicle transport truck at the Phuket Checkpoint. Officers arrested 32 year old Yuttapon ‘Jack’ Suktong from Trang. Officers seized a total of 195,810 methamphetamine pills. The Region 8 Police Deputy Commander Maj Gen Nantadet Yoinuan says, “Police received a tip-off that…
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Cherng Talay Police narrowly escape injury after drunk driver plows through checkpoint – VIDEO
A drunk driver has been arrested and charged after breaking through checkpoint in Cherng Talay, narrowly avoiding knocking over an attending officer. Cherng Talay Police have arrested 27 year old Pittaya Timtong from Ratchaburui. Cherng Talay Police Chief Col Serm Khwannimit says, “At 1.30am yesterday early morning the police were at the checkpoint on Srisoonthorn Road in front of the…
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UPDATE: The sea-going stray dog has disappeared from Ao Chalong
Saranyoo Hassanai, who works at Chalong Bay, has spoken to Newshawk Phuket about the stray dog that had been hanging around Ao Chalong Pier for the past month, seemingly intent in finding its owner. It jumps onto boats that are tied up to the pier, waiting to take tourists out to the islands. Last Monday, it jumped into the water trying…
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Motorcyclist dies after collision with power pole in Koh Kaew
A motorbike driver has died at the scene after colliding with a power pole in Koh Kaew. Phuket City Police were notified of the incident on Thepkrasattri Road, northbound, before the entrance of the Bang Khu Underpass at 5am this morning. Police and emergency responders arrived to find the body of 20 year old Eakkarat Saelim from Nakhon Si Thammarat.…
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Rare species back at Similan Islands after tourist numbers restricted – VIDEO
PHOTOS: The Department of National Park Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department PR Office VIDEO: Phuket Marine Natinal Parks Operation Centre 2 / Thanakorn Trakarntanasuk / Newshawk Phuket A pair of leopard sharks have been spotted at the Similan Islands following the restriction of the number of tourists visiting the archipelago. The Department of National Park Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department PR Office…
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Reward offered to passenger who reported Phuket’s multi-tasking bus driver
PHOTO: The Phuket PR Office A 5,000 baht reward has been offered to the passenger who filmed and posted video of Phuket’s ‘multi-tasking’ bus driver. The Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) has fined the Phuket to Songkhla bus driver who, last Saturday, was captured on video, driving a bus full of passengers, with his young son sitting on his lap and…
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Number of tourists visiting Phuket still high – TAT Phuket
In response to a number of completely fabricated negative stories about Phuket’s current tourism situation, Kanokkittika Kritwuttikorn, the director of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket Office says, “Number of tourists visiting Phuket is still good when compared to last year’s numbers. We’ve also spoken to many regional tour operators who say that bookings are ‘solid’ for this time of…
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Thailand Yacht Show and Rendezvous – January 10-13
The fourth edition of the Thailand Yacht Show & RendezVous is set to take place in Phuket January 10-13 at Royal Phuket Marina. Targeting yachting enthusiasts and lifestyle-seekers from all over the region, the Thailand Yacht Show & RendezVous has become a key marketing platform and revenue generator for the industry, as well as positioning Thailand in its rightful place…
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Phuket beach back to normal after oil-spill clean-up
PHOTOS: The Phuket PR Office A beach in Ao Makham is almost back to normal following a big cleanup was launched to clear a black oil spill that had polluted 300 metres of shoreline yesterday. The oil spill was located along a beach at Ao Makham in Wichit over the weekend. It is believed to be from a big ship.…
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240 million baht in assets seized in Patong and Chiang Mai counterfeit raids
Lt Gen Surachate Hakparn is continuing his counterfeit goods crackdown in Patong and Chiang Mai where 240 million baht of assets have been seized over the past month. At a media scrum held at the Police Region 8 headquarter in Mai Khao yesterday Surachate said, “We have raided four targeted areas in Patong and four targeted areas at the Chiang Mai night…
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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