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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Wondering if you can drink the tap water in Thailand? From brushing your teeth to filling up a bottle, it’s helpful to understand a few basics. Tap water safety in Thailand varies by location, and while some people use it...
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Motorbike taxi driver arrested after robbing Australian tourist
A reenactment was held at Rawai Palm Beach Resort, opposite the Rawai Municipality yesterday (May 9) led by Chalong Police Chief Col Pakayot Tanongsak together with Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos. The suspect in the re-enacment was 48 year old Tanapon Sukjam, a motorbike taxi driver from Surat Thani who’s stationed at Rawai Beach. On May 8, around 3:30am, Tanapon robbed…
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Paklok community release new marine life to counter over-fishing in the region
The Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong attended activities yesterday (May 8) at the Baan Para Pier in Paklok at 4pm. Joining him were the Chief of the Phuket office of the Department of Fisheries, Kowit Kaoean and others. Mr Kowit says, “Our marine resources are being degenerated and decreased as illegal fisheries equipment continue to be used and there are many fisheries…
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JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa appoints new GM Matthias Y. Sutter
JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa is delighted to announce the appointment of Matthias Y. Sutter as the General Manager who brings with him a wealth of knowledge and 18 years of luxury hospitality expertise. In this role, he will be primarily responsible for managing the hotel operations and maintaining the exceptional services of the 265-room keys luxury Phuket resort…
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Nigerian man arrested with cocaine in Thalang
A team of the Thalang Police today (May 9) have arrested a 32 year old Nigerian man, Emeh Tobechukwu Kyran. He was arrested at a checkpoint on Thapkrasattri Road southbound in front of Thalang Police Station at 2.30am this morning. He was found cocaine with totaling 44.7grams. The arrest came after Kyran, who was driving a car, was stopped by…
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Police crackdown on Kathu and Patong pharmacies selling unlisted drugs
Officials from Kathu District Office led by Kathu District Chief Somprach Prabsongkram along with a pharmacist from the Phuket Public Health Office (PPHO), randomly checked pharmacies in the Kathu District this week. Three pharmacies in Patong have been checked and found to be legal. Police were checking for sales of cough syrups that could be used to mix with Kratom…
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Swedish man dies after allegedly jumping from 8th floor of a Phuket hotel
A Swedish man has died after allegedly jumping from the balcony of a Patong hotel. Patong Police were notified of the incident at 3:35pm yesterday (May 8). Together with rescue workers and Patong medical staff, they arrived at the hotel on Rat Uthit 200 Pi Road in Patong. At a parking area near the building they found the body of a…
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Changes to visa applications at the Thai Consulate-General in Penang
The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Penang has announced changes to its acceptance and delivery of visas. Penang, Malaysia, has been a popular destination for expats and tourists to head to, particularly from Phuket. There is an entire visa-run industry heading out of the island each day heading for Penang with hotels, restaurants and taxis all ready for the daily hordes…
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Soi Dog Saturday Opening Tours – come and meet your future best friend
Last Saturday, May 5, Soi Dog Foundation welcomed Phuket’s media to visit the Gill Dalley’s Sanctuary located in Mai Khao. The day was held to promote the extended visitor times to allow weekday-work people to experience one of Phuket’s most popular attractions – meet and mingle with small dogs, cats and kittens. The tour starts at 9.30-10.30am and led by…
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Kata Sea Breeze Resort has been awarded Thailand MICE Venue certification
PHOTO: Kata Sea Breeze Resort represented by Ms.Rutchaneegorn Chalayondeja, Group Director of Business development of AKSARA Collection received the award from Mr.Weerasak Kowsurat Kata Sea Breeze Resort is now a certified Thailand MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) Venue as certified by Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau for its Sea Sky Conference Room having met the required standards. This opens up…
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Tour operators called to discuss accident prevention
A meeting has been held at the Phuket Tourism and Sports Office this week led by Tourist Police commander Col Tongchai Wilaiprom together with the Director of the Phuket Provincial Office of Tourism and Sports, Sirawee Waloh. Joining them were local Phuket tour operators. Col Tongchai says “In recent years many tourists have died and been injured in marine and road accidents. These incidents…
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Spa fire in Koh Sirey under investigation
The Phuket City Police are still investigating a fire at a spa in Rassada on Saturday (May 5). When Police arrived at the spa a sauna room on the first floor had already been badly damaged. Investigators found burn marks on electric wired and a circuit breaker. A small section ceiling of the ceiling had been partly destroyed. No injuries…
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Phuket-Norway co-operation to promote local use of Electrical Vehicles (EVs)
A meeting was held yesterday (May 7) at the Phuket Provincial Hall hosted by the Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong and the Thai Ambassador to Norway, Prasittiporn Wetprasit. Joining them were Phuket’s Vice Governor Thawornwat Kongkaew along with a representative from Oslo, Sture Portuik and a representative from private sector, Snorre Sletvold. Mr Prasittiporn says, ”The government are supporting Electric Vehicles…
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Phuket’s private sector donates money to help Chalong Hospital
This morning (May 7), 9:30am thank-you certificates were handed out to people who have been donating money to assist in the completion of the Chalong Hospital, currently still under construction (the Accident and Emergency Section is already in operation). Certificates were given out by the Director of Vachira Phuket Hospital Doctor Chalermpong Sukontapon along with Director of Chalong Hospital Doctor…
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70 kilogram marbled whipray found in Krabi
A marbled whipray was found in Klongtom by a local fisherman 67 year old Mardya Tamsuan. Mr Mardya caught the whipray while he was fishing this early morning (May 7). The red big whipray is 1.5 metres diameter and two metre from head to tail. The whipray weighs about 70 kilograms. Mr Mardya says, “I took off from the shore…
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Two arrested with drugs and guns
Over the past few days a team of Sakoo Police led by Lt Col Urampohn Kundetsamrit have arrested 17 year old ‘Oat’ and 18 year old Permsak Somsakfrom, both from Phuket. Oat was found with 80 millilitres of liquid kratom inside a pot, one bottle of ‘Datissin’ cough syrup, a can of Pepsi, 50grams of kratom leaf and 400 millilitres of…
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Phuket Harmony World Puppet Festival 2018 – Sponsorship available now
Puppeteers from around the world are expected to descend on Phuket in early November for the Phuket Harmony World Puppet Festival 2018. Launched in 2013 by the Semathai Marionette Arts for Social Foundation, the Harmony World Puppet Festival is aimed at promoting puppeteering and helping people to express themselves while preserving their culture through marionette art. The five-day festival regularly…
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Two arrested with drugs bought from social media sent via parcel post
The Phuket Provincial Police led by Lt Col Pongpan Siripattaranukul have arrested two suspects this week, buying their drugs through social media. On Friday (May 3) at 8:30pm police arrested 33 year old Jennarong ‘A’ Nareewan at D Condo Kathu condominium. He was found with 50.87grams of crystal meth (ya ice), 15 of methamphatamine (ya bah) and nine bullets. He…
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National parks drawing up plans for clean, cheaper energy
An action plan to develop cheaper and environmentally friendly power supply for national parks nationwide is being drafted in a joint venture involving the Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. Officers from all national parks in the southern region attended a three-day workshop in Krabi arranged by the KMUTT and the…
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Phuket Airport’s arrival growth soars
By Bill Barnett of c9hotelworks.com. Looking at the numbers alone, the new upgrade and expansion of Phuket International Airport has been a roaring success (although the renovations are ongoing and, especially the domestic terminal, are an unfinished mess right now). January through March, 2018 passenger arrivals at Phuket International Airport surged by 19.3% compared to the same period last year, totalling…
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Phuket street art group calls for justice over Premchai black panther case
Graffiti in Thailand has so far been an instrument to denounce social injustice following the murder of the protected black panther, and Phuket is another location where this street art is being expressed. A local Phuket group has painted their thoughts on the walls in the heart of old Phuket Town. On February 4, a black panther was killed in…
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Six metre python released back to the Krabi forest
Officials of a local foundation in Krabi have released a 6 metre long python back into a forest this morning (Friday) after they captured it at a house in the Muang district the previous evening. The snake, which weighs about 50 kilograms, was captured from a pile of wooden planks near the duck pen of a house in Tambon Tapprik.…
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Five people in custody after bomb-making equipment and chemicals discovered
Five people have been handed over to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) this morning (Friday) linked to the discovery of 1800 bars of ‘Powergel’ in Pathum Thani last month. Powergel is routinely used as a mining explosive and comes in the form of bars. Two of the suspects are 46 year old Yutthana Chidchol, a police officer from Sakoo station in Phuket,…
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Phuket Court denies bail in alleged property fraud case
PHOTO: Emerald Development Group Facebook page Bail has been denied at a hearing in the Phuket Provincial Court earlier today in the case of Sawit ‘Mai’ Ketroj who was arrested at Phuket International Airport on May 1 over a case involving alleged fraud related to the Emerald Development Group. Khun Mai’s lawyers say they will appeal the decision of the Court…
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Only one Patong bar staff failed the ‘purple pee test’
Only one out of 47 bar staff tested in Patong was found with purple urine (when added to a reagent) in drugs tests conducted in a raid of the party zone last night (Thursday). Officials from Kathu District Office led by Kathu District Chief Somprach Prabsongkram along with Patong Police and medical staff from Patong Hospital were randomly selecting Patong…
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Crackdown on illegal hotels
Tourist Police have announced a continuation of the crackdown on illegal hotels in Phuket. Tourist Police are also continuing to locate and get rid of tour operators’ nominees – using Thai people as a ‘front’ for foreign tour companies. The owner of a condominium project development company has been arrested after the condos were sold but the construction had never…
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AKSARA Collection appoints new Director of Hotels and Resorts
The Pattaravornee Family of Phuket are very proud to announce that Mr. Matthew C Hindmarch, who joined the company as General Manager for Kata Sea Breeze Resort and part of the development team of The SIS Kata Phuket four years ago, has been promoted to position of Director of Hotels and Resorts. In this role, Khun Matthew who has been…
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More than 50 Patong operators releasing untreated wastewater
Patong Municipality is preparing to dredge the Pakbang Canal at the southern end of Patong Beach this week before more heavy rain. Operators who are releasing untreated wastewater into drains are being asked to urgently to solve the problem before legal action will be taken and enforced. Patong’s Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup says, “We are solving the problem of black and…
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COMMENT: The fall of the Emerald Development Group
Today is Mai Sawit Ketroj’s birthday. He’ll be spending it behind bars after being questioned by police about alleged fraud involving the Emerald Development Group. In a packed media conference yesterday Tourist Police Deputy Commander Maj Gen Surachet Hakpan outlined the unravelling of the prominent Phuket property development company. “The suspect admitted that he has a lack of financial resources…
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Emerald Condo alleged fraud case – CEO arrested
Sawit ‘Mai’ Ketroj arrives at Patong Police Station for questioning this morning The owner of a condominium project development company has been arrested after the condos were sold but the construction had never started. Police say that their current investigation estimates potential losses for buyers could exceed a billion baht. Police commanders have ordered officers to investigate after Patong Police…
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Four month old foetus found in Chalong canal
Chalong Police were notified about the body of a foetus found in a canal in Soi Kuwattana, Chalong at about midday today (May 2). Chalong Police, along with the Forensic Police and rescue workers, went to the scene to investigate. At the scene they found the foetus of an undetermined gender. The body was covered with a white cloth and…
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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