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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SATURDAY MORNING HEADLINES – All your news in 3 minutes
Welcome to your weekend. Your Saturday ‘Boat Lagoon Weekend’ is on tonight from 6pm. Plenty of fun and food for all ages. For our weekend headlines, just click on the heading for the full story. Here are today’s main Phuket and Thai headlines… Two Thai men wed in Queensland Australia Two Thai men have been among the first same-sex couples…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, January 12
Would you pay 40 baht for a small bottle of water in Thailand? | Prawit’s watch collection knows no bounds | Chalong ‘drifters’ hand themselves in | Committee set up to manage the Layan beach foreshore | Bangkok sends it’s cable underground…eventually | Dismantling begins of the Royal Crematorium in Sanam Luang.
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Marine Office sets new life vest standards
The Phuket Marine Office has issued a rule about life vest standard’s certification for each boat to ensure all vessels only use the life vest approved by the Marine Office to guarantee quality. Phuket Marine Office Chief, Surat Sirisaiyat, says that the new rule will order all boats to use life vesta approved by the Marine Office, which comprises qualifications…
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FRIDAY MORNING HEADLINES – All your news in 3 minutes
Chalong racers charged over drifting The 10 drivers, who have been drifting their cars and spinning wheels in Chalong, generally disturbing the locals, handed themselves into Police last night. They are accused of reckless driving, blocking the traffic way and disturbing the public. The 10 cars were seized by the police. The video on Facebook showing the group in Chalong’s…
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Phuket sets up committee to manage Layan & Laypang beaches
PHOTO: OrBorTor President Ma’Ann Samran showing reporters and officials where the beach is. By Salinee Prap Phuket has set up a committee to manage the 178-rai Layan and Laypang beaches in Thalang district after it was ruled as public space by the Supreme Court last year. Efforts will be made to allow common use and prevent anymore encroachments, Phuket Land…
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Dante Alighieri Phuket rolls their sleeves up for the elderly
Today (January 11), Dante Alighieri Society Phuket distributed food for elderly people at Ban Phuket Elders Public Aid in Thalang. Mrs Nonglak Khantong, president of Dante Alighieri Phuket and Mr Carlo Briola, treasurer of the Association, have declared that this is just the first of the group’s charity initiatives. Already recognised by Provincial officials, Dante Alighieri Phuket aims to promote…
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Progress on Sea Gypsy Sirinath NP fishing case
Rawai’s Mayor, Arun Solos, led a group of Rawai Sea Gypsies to file a complaint this morning (January 11), in order to call for justice for the 6 fishermen arrested in Sirinath Marine National Park. The mayor headed a delegation including Niran Yangpan, the community leader, village chief and sub-district chief with the 6 fishermen to hand the letter to…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, January 11
Kathu Temple being asked why it is in business with Chinese Tour Groups | Yingluck on ‘Entrepreneur’ visa in the UK | Minimum wage decision postponed | Dental Council warning us against online orthodontic promotions | BKK receives 120mm in rain over 24 hours | Thai goalie first ever for Euro football team
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THURSDAY MORNING HEADLINES – All your news in 3 minutes
Would someone please call the Thai Meteorological Department and explain to them that it’s not meant to rain this time of the year! More rain sells expected at some time today although we predict (without any scientific knowledge) that they will be brief (we hope). Here’s today’s main news stories… Don’t shop for orthodontic services online! The Dental Council is warning people…
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Ten injured in buggy crash in Hanuman World, Kathu
A buggy transporting tourists to Phuket’s famous zip lining destination, Hanuman World in Kathu, crashed into a tree resulting in 10 people being injured and taken to hospitals. Yesterday afternoon (January 9), a group 8 tourists from Kazakhstan were traveling on the buggy to the zip line destination when the driver, Boonrak Sri-Iad, who works for Hanuman World, crashed the…
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I’ve got a drone. Can I bring it with me to Thailand? Yes, but…
INFOGRAPHIC: Tourism Authority of Thailand Last week it was reported that over 7,000 drones had been registered for flying in Thailand since October 2, 2017 when the law came into effect where drones must be registered. This number only included drones registered at NBTC offices, not at police stations around the country, so the true number of registrations is much…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, January 10
Boat wreck threatens oil spill off Cape Panwa | Porche Vs Taxi in BKK | Big rains in the capital overnight | Van crash kills one, injures eight | Three killed in Pattaya after high-speed bike crash | Minimum wage debate heats up | “Get off the bus!”
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WEDNESDAY MORNING HEADLINES – All your news in 3 minutes
A lot of stories making up our news feeds today, from all over Thailand. Let’s ignore the threat of a 100% chance of rain from the forecast and focus on the sunshine in between. Here are today’s main news stories… Minimum wage rise, but… Debate over a rise in the minimum wage is heating up, with a key battleground opening…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, January 9
Over 7,000 drones registered so far | Taxi industry getting new ‘Taxi OK’ App | Suspects arrested over bus torching in South last month | No plans as yet for HM King’s coronation | Restaurants holding out along Layan Beach | Brit arrested in Pattaya over women falling from balcony | Latest in the Bang Tao beach ‘private beach’ affair.
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TUESDAY MORNING HEADLINES – All your local news in 3 minutes
Hang on.. “100% rain predicted Wednesday and Thursday”. Isn’t this meant to be the dry-season, the high-season, the blue-sky season? Despite the dramatic forecasts we still seem to be getting plenty of sunshine. Here’s today’s main new stories… Bus torching leads to arrests More arrests are anticipated over the torching of a Bangkok-bound bus in southern Yala province last month thanks…
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Russian rape story ‘misunderstanding’
Reports on social media that a 28 year old Russian woman had been attacked and raped on Koh Phi Phi are false according to local police. Police say there was no truth to the suggestion there was a misunderstanding after the alleged victim told a Russian friend to contact police. Polina Shemiakina, a Russian yoga teacher had arrived on the holiday…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, January 8
Private Beach in Bang Tao. Huh?! | Update on Phuket Immigration website | Yingluck awaiting asylum status in the UK | Toon’s charity money WILL be used to purchase hospital equipment | South Korean, with a US passport, got naked at airport | Ao Nang Beach effluent outcry | 42 arrested in Songkhla in rubber plantation gambling raid.
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MONDAY MORNING HEADLINES – All your local news in 3 minutes
PHOTO: Over 40 Gamblers rounded-up after a gambling den was raided in Songkhla. Many escaped. The weather says rain, our eyes say sunshine. Still, it’s going to be 30 degrees. Many schools are back from today and the traffic seems to be getting back to its usual crawl. Here’s today’s main news stories… Dusit Thani ask German tourist to move…
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‘Private beach’ in front of Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket
The video of Facebook user Aziz Yotharak, who uploaded a post of a tourist being asked to move from the ‘private’ beach in front of Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket, has gone viral whilst the resort denies that they ordered the staff to chase the tourist and his children off the beach. The video shows the tourist with two children sitting…
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Frenzied passenger at Phuket airport
FILE PHOTO Phuket International Airport has issued an explanation letter today (January 7) regarding a video of a distraught naked man who went berserk in the international terminal. The South Korean passenger admitted that he had taken too much Viagra. The airport insisted that the officers arrested him harmlessly. At about 11pm on January 4, the 27 year old South…
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SUNDAY HEADLINES – All your local news in 3 minutes
Some rain overnight around the island and more of the sun/cloud/light winds predicted over the next week. Just like last year, the ‘usual’ high-season weather isn’t arriving in 2018. Here are today’s main news stories… Four crew drown after shipping incident in the Gulf Four crew from a Thai fishing boat have drowned after it was hit and sunk by…
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Phuket Headlines – November 1, 2018
PM says election delays ‘inevitable’ Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha says he may have to delay the calling of elections because the Sub-Committee for Drawing Things was still trying to choose the best font for the ballot papers. He also noted that the media’s continuous barrage of questions about an election date gave him no time to call an election. Asked…
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Century old Phuket house to become VIP accommodation and museum
Phuket Governor, Norapat Plodthong, hosted a meeting planning to renovate the hundred year old Charter Bank House, which belongs to the Treasury Department, to become accommodation for VIPs who are visiting Phuket. The first draft plans are expected to be finished by January 15. The Governor has already filed a letter to the Ministry of Interior to use the location.…
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Krabi’s cleaning hero
A 67 year old woman, Mookda Janan, a local from Krabi, has volunteered to broom a kilometre of local street twice everyday for the past 5 years. She brooms the streets in the morning and evening and cleans the sala on the side road of Phetchakasem Road in Klongtom District impressing the locals and setting a great example. “I used…
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Phuket’s low season growth produces record tourism numbers in 2017
By Bill Barnett of c9Hotelworks.com For 2017 the island’s gateway airport posted 11.3% year-on-year growth to reach an estimated 8.4 million incoming passengers. This was mainly driven by a 20% surge in Mainland Chinese travelers to the island and a rising number visitors during low season of 11.2% compared to the same period in 2016. Passenger arrivals remain the key…
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Japanese tourist killed by boat propellor in Koh Similan
Just days after the Phuket Governor reported a clean sheet for marine boat accidents during the Seven Dangerous Days reporting period, a Japanese tourist has died during a trip to Koh Similan. 37 year old Yoshida Saori from Japan was scuba diving alone near Koh Tachai yesterday (January 4). She jumped from the boat when a big wave pushed her…
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Drugs crackdown on Naka Island
Nearly a hundred Phuket police arrested 6 alleged drug dealers on Naka Island after receiving reports from locals that they were selling drugs to tourists and threatening people by posting pictures of weapons on social media. A barrage of 95 Phuket police, bringing together Thalang Police, Muang Phuket Police, Kathu Police, Thachatchai Police and Cherngtalay Police arrested 3 drug dealers.…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, January 5
Prayut lashes out at media | Gentlemen can get their ‘bits’ lasered | Phuket Immigration website in ‘Thai’ language only | Tourists leave record amounts of garbage | Police nab drug ‘king-pins’ in Mai Khao | Malaysians arrested in BKK for phone scams.
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FRIDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Final day of the week and a lead into your standard, normal, hopefully quiet, weekend. Weather seems to be staying cloudy but the threatened rain has mostly held off this week. It may not be bright blue sunny skies but it’s still a great place to live! What’s happening around Thailand and Phuket today? Seven Dangerous Days – final reports…
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Himalayan vulture rescued by Phuket villagers
By Anotai Ngarndee Villagers in Phuket handed over a Himalayan griffon vulture on Thursday to a wildlife nursery station in Phang Nga, which they found in weak condition in the province. Theetat Dam-udom, chief of the nursery station, said the vulture was an adult weighing about eight kilograms with a wingspan of about three metres. The vulture was found in…
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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