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 This Christmas, give the gift of health: essential options for expats in Thailand
The holiday season is here, bringing warmth, joy, and a chance to reflect on the year gone by. As an expat in Thailand, this Christmas is a great time to invest in something that truly matters: health. Whether for you...
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2 Russian women arrested for providing sex services in Phuket
Police arrested two Russian women at a hotel in the Katu district of Phuket on March 4 for illegally providing sex services. Officers from Patong Police Station investigated the illegal activities being offered by foreigners in the area. Upon discovering that these illicit sex services were being provided by Russian women, the officers proceeded to search for their contact details.…
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Foreign man kicks up a storm over discriminatory bike rental policy in Phuket
A foreign man brought to light a discriminatory practice at a foreign-owned motorcycle rental shop in Phuket. The shop refused to serve his Thai wife and other Thai customers, justifying their decision by alleging that Thais frequently engage in motorcycle theft, complain excessively, and are unable to meet the necessary deposit requirements. The foreign man, using the account BlacksmithSolid2194, took…
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Update: Villa owner’s violent act leads to demolition in beach assault scandal
Following the assault scandal of Swiss national Urs Fehr, aka David, Phuket Peninsula Estate Co., owner of beachfront villa No. 23, took a startling step today, sending a backhoe to erase the encroaching structures, including the contentious stairway. Before their obliteration, these steps had witnessed a fateful encounter on February 24. Swiss national David allegedly kicked 26 year old Dr…
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Foreign man caught on CCTV stealing Thai flag in Phuket (video)
A CCTV camera caught a foreign man stealing a Thai flag from outside an office in Phuket. Thai netizens urged the police to take the case seriously as the Thai flag is highly respected by locals. The Jootee Tin Dredging Company shared CCTV footage of the theft to the Facebook page, Phuket Hotnews, today, March 5. The video shows a…
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Swiss national’s visa status under review following Phuket assault
The visa status of a Swiss national, embroiled in an assault case in Phuket, is set to undergo review by the immigration police, according to Deputy Phuket Governor, Adul Chuthong. The Swiss national, known as Urs Fehr or David, whose visa is due to expire on March 13, is the operator of several Thai businesses and has a registered foundation…
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Phuket road tragedy: Two vendors killed by speeding car
A road tragedy in Phuket claimed the lives of two street vendors when a car, driven at high speed by an airline employee, collided with their motorcycle. The incident happened early in the morning on a local road in Thalang district. At approximately 6.16am today police and emergency responders were dispatched to the scene of a fatal collision on the road…
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Chinese tourist’s beach drive ends in Phuket sand trap (video)
A Chinese national on holiday ignored a warning sign advising against driving on the beach and subsequently ended up getting his car stuck in the sand at Kamala Beach in Phuket province. A local posted a video on his Facebook account, à¸à¸²à¸¡à¸´à¸•à¸£ à¸à¸²à¸¡à¸ à¸à¸´à¸ªà¸¥à¸²à¸¡, at about 8am yesterday, March 3, showing a green Jeep partially submerged in the water at…
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Foreign woman critisised for walking around Phuket in bikini (video)
Facebook page Phuket Hotnews shared a video of a foreign woman walking around Phuket Old Town in a bikini, sparking criticism from Thai netizens. The Facebook page posted a video of the foreign woman in a black bikini last night, March 3. The caption said… “Phuket is super hot! A foreign tourist wore a bikini and walked around Phuket Old…
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Foreign mafia concerns raised in Phuket by UTN deputy
In the stunning tourist hotspot of Phuket, a concerning situation has surfaced. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, the Deputy leader of the United Thai Nation, has brought to light allegations of foreign mafia gangs operating within the area. This revelation comes after a recent visit to Phuket, during which Thanakorn conducted an inspection and collected information about the matter. Phuket, known for its…
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Update: Locals demand justice in Swiss expat alleged assault case
Residents of Phuket are set to converge on Yamu Beach in Thalang district today, enraged by an incident involving a Swiss expat accused of kicking a local woman for simply sitting on steps near his beachfront villa. The Swiss expat, 45 year old Urs Fehr, also known by the name David, purportedly delivered a kick to Dr Thandao Chandam, a…
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Beach blunder: Swiss man and wife regret assaulting Thai doctor in Phuket (video)
An underfire Swiss man and his Thai wife apologised to a Thai doctor for physically assaulting and insulting her after she innocently sat on the steps to their beachside villa. The foreign man claims the incident was an accident, stating that he mistakenly identified the victim and her friend as a previous Chinese trespasser. The Thai doctor, 26 year old…
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Crane truck plunges off steep Phuket road, driver tragically killed
A tragic incident unfolded in the steep hills of Karon, Phuket, last night when a heavy-duty crane truck, burdened with cement pillars, plummeted off the side of a narrow, serpentine road. The unfortunate accident resulted in the driver’s fatality, marking a gloomy end to February 29. The incident was reported to Police Captain Surasak Sudmuang of the Karon Police Station…
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Swiss man denies assaulting Thai woman, attributing incident as accident (video)
A Swiss man denied physically assaulting a Thai female doctor for sitting on the steps of his luxury villa in Phuket, saying it was an accident when he stumbled on the stairs, causing his foot to accidentally kick the doctor’s back. The 26 year old female doctor, Tarndao Chandam, took to social to share that a Swiss man, later identified…
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Phuket parasail operator shells out 400,000 baht to injured Chinese tourist
A Thai parasailing operator agreed to pay a Chinese tourist 400,000 baht in compensation after she broke her leg in a parasailing accident on Karon Beach in Phuket on Saturday, February 24. The operator blamed the accident on a change in wind direction and insisted they adhered to strict safety measures. The Chinese woman, Nadahan, took to social media to…
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Swedish man arrested for fake euro currency caper in Phuket
Police arrested a Swedish man in the Patong sub-district of Katu district, Phuket province, after discovering that he exchanged money using fake euro banknotes. Patong Police Station officers received a complaint from an employer at the Violet Money Exchange 2 on Saen Saai Road that a Swedish man was exchanging money using counterfeit euro notes at 1.50pm on February 26.…
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Beach blues: Thai woman assaulted by Swiss man in Phuket
A female doctor in Thailand is seeking justice after being attacked by a Swiss man for sitting on the staircase of his beachfront villa in Phuket. The foreign man is reported to be the owner of an elephant sanctuary with alleged connections with the high-ranking Thai police. The father of the victim, Chaiyachot Uttamang, took to Facebook to share the…
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Chalong council proposes 132 million baht infrastructure projects
The bustling municipality of Chalong, in Phuket, held its inaugural council meeting of the year. On the agenda, a series of extensive projects requiring a hefty 132 million baht in funds were proposed. One of the standout projects includes an ambitious 28 million baht plan to revamp the well-trodden Soi Palai. The meeting was held at the municipal offices of…
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Phuket MP warns of fire risks amid soaring 38°C heatwave
As the mercury soars to a scorching 38°C in Phuket, local MP Somchart Techathavorncharoen has sounded the alarm, warning residents to take measures against potential fire outbreaks. This warning comes as the city braces for a heatwave that is predicted to last from today, February 28 to March 1. Somchart Techathavorncharoen, the Move Forward Party (MFP) representative for Phuket District…
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Thief nabs 127,000 baht worth of goods from tourists on Koh Samui
A brazen thief from Phuket got more than he bargained for when he attempted a hotel heist on Koh Samui, leaving two foreign tourists in dismay and authorities in hot pursuit. The Bo Phut Police, in a swift operation, apprehended 44 year old Prayat Lisem following reports from a distressed Polish couple, aged 32 and 30. The couple woke to…
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Chinese tourist blasts parasail operators for profit-over-safety ethos
The Thai government’s plan to boost tourism faces another tough challenge after a Chinese woman, who suffered a broken leg while parasailing in Phuket, condemned Thai service providers for putting money before safety. She said, “Business operators in Thailand only saw a foreign tourist like me as a source of income.” The Chinese woman, identified as Nadahan on social media,…
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Phuket taxi rider denies sexually assault of German woman
A German woman filed a complaint against a Thai motorcycle taxi rider in Phuket, accusing him of sexual assault. The suspect denied the allegation, claiming that the foreign woman hugged him throughout the ride. The victim, a 37 year old German woman, reported the sexual assault to the Mueang Phuket Police Station yesterday, February 26. The foreign victim said the incident…
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Phuket’s traffic crisis: over 500,000 vehicles clog the island’s roads
The Thai holiday resort of Phuket is grappling with a serious traffic problem. Senate Transportation Commission Chairman, General Yodyut Bunyathikarn, was informed on his recent visit to the island that over half a million vehicles are congesting the roads. Gen. Yodyut’s two-day visit aimed to understand the issues and challenges in implementing transportation and infrastructure projects in Phuket. During a meeting at…
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Phuket’s Kamala Beach faces murky waters as main canal turns black
Kamala Beach in Phuket found itself in a murky situation, the main canal has turned black and is producing an unpleasant smell. Visitors to the beach, some international tourists, watched in dismay as the polluted water flowed freely into the sea. The sight of the blackened water has led to numerous headshakes and raised eyebrows. A particularly concerned tourist even questioned…
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Phuket Tourist Police target unregistered airport taxis
On the bustling island of Phuket, the Tourist Police have recalibrated their focus, zeroing in on unregistered taxi services that operate at Phuket International Airport. This renewed drive to combat illegal cabs was unveiled during a campaign launch and officers’ gathering at the airport. The campaign was spearheaded by Police Colonel Phisit Sawatthaworn, Commander of Tourist Police Division 2, flanked…
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Move Forward Party set to announce PPAO presidential candidate
Pita Limjaroenrat, a key figure in Thai politics, is poised to make an important announcement in Phuket this weekend. The Move Forward Party (MFP), under his leadership on Saturday, February 24, will be introducing its presidential candidate for the upcoming Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) election. Pita’s arrival in Phuket was confirmed via a Facebook post by Chalermpong Saengdee, a…
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Unexpected jellyfish invasion hits Patong Beach in Phuket
The sandy stretches of Patong Beach in Phuket have recently become the unlikely landing spot for a multitude of jellyfish. Since yesterday, February 21, these jellyfish have been making waves amongst beachgoers, washing up on the shore in an unexpected turn of events. The lifeguards stationed at Patong Beach quickly took note of this unusual occurrence. They promptly issued a…
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Phuket police sting operation leads to major drug bust
A recent police sting operation in Phuket, Thailand, resulted in the arrest of a 26 year old woman, originally from Ao Luek in Krabi. The woman, Wichuda “Su” Aollueknoi, was apprehended in her rented room on Soi Patchanee-Bangchee Liao in Ratsada on Tuesday, with law enforcement officers seizing a haul of 700 methamphetamine pills, commonly known as Yabah. The raid…
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Phuket Tourist Police arrest illegal foreign tour guides
A crackdown on illegal tour guides in Phuket led to the arrest of two foreign nationals. Police charged a 35 year old Ukrainian and a 31 year old stateless individual of highland origin, both accused of operating without proper permits. Phuket Tourist Police, under directives from the National Police Office, has intensified efforts to purge the province of unauthorised tour…
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Thai airlines vow cheaper domestic flights after public outcry
Six Thai airlines have asked for authorisation to expand domestic flight operations during peak holiday periods, responding to widespread public fury over exorbitant airfares. Representatives from Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai Lion Air, Nok Air, and Thai Vietjet convened with the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) yesterday to delve into strategies for curbing fare hikes. This…
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Phuket cracks down on illegal operations in Chinese restaurants
The bustling tourist hub of Phuket, in Thailand, was recently the scene of an extensive inspection operation. A composite task force composed of representatives from 15 different government entities descended upon six Chinese eateries located in the Naka Market area of Wichit. Alarmingly, three instances of law infringement were uncovered in the process, including one restaurant that was found to…
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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