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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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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Mark your calendars: Wat Chalong Fair kicks off on Monday
PHUKET: It’s that time of year again. Phuket’s biggest annual temple fair, held at Wat Chalong, will kick off on Monday to offer one week of local fare and entertainment. “There will be plenty of food vendors, sideshow rides, games and stalls set up at the fair. Everyone is more than welcome to come enjoy,” said Chaiwat Chatchawet, a Wat…
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Video Report: Romantic Thailand fast-tracks couples through Phuket immigration
PHUKET: Couples are being fast-tracked through airport immigration for the month of love as part of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Romantic Thailand campaign. The campaign, running from February 1 to 28, has already welcomed more than 400 couples to Phuket, said Anoma Wongyai, director of TAT Phuket. “All couples entering the arrivals hall are invited to register with…
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Pre-Valentine’s Day drug campaign sweeps up five suspects
PHUKET: In an attempt to preserve clean love for Valentine’s Day, Phuket police made a series of drug busts today as part of their “Valentine’s Day Cleanup Campaign”. The raid started with the Phuket City Police arresting 27-year-old Jaturong Sethkhong, in possession of about two kilograms of kratom leaves. He was charged with possession of a Category 5 drug with…
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Finnish golf pro Puhakka takes a swing on Phuket
PHUKET: The island’s Loch Palm and Laguna Phuket golf courses were tested out last week by Finnish pro golfer Peter Puhakka. Puhakka spent the last three-and-a-half months playing courses in Pattaya and Bangkok, taking part in the Bangkok Open Championships (finished 30th with a 151, seven over par) and the Singha All Thailand Tour (finished 50th), before falling short of…
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Phuket CCTV mass upgrade reaches final hurdle
PHUKET: Budget allocation for the proposed 238 million baht upgrade of CCTV cameras in Phuket has reached its final hurdle and now awaits approval by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong announced this week. Governor Nisit said he was “delighted” by the news. “This is one of my top priorities – to enhance security in Phuket,”…
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Final clearout of Phuket beach encroachers imminent, says governor
PHUKET: Governor Nisit Jansomwong announced yesterday that the final traces of the ubiquitous encroachment onto Phuket beaches that prompted the beach cleanup last year would be swept away as soon as possible. The governor and other island officials. speaking at a press conference held at the Royal Thai Navy base in Cape Panwa, addressed the problem of several buildings still…
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German tourist drowns in Krabi rip current
PHUKET: A German tourist drowned in Krabi yesterday afternoon while swimming with his son. Martin Hofstetter, 57, and his family checked into a bungalow resort on Koh Siboya, south of Krabi Town, on Wednesday, explained Lt Col Kittichet Kittiratanasombat of the Klong Khanan Police. “They took a sea trip to Koh Lola and went swimming there yesterday afternoon,” Col Kittichet…
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Phuket’s annual Valentine’s Day mass wedding is on (video)
PHUKET: All couples looking to tie the knot on Valentine’s Day tomorrow are invited to register their nuptials at the Muang District Office, where they can join a mass wedding ceremony and win lucky draw prizes and receive memorable wedding gifts that will be given away. “Among the gifts to be given away are stays in honeymoon suites at hotels…
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Video: One killed, three injured in Phuket multiple-vehicle crash
PHUKET: Police are blaming a new set of traffic lights for a high-speed crash that killed one motorcyclist and injured three others on Thepkrasattri Road this morning. Police arrived at the scene, at the old airport junction north of Blue Canyon Country Club, at about 11:45am to find a 10-wheeled truck and a van overturned on the shoulder of the…
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Russians behaving badly arrested in Phuket, face deportation
PHUKET: Immigration Police arrested two Russian men at Nai Harn Beach yesterday after complaints that the men were “behaving badly”, including stealing small items from local stores and failing to pay for meals in nearby restaurants. Officers arrested Mikael Morkretkof, 45, and Denis Rievsef, 32, as the pair were walking along Nai Harn Beach yesterday afternoon, explained Capt Nattapong Klaithong…
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All About Eva: Court probe opens door to new era for Phuket beachfront property projects
THAILAND stands on the brink of a great leap forward in boosting investor confidence in beachfront properties and resorts, if court officials uphold existing building regulations on construction of buildings along the Phuket shoreline. Here, the Phuket Gazette investigates what is at stake in enforcing the building code. SPECIAL REPORT PHUKET: The environmental court inspection of an upscale real estate…
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Cricket: Thalang big guns fire in Village win
PHUKET: The Thalang Cricket Team (TCT) big guns fired up last Sunday in a win over the Village Cricket Team at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) in Thalang. Fresh off an upset victory against top-of-the-league Patong, the Village were looking to climb higher up the ladder with a win against a TCT side that had yet to find form with…
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Activist children manage unprecedented blow to Taiji dolphin slaughter (video)
PHUKET: A letter presented by a group of children from Phuket’s Gecko School was accepted by the Taiji Major’s Office, which in the past has publicly supported the annual slaughter of thousands of dolphins. “We will pass down the history of our ancestors to the next generation. Preserve it. We have a strong sense of pride about this,” Mayor Kazutaka…
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Phuket jet-ski operator banned after attempted shakedown
PHUKET: A jet-ski operator was banned today from running his rental business for one month following an incident in which he demanded two tourists to pay 200,000 baht for repairs to two uninsured jet-skis (story here). The Bang Tao jet-ski operator, Air Yotharuk, had his helmsman license suspended and his two jet-skis Yotharuk 1 and Yotharuk 2 banned by the…
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New beach rules now standard throughout Phuket, says Governor
PHUKET: The trial rule of restricting vendors to only 10 per cent of the beach is to be rolled out at all beaches in Phuket, Governor Nisit Jansomwong has confirmed to the Phuket Gazette. “Local administrations will remain responsible for regulating and enforcing the new rules [story here], which include no sun loungers at any beaches,” he added. “The local…
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Tourist crashes jet-ski into yacht, dies
PHUKET: A tourist died in hospital after crashing a jet-ski into a yacht anchored at Nui Bay, off Phi Phi Island, yesterday. Wu Xixiong, 46, was taken to Phi Phi Hospital with a broken neck, jaw, arm and leg. Due to the extent of his injuries, he was transferred to Bangkok Hospital Phuket, confirmed Surasak Mongkolchaiyasit of the Krabi Marine…
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Phuket waste incinerator granted B530mn for repairs
PHUKET: A budget of 530 million baht to repair the defunct waste incinerator at the Phuket City Waste Management facility at Saphan Hin has been approved, Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong announced this week. “Though Phuket has two incinerators, one has been offline for almost two years, leading us toward an inevitable crises by 2020, if nothing is done,” said Kasem…
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Phuket’s B23.5bn light rail inches toward Cabinet approval
PHUKET: The final plans for the long-awaited Phuket light-rail project, slated to cost 23.5 billion baht, will not be presented to Cabinet for approval until next year at the earliest, the Phuket Gazette has been told. “The plan itself is more than 90 per cent complete. However, experts need to make adjustments to match local Phuket residents’ needs,” Governor Nisit…
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Tuk-tuk driver punches Australian in face over fare
PHUKET: A tuk-tuk driver has confessed to punching an Australian national in the face after an argument about the price of a ride yesterday evening. “Mr Sipeng, 20, told us that he was punched by the tuk-tuk driver after he got into an altercation with him about the price of the ride from Sugar Palm Residence Condominium, where he lives,…
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Phuket public hospital denies any responsibility in expat nightmare ordeal
ALLEGATIONS of neglect and mistreatment at Vachira Phuket Hospital levelled by a long-term Phuket expat who has since died, pose grave questions about the state of public healthcare at the island’s main government hospital – many questions about which remain unanswered. Here, the Phuket Gazette investigates what counts for healthcare in Phuket. SPECIAL REPORT PHUKET: Top staff at Vachira Phuket…
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Police hunt temple thief after B100k donation snatch
PHUKET: Police are searching for a man who is suspected of stealing more than 100,000 baht in cash from Tah Reua Temple, which houses Phuket’s top monk, Phra Visutthi Thamma-kanee. Officers were alerted to the theft at 10:30am yesterday. “Phra Visutthi Thamma-kanee said that he saw a man about 40 years old sitting in front of the monks’ dormitory at…
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Tourists dodge Phuket jet-ski scam shakedown
PHUKET: Negotiations and a police complaint have mostly thwarted an attempted shakedown by a Bang Tao jet-ski rental operator, who initially asked two Chinese tourists to pay 200,000 baht for repairs to two uninsured jet-skis. Six Chinese tourists hired four jet-skis at Bang Tao Beach on Saturday afternoon, explained Anusorn Salae, the former president of the Bang Tao Jet-ski Club.…
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Australian arrested in insurance fraud scam
PHUKET: An Australian teen failed in an attempted insurance fraud scam after Phuket police investigated his claim of being robbed at knifepoint on Karon Beach yesterday. Alex Gorgees, 19, from New South Wales, told Karon Police that he was robbed of cash and personal belongings valued at about 389,500 baht. “He said that three unknown men held him at knifepoint…
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Phuket gears up for the ‘Year of the Goat’
PHUKET: Chinese New Year, ringing in the “Year of the Goat”, will be celebrated in style at Sanam Chai Park in Phuket Town on February 19. The highlights of this year’s event, kicking off at 5pm, will be a performance by a troupe of acrobats hailing from Beijing, as well as a concert by Getsunova, a famous Thai pop-rock band.…
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New police station near airport, more officers slated for Phuket
PHUKET: National police chief Somyot Pumpanmuang has backed a new police station to be set up near Phuket International Airport, Region 8 Police Commander Decha Budnampeth told the Phuket Gazette today. Maj Gen Decha yesterday personally escorted Gen Somyot, who arrived in Phuket on Friday, to inspect several potential sites near the airport for the new police station. “I proposed…
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French expat survives savage hatchet attack
PHUKET: A French businessman was savagely attacked with a hatchet last night after arriving at his home in Cherng Talay yesterday. Eric Seigneurin, 53, who had just arrived home with his wife from their restaurant business, was attacked as he got out of his car at about 12:15am. “After Mr Seigneurin got out of his car, a man wearing a…
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Phuket Valentine’s Day event to offer new homes to hermit crabs
PHUKET: In an effort to inspire a love of nature, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) is organizing a Valentine’s Day event aimed at donating new shells for the humble hermit crab. Hermit crabs have soft, spiral-shaped abdomens which are vulnerable to predators. They protect themselves by salvaging the empty shells of other crustaceans and other objects, sadly sometimes…
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Phuket to host NCPO Valentine’s Day concert
PHUKET: Joining the roster of Valentine’s Day events in Phuket will be the “Thailand toward reformation” concert and festival, to be held in Saphan Hin from 10am on February 14. “According to an order handed down from the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), 24 concerts are to be held in different provinces throughout Thailand to support the government’s…
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Village CC win over Patong CC lifts them off the bottom
PHUKET: Village CC secured their first win of the season last Sunday with a win over Patong CC to to move off the bottom of the senior league table. Village were looking for their first win of the season, whilst Patong in second place were looking to go top of the league. Patong won the toss and elected to bat.…
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Healthy newborn girl found beside Phuket trash can
PHUKET: Police are searching for the mother of a healthy newborn girl found abandoned beside a trash can in front of a house in Srisoonthorn, Thalang, last night. Manit Limmanee had just left his house on his way to the local grocery store at about 7:30pm when he heard a baby crying. “At first, I thought it was a cat,…
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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