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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Phuket Highways Office to target illegal roadside advertising
PHUKET: The growing number of unsightly roadside advertising signs illegally erected on government land will be pulled down, confirmed a Phuket official today. The news flies in the face of reports that all billboards along Phuket’s roadsides will be pulled down. “I have already discussed the problem of haphazardly erected signs beside Phuket’s roads with Governor Nisit Jansomwong,” Samak Luedwonghad,…
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Phuket man robbed of B1mn worth of amulets
PHUKET: A local resident is pleading with police to track down those responsible for stealing amulets and other valuables worth more than 1 million baht from his home in Chalong last week. Charoen Chamnanyon, 56, even put a large, vinyl sign in front of his house on Soi Chao Fa 45 addressing the thieves. It reads: “To my dearest thieves…
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Navy backs Patong jet-ski plan as model for Phuket
PHUKET: Patong’s management system for jet-skis will be the model for the rest of Phuket, the Royal Thai Navy announced yesterday. “Zones separating swimmers from jet-skis will be applied in Patong first, and then at other beaches on the island,” said Vice Admiral Sayan Prasongsamrej, commander of the Royal Thai Navy’s Third Area Command. “The order has already been signed…
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Phuket King’s Cup: The countdown is on (video)
PHUKET: The countdown to the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta 2014 is on, with official sail measurement for boats entering the annual beginning this morning. A total of 150 boats from 40 countries are registered to take part in the annual regatta, which will begin off Kata Beach on Monday and conclude on December 6. Competing sailors come from the USA,…
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Phuket sailors head for Platu Trans World Invitational
PHUKET: Fresh from his team’s 2014 Platu One Design Championship victory, Kingdom Property helmsman Scott Duncanson has announced his intention to compete in the Platu Trans World Invitational. Held from March 18-22 out of the Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Pattaya, up to 20 crews will compete for the internationally recognized trophy. Five European teams have entered, including current world…
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Phuket health officials: no need to panic over plague outbreak
PHUKET: Health officials are urging Phuket residents fearing bubonic plague, otherwise known as the Black Death, not to panic following an outbreak of the deadly disease in Madagascar. Krit Sakulpat, deputy chief of the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO), confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that his office has not been alerted to the Madagascan plague endemic by the Ministry of…
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Video Report: Dutch diplomat poses tough questions to Phuket Governor
PHUKET: The Dutch Ambassador to Thailand posed some tough questions during a visit with the new governor yesterday, honing in on the island’s biggest problems and the future of Phuket’s tourism sector. Due to numerous complaints that have streamed in to the Embassy from Dutch tourists visiting the island recently, Ambassador Joan Boer focused mainly on the high cost of…
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Testing reveals “female’ body washed up on Surin Beach is male
PHUKET: The unidentified body initially reported to be that of a woman found washed up on Surin Beach in September has turned out to be that of a man, police revealed to the Phuket Gazette today. “DNA testing has now confirmed that this is the body of a man – not a woman,” Lt Jeerasak Sungwisut of the Cherng Talay…
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Australian cricketer Hughes dies after being hit by ball
PHUKET: Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes died in a Sydney hospital on Thursday, two days after being struck by a ball that led to a “catastrophic” injury which caused “massive” bleeding to his brain and ultimately proved fatal. The international batsman was struck on the neck by a short-pitched delivery when batting in a domestic match on Tuesday, with the force…
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Body of Caucasian man found floating off Phuket beach
PHUKET: Officers are attempting to identify the body of a Caucasian man found floating in the sea off Phuket this morning. The body was spotted by Chaimongkol Yaemaroonpattana, a Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) officer, while he was patrolling the waters near Kata Beach. “I saw the body floating about one kilometer from shore. My colleagues and I retrieved it,…
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Phuket yachts wrap up race series with plain sailing
PHUKET: After the stormy conditions last Saturday, sunny skies and mild conditions greeted the competitors on the Sunday for the Ao Chalong Yacht Club’s (ACYC) Race Series 2 final race day. The final placings came down to who was the most consistent and which boats turned up regularly – persistence and commitment count, helped along for the first time this…
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Phuket’s new vice governors to arrive on Monday
PHUKET: Two senior officials will arrive in Phuket on Monday to start their new roles as vice governors, providing Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong with his full complement of three deputies. According to the official order published by the Ministry of Interior, Phuket’s new vice governors are Suthee Thongyam and Pranrob Singhasanee. Mr Suthee was promoted from his post as Provincial…
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Key Phuket vice governor ordered to post near Bangkok
PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, 52, today confirmed that he has been ordered to take the post of vice governor in Nakhon Pathom province, on the outskirts of Bangkok, effective December 1. “I have no regret leaving Phuket. I did all my best during my time here,” Vice Governor Chamroen told the Phuket Gazette today. “I will miss Phuket.…
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Italian tourist slashed by teens in botched Phuket bag-snatch
PHUKET: Police have arrested three teenagers and are searching for the gang’s alleged female ringleader after a failed bag-snatch attempt in Karon left an Italian tourist injured. Italian tourists Herbert Wunderer, 49, and Karin Katherina Albert, 54, were walking back to their hotel after midnight on Monday when five youths on two motorbikes pulled up alongside them, said Lt Col…
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Gone in 60 seconds: Prolific Phuket motorbike thieves busted
PHUKET: It took a gang of motorbike thieves operating in Phuket less than one minute to make off with a single bike, a process which the criminals admitted to repeating hundreds of times. The revelation comes as police netted four members of a group operating on the island that has managed to ride off with more than 200 motorbikes over…
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Illegal croc north of Phuket lands owner in hot water
PHUKET: An elephant camp owner will be charged only for the illegal ownership of a crocodile after confessing to police that he had also recently possessed a gibbon that died a few months ago. A complaint was filed to a variety of departments about the Khao Lak Elephant Camp, based north of Phuket, which tourists claimed tortured a gibbon and…
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Scores arrested in Beach Games crime crackdown
PHUKET: An island-wide crime sweep during the Asian Beach Games resulted in more than 150 arrests and turned up scores of weapons, illegal drugs and counterfeit items, Phuket’s top cop revealed yesterday. “We must maintain Phuket’s good image and uphold the policies of the Royal Thai Police. It is our job to keep everyone safe and to prevent crime,” Phuket…
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Phuket man killed in high-speed motorbike crash
PHUKET: A Phuket man riding a motorbike at high speed died instantly, after he crashed into the back of a 10-wheeled truck last night. The accident, near Baan Mak Prok in Thalang, took place near a u-turn on Thepkrasattri Road at about 9.30pm, Lt Thanom Thongpan of the Tah Chat Chai Police told the Phuket Gazette. “According to witnesses, 37-year-old…
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Phuket beach vendors fear police investigation
PHUKET: More than 100 out-of-work beach vendors gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday to file a complaint with the governor regarding a land encroachment investigation by the Karon Police. The vendors presented the letter to Governor Nisit Jansomwong – along with a letter from the Ministry of Interior, dated January 3, 2005, that gave permission for people to operate businesses…
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Video Report: Laguna Phuket Triathlon marks historic victory
PHUKET: Italians Massimo Cigana and Alberto Casadei made history together at the Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT) yesterday as they crossed the finish line as one and became LPT’s first dual champions in the annual event’s 21-year history. Cigana, who won in 2008, 2010 and 2011, also became the triathlon’s first four-time champion, and once again carved his name into the…
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Illegal beach vendors not operating on Phuket, says official
PHUKET: Vendors have not resumed operations on public-beach land confirmed the president of the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) to the Phuket Gazette today. A national news story yesterday reported that a group of defiant beach vendors, including restaurant operators and masseuses, had returned to the sands of Cherng Talay to re-start their businesses for the yearly influx of…
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Spectacular finale at Phuket’s Asian Beach Games
PHUKET: The 4th Asian Beach Games in Phuket came to a spectacular close at the Saphan Hin Sports Center last night, with fantastic stage shows featuring more than 800 performers, as well as sound-and-light shows. The ceremony, with Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul presiding, started with the performance titled “Magic of Dream Destination”, which reflected the invaluable essence of…
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Deep South Army officer found dead in Phuket pond
PHUKET: Police will conduct an autopsy on the body of a Deep South Army officer whose remains were found in a Phuket pond yesterday. Police and Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers were called to the scene, behind Rock Garden Village in Rassada, at about 3:45pm, where the body of Sgt Jassada Suton, 31, was found. Sgt Jassada was stationed with the…
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Thailand crowned Asian Beach Games champions
PHUKET: Thailand closed the final day of the 4th Asian Beach Games in Phuket yesterday with two more gold medals in the beach sepak takraw to be crowned official Games champions for the second time with a haul of 56 gold, 37 silver and 33 bronze medals. Defending champions China placed second overall, with 16 gold, 11 silver and 21…
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Tourism industry leaders demand jet-ski cowboys be reined in
PHUKET: The lack of progress in reining in jet-ski operations on Phuket was one of many key topics at the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) forum yesterday, which focused on the future of Phuket’s marine tourism industry (story here). “We now have another governor to speak to, and, unfortunately, the first subject is going to be jet-skis,” Phuket Honorary Consul…
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Poll: Overwhelming Phuket safety concerns revealed
PHUKET: Only 11% of respondents in a Phuket Gazette online poll said that they felt “completely safe” anywhere in Phuket. The month-long poll on safety garnered 3,266 votes from tourists, Thai nationals and local expat residents (click here), with just over 12% responding that they “rarely feel safe anywhere in Phuket”, while 18% said “I don’t feel safe anywhere in…
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South African family searches for missing son last seen in Phuket
PHUKET: The family of a South African man who went missing after arriving in Phuket in June is asking for any information about his whereabouts or safety. Ezra Jansen, 31, last contacted his mother on June 11, the day after he arrived in Phuket. “I tried to call him on his phone on June 11, but I could not get…
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Beach-umbrella ban remains, confirms Phuket Governor
PHUKET: Governor Nisit Jansomwong has confirmed that umbrellas are not allowed on Phuket’s beaches until further notice. “If people keep bringing their own umbrellas to the beach, it will only cause confusion and endless misunderstandings,” he told the Phuket Gazette yesterday. “Until an official announcement is made, bringing umbrellas to the beach is not permitted. This is what we must…
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Phuket officials consider postponing Christmas Day tsunami drill
PHUKET: Officials are considering postponing the Christmas Day tsunami drill in Phuket after receiving complaints from tsunami victims preparing for the 10th anniversary of the tragedy (story here). “Several foreigners filed complaints directly to me saying that they don’t want to witness the full-scale tsunami drill so close to the 10th anniversary day,” Governor Nisit Jansomwong told Phuket Gazette today.…
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Killer elephants to return to jungle treks
PHUKET: Two bull elephants who killed their trainers in musth-induced fits of rage this past week will return to providing jungle trekking tours to tourists after the musth period has passed, the Phuket Gazette was told (story here). Wittawat Salangam, 22, was killed at the Phuchada Safari camp in Rawai on Tuesday when he went to unchain the 23-year-old bull…
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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