Phuket News
Phuket news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s top island destination. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Phuket news source.
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Phuket’s waste warriors launch innovative ‘waste bank’ to tackle trash troubles
Phuket City Municipality forged ahead with innovative steps to navigate the growing waste management crisis, introducing the Samakkhi Samkong Community Waste Bank scheme. The Mayor of Phuket Town, Saroj Angkhanapilas, underscored the necessity of proficient solid waste management during the announcement of this community-centric initiative. He hailed the inauguration of the community waste bank as a remarkable stride in the…
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Phuket’s property pandemonium: Foreign buyers drive real estate prices sky high
Phuket’s property market has been catapulted to unprecedented heights, with foreign interest igniting a buying spree sending prices soaring. Phattarachai Taweewong, director of Research and Communications at Colliers International (Thailand), revealed that the allure of owning a slice of paradise in Phuket has pushed land prices to astronomical levels, hitting as high as 25 to 100 million baht per rai.…
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Swift action by Wichit firefighters prevents neighbourhood disaster
A blazing inferno swept through a small residence in Wichit, Phuket at the weekend leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Thanks to the swift action of local firefighters, the flames were kept from spreading to nearby buildings, saving the neighbourhood from a potentially catastrophic domino effect. Upon receiving word of the fire, located in Soi Thep Anusorn 6…
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The White Lotus season 3 to welcome Blackpink’s Lisa
Blackpink’s Lisa is poised to make waves in the world of Hollywood as she gears up for her acting debut in the acclaimed American series, The White Lotus. The K-pop sensation will follow in the footsteps of her bandmate Jennie Ruby Jane, stepping onto the HBO stage and igniting excitement amongst fans worldwide. According to Variety’s latest report, Lisa will…
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Phuket governor calls for probe into Freedom Beach vendors
Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat recently instructed the local branch of the Royal Forest Department to prepare a comprehensive report to detail why vendors have been permitted to ply their trade at Freedom Beach, and also to account for any revenues collected from these vendors. This directive emerged from a meeting convened at the Phuket Provincial Hall, after an inspection of…
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Miracle at sea: Rare albino whale resurfaces near Phang Nga
A rare albino Omura whale, previously sighted off the shores of Phuket, has once again graced the Andaman seas near Phang Nga province, stunning onlookers and marine experts alike. Banchar Sae-jo, manager of the New Tapana tourist boat, caused a stir online when he shared a mesmerising video clip of the ivory Omura whale on his Facebook page last Saturday,…
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Tuk tuk tango: Phuket driver fined for tourist’s dance debacle
A tuk tuk driver in Phuket’s bustling Patong district found himself on the wrong side of the law recently when he was slapped with a fine. The tuk tuk driver’s offence? Allowing a tourist to dance atop his vehicle while it was caught in the snarl of traffic on Patong Beach Road. The incident, captured in a video which quickly…
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Soi Ta-iad’s traffic woes: Tiger Muay Thai urges govt intervention
Traffic congestion woes have hit the bustling Soi Ta-iad in Chalong, with Watchara Jaruriyanon, the Managing Director of Tiger Muay Thai training facility, urging authorities to intervene. The street, albeit petite, is a hub of activity, largely due to the parked cars lining both sides of the road. Watchara voiced his concerns during a meeting aimed at backing the government’s…
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Phuket residents urged to conserve water amid dry season
A water conservation plea has been issued to Phuket residents by Udomphon Kan, the Director of the Phuket Provincial Office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM-Phuket), in an attempt to prevent shortages amid the ongoing dry season. Udomphon Kan, while confident about the current water reserves, voiced his concerns about the diminishing water levels in the island’s…
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Wat Chalong Fair kicks off in Phuket with Chinese New Year
Phuket‘s annual Wat Chalong Fair kicked off in sync with the Chinese New Year. This cultural event, which draws attention each year, is currently underway and promises a multitude of live performances by diverse artists. The fair, held at Wat Chalong, also known as Wat Chaiyathararam, is in its 116th year. The temple, regarded as one of the most significant…
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Phuket fraud suspects arrested over mule bank account scams
A recent operation led by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) resulted in the apprehension of two fraud suspects in Phuket. They were allegedly involved in creating mule bank accounts for scam gang operators. One of the individuals detained, referred to as Chaiphong, was arrested at a Patong residence. It was not disclosed when the…
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Phuket fraudster’s hotel booking scam leaves 40 victims high and dry
A man from Phuket has been apprehended in Mae Hong Son for allegedly duping over 40 unsuspecting victims in an elaborate hotel booking scam. With damages estimated to be a staggering 800,000 baht, this cyber criminal’s web of lies has left a trail of frustrated tourists in its wake. The Phuket Express reports that the Cyber Crime Police recently made…
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Sea-change agenda: Phuket sets sail for luxury ship entry
Senate Tourism Committee Chairman General Thanasak Patimaprakon and his delegation visited Phuket yesterday to discuss transforming the popular holiday resort island into a point of entry for small luxury ships. The visit was in response to plans to develop Phuket Deep Sea Port at Ao Makham to serve as a home port for small cruise ships. This move aims to…
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Making waves: Phuket water projects dive deep into billion-baht territory
The Phuket Provincial Water Resources Subcommittee delved into water projects exceeding 1 billion baht yesterday and made quite a splash. The meeting, held at Phuket Provincial Hall and chaired by Phuket Vice Governor Norasak Suksombun, saw a flood of attendees from various government agencies. The discussion navigated through the island’s rainfall patterns, water levels in its three main reservoirs, water…
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German airline Condor to operate direct flights to Bangkok and Phuket
German airline carrier Condor unveiled plans to revitalise travel to Asia by introducing non-stop flights from Frankfurt to Bangkok and Phuket starting in September. Condor is gearing up to spread its wings with a thrilling new route expansion. The airline is set to add seven weekly flights to Thailand. Frankfurt to Bangkok flights will operate four times a week while the…
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Fare play: Chinese man fakes theft complaint after Phuket taxi fracas
A Chinese man filed a fake theft complaint against a Thai motorbike taxi rider with the police in the Patong area of Phuket because he was angry over the fare he was charged by the rider. The fake Chinese victim, 38 year old Xing Jingwei, asked a local in the area to report an opportunity snatching to Patong Police Station…
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Drunk Thai man killed after lying on road in Phuket (video)
A Thai man died after lying on the road drunk outside a nightclub in Phuket in the early hours of February 2. A video of the accident was shared on social media as an example and warning to partygoers. The video showed the deceased, who was wearing a black T-shirt, sitting on the road and then lying down. The street…
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Phuket lights up with lanterns for annual Chinese New Year festival
The popular seaside resort of Phuket has been brightly lit up with lanterns, signalling the start of the Phuket Lantern Festival. This annual event is an integral part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, with this year marking the Year of the Dragon. Saroj Angkhanapilas, the Mayor of Phuket Town, inaugurated the festival on a Saturday night at the Chartered…
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Phuket pitstop: Police arrest Myanmar man for motorbike thefts
A man from Myanmar was apprehended near Kata Hill, Phuket, by Karon police around 8pm yesterday. The arrest came after a series of motorbike thefts that had taken place in the region since August of the previous year. Nyi Nyi Htwe had been identified as the prime suspect and was under the scrutiny of an arrest warrant issued by the…
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Phuket airport gears up for Lunar New Year influx of 49,000 daily visitors
Phuket International Airport is bracing for an influx of around 49,000 visitors each day throughout the Lunar New Year festival, which commenced on Sunday and extends till February 16. This figure was revealed by Monchai Tanod, the airport director, who also stated that the total number of arrivals during the 13 days is projected to reach a staggering 640,000. This…
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Thai Cheese Tour unleashes culinary delight across Thailand
In a cheesy twist to the conventional travel experience, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) kick-started the Thai Cheese Tour 2023-2024 last November. This year-long gastronomic journey, sponsored by TAT, has been spreading the love for Thailand’s burgeoning artisanal cheese industry through an array of pop-up events in tourist hotspots, including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and beyond. What began as…
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Phuket security meeting enhances tourist safety for Chinese New Year
A high-level security meeting was convened in Phuket yesterday, guided by the region’s top police officials and led by the Phuket Provincial Police Commander, Sinlert Sukhum. As per the directive of the Phuket Governor, the meeting aimed to bolster safety measures for tourists in anticipation of the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations, occurring from February 10-15. The agenda of the…
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Blood rush: Urgent appeal for Type O donors in Phuket
An acute shortage of Type O blood has triggered an urgent appeal from the Vachira Phuket Hospital’s Blood Bank in Phuket Town. The announcement, marked “Most Urgent,” was made late yesterday, stating that supplies of this common blood type have run completely dry. This call for donations came today, February 2, at 10.46am, signifying the dire need for blood donors,…
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Tourist thrill ride: Hanging out of car windows lands travellers in hot water in Phuket
A group of reckless tourists in Karon, Phuket, were caught on video hanging out of a car’s windows on the road on Tuesday afternoon. Karon police confirmed that the tourists were seen engaging in impulsive behaviour at approximately 3pm on January 30. The police tracked down the individuals in question at 5.45pm and took them to the local police station…
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Phuket police hunt bus staffer after tourist’s restroom harassment claim
Phuket police are actively searching for a bus employee who allegedly sexually harassed a female foreign tourist in a restroom at the Phuket Bus Terminal. The incident, which took place today, January 31, was interrupted by a monk, who attempted to intervene before the suspect fled the scene. Police Deputy Inspector Surachart Thongyai of Phuket Mueang Police Station was notified…
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Alleged encroachment in Bang Khanun protected forest sparks controversy
The Gulf of Thailand Coastal Area Conservation Network – Andaman (branch) raised concerns over alleged encroachment in the Bang Khanun protected forest reserve, calling for an investigation. Led by the chairman, Chamroon Kerddam, the group complained to the Phuket branch of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), implicating government officials in facilitating unlawful activities in the protected area. The complaint, submitted…
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Phuket secondhand warehouse fire causes 10 million baht in damages
A secondhand goods warehouse located near Thepkrasattri Road, Phuket, was engulfed in flames yesterday, January 30, causing traffic congestion and an estimated 10 million baht (US$282,298) in damages. The fire reportedly began with a small flame used to smoke out beehives, which unexpectedly spread to the warehouse. The blaze was reported to the Thalang Police around 2.30pm. Fire trucks initially…
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Phuket police warn against tampering with immobilisation devices
The Phuket City Police issued a stern warning against tampering with the immobilisation devices placed on illegally parked vehicles. The caution came into effect yesterday, January 30, after an incident in Phuket City made the rounds on local social media platforms. A video circulating online showed a foreign tourist using a brick to unlock a chain fastened to the wheel…
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Phuket’s Chalong hospital officially opens, boosting local healthcare
The long-awaited opening of Chalong Hospital in Phuket was officially inaugurated by the Minister of Public Health, Dr Cholnan Srikaew. The hospital, which had its soft opening back in November 2019, had its grand opening postponed due to the global pandemic. The opening ceremony was marked with a nod to the generous benefactors whose contributions enabled the establishment of the…
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Foreign man in Phuket caught on TikTok video damaging police wheel clamp
A video featuring a foreign man, using a stone to smash a lock and chain on his motorcycle after it got clamped by police in Phuket, has gone viral in Thailand. Thai netizens called on the police to clarify the charges the foreigner faces. The video was shared by a TikTok user, @_neung132, who appears to be a traffic police…
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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