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.
-
Sponsored Boost your business in Thailand: 5 powerful benefits of using BoostedByPeople
As a business owner in Thailand, you know how tough it is to stand out online. Ads get skipped, scrolled past, or flat-out ignored. People are more sceptical than ever about what they see on their feeds. And even when...
-
Curfew lifted on Phi Phi, Krabi and Phang Nga
PHUKET: The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has lifted the curfew on the tourist-popular Phi Phi Island and the rest of Krabi in its latest step to assist Thailand’s tourism industry. The NCPO issued the order yesterday, which also repealed the curfew in Phang Nga as well as in Cha-am district of Phetchaburi province and Hua Hin district…
-
Phuket officials launch campaign to return beaches to the people
PHUKET: Seaside vendors in Phuket could have their shops torn down and face hefty fines of up to 500,000 baht, several years in jail and payments of 10,000 baht per square meter of land if their establishments are found to be encroaching on the sands. Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada has set his sights on returning Phuket’s beaches to the…
-
Kalim residents beg police to have mercy on taxi stands
PHUKET: More than 100 local villagers today begged officials to stop demolishing illegal taxi stands in Kalim.“We have been here for 18 years and got permission from former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin,” emotional tuk-tuk driver Adisorn Maneesri told the Phuket Gazette.“We understand why they are doing this, because of all the problems with taxis, but please understand that we are…
-
Patong’s last illegal taxi stands torn down, raids move to Kalim
PHUKET: After tearing down 12 illegal taxi stands throughout Patong yesterday, officers moved to Kalim, at the northern end of Patong Beach, to tear down four illegal stands there. The raids in Kalim, carried out by more than 100 officers from Phuket Police and Royal Thai Police Region 8 division, began at 10am as part of the Royal Thai Army’s…
-
Taxi driver found with over B100mn in bank spurs money laundering investigation
PHUKET: The discovery of a taxi driver’s bank book that showed assets of more than 100 million baht has initiated investigations into possible money laundering. Officers discovered the bank book this morning while searching the home of the driver, who has not yet been named. “A number of drivers had unexpectedly high bank balances, and we intend to check each…
-
Taxi driver turns in 30,000 baht in cash
PHUKET: A bag containing baht and euros totaling almost 30,000 baht left behind at Rassada Pier by a forgetful German student was turned in by a helpful van driver yesterday. Mongkol Khampanta, 43, the driver, found the bag sitting on a chair in front of his company’s kiosk at the pier, he told police. He immediately asked around and called…
-
Phuket students return gold, bring tears of joy to Filipino’s eyes
PHUKET: Local students at Phuket Rajabhat University brought a Filipino to tears earlier this week after turning in a gold bracelet that he had lost. The item is said to be worth about 135,000 baht. One of the students found the treasured piece of jewellery and immediately turned it in to a teacher at the school. “I went home to…
-
Destruction of Patong taxi booths underway
PHUKET: The destruction of 16 taxi booths in Patong is currently underway. Starting at 3pm this afternoon, Patong Police, officers from the Patong Municipality and volunteers began to tear down taxi booths throughout Patong. “We are targeting 16 booths. Some we have received complaints about, and some are obstructing traffic,” said Patong Police Chief Investigator Sutthichai Thianpho. The taxi drivers…
-
Breaking News: Phuket taxi driver arrested with B100mn
PHUKET: Police today arrested a Phuket taxi driver who had more than 100 million baht in his bank account. Officers are now investigating the origins of the funds and whether the suspect was involved in money laundering. — Woranut Pechdee
-
Classic British Grumpy Old Man with passion for Phuket passes away
PHUKET: The Phuket expat community suffered another tragic loss to its ranks this week with the death of John Devenport, an avid classic car enthusiast and founding member of Phuket’s Grumpy Old Men Society (GOMS). Mr Devenport’s passing was announced to his Facebook friends in a post yesterday which read, “to all his Facebook friends we regret that John Devenport…
-
Police arrest suspect over slaying of Canadian in Patong
PHUKET: After nearly five years on the run, Nukul Sae-heng, 28, from Phetchaburi has been arrested for his role in the contract slaying of Canadian national Francis Alex Degioanni in Patong in 2009. Nukul was arrested in Ayutthaya on a Phuket arrest warrant on Tuesday, Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette. He is now in custody at Patong Police Station.…
-
Phuket shrine broken into; possibly robbed
PHUKET: Police are trying to track down the culprits involved in a break-in and possible robbery at the Tah Rua Shrine on Thepkrasattri Road in Srisoonthorn. “Cheng Kittipisarn, 73, who looks after the shrine, reported the break-in just after 8am today,” Lt Col Sanit Nookong of the Thalang Police told the Phuket Gazette. Mr Cheng was waiting near an overturned…
-
Police arrest Phuket blockade leaders
PHUKET: As part of an ongoing campaign to clean Phuket of all people deemed by police to be a threat to the island’s tourism industry, officers have arrested three people for involvement in major street blockades. Police have arrest warrants for 23 people for their roles in the blockades, Lt Gen Panya Mamen, Commander of the Royal Thai Police Region…
-
Memorial event to honor Phuket expat Graham Doven
PHUKET: Long-term Phuket expat Graham Doven, who passed away in Bangkok earlier this week (story here), will be honored with a ceremony on June 15 to scatter his ashes in Phang Nga Bay. The ceremony on the bay, where floating wreaths will be laid upon the water, will be followed by a memorial lunch at BB’s Restaurant at Tinlay Place…
-
Police push to keep tuk-tuk cartel suspects behind bars, fear witness intimidation
PHUKET: Only four of the 95 suspects arrested for their involvement in the taxi and tuk-tuk cartels that have ruled Phuket’s public transport system have been allowed out on police bail. The rest remain in jail today. “The four suspects were allowed out on bail because they have health problems that were identified and certified as a real risk by…
-
Three young Phuket sailors aim to represent Thailand at Welsh World Championships
PHUKET: Three young sailors who grew up in a local orphanage are preparing to be the first to represent Thailand in a world class sailing event in Wales in August. Ekkapot Kaenkaew and Theerapong Tokratoak, both 17, and Kartoon Jundet, 12, are members of the Phuket Youth Sailing Club (PYSC), which has been invited to send competitors to the International…
-
Video Report: Thailand’s coup given credit for taxi cartel crackdown in Phuket
PHUKET: Thailand’s coup opened the gates for police to sweep Phuket clean of the island’s notorious taxi and tuk-tuk cartels, said Commander of the Royal Thai Police Region 8 Panya Mamen today. Lt Gen Panya explained that the Army’s support was instrumental in enabling months of hard police work to come to fruition. “Since the coup, it has been easy…
-
Thailand’s coup given credit for taxi cartel crackdown in Phuket
PHUKET: Thailand’s coup opened the gates for police to sweep Phuket clean of the island’s notorious taxi and tuk-tuk cartels, said Commander of the Royal Thai Police Region 8 Panya Mamen today. Lt Gen Panya explained that the Army’s support was instrumental in enabling months of hard police work to come to fruition. “Since the coup, it has been easy…
-
Illegal roaming abortion clinic shut down in Phuket
PHUKET: Police arrested two Myanmar nationals operating an illegal abortion clinic in Phuket during a sting operation today. Sein Maung, 54, and Thein Thein Htwg, 35, were taken into police custody after preparing to give an abortion to a three-months-pregnant woman. “We received a tip-off about the roaming abortion clinic, so we set up a mole to get the telephone…
-
Swiss man crushed to death as cement truck tips on Karon Hill
PHUKET: A Phuket expat from Switzerland was crushed to death yesterday afternoon when a cement truck slid out of control on Karon Hill and crushed his car. Philippe Wagner, 46, died instantly, said Lt Weerayuth Thansirisukhaworakul of the Karon Police. “He was alone in the car when the accident happened,” he added. Mr Wagner was on Patak Road, travelling toward…
-
Krabi, Phang Nga next on list for curfew repeal
PHUKET: The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is planning to ask for the curfew to be lifted in Phuket’s neighboring provinces of Krabi and Phang Nga to ease public concerns and help tourism operators recover. Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports Suwat Sitthilor is planning to ask the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to remove the curfew in…
-
Phuket’s power hungry to join energy-saving dress rehearsal
PHUKET: Some of Phuket’s largest energy consumers will take part in a power-saving exercise this Saturday in preparation for the nearly month-long period during which a major gas field will go offline for upgrades. Though Phuket has been promised no enforced blackouts or power rationing, Phuket Energy Office Chief Wiroj Damkong has called for energy saving during the June 13…
-
Take it to the green with Environment Day in Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket’s celebration of World Environment Day (WED) kicked off this morning as the province hosts a three-day event concluding on June 7. The event organizers’ goal is to encourage residents to take action against pollution and promote the preservation of the island for generations to come. The event will support this year’s United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) campaign called…
-
Phuket’s Coup d’Taxi continues; cartels smashed
PHUKET: Police this morning continued their campaign to smash Phuket’s notorious taxi and tuk-tuk cartels by destroying illegal taxi stands in Cherng Talay, Kata-Karon and Kamala. Unlike the mass raids yesterday, when 73 drivers were arrested (story here), no soldiers from the Fourth Army Area Command in Nakhon Sri Thammarat were present to provide military support. An estimated 500 officers…
-
Phuket war weapons owners urged to lay down their arms
PHUKET: Governor Maitri Inthusut has made a plea for anyone harboring weapons of war to hand them over to authorities by the June 10 deadline rather than risk court martial and 20 years in jail. “No citizens are permitted to own weapons of war. There is no license that allows such weapons to be owned,” Governor Maitri told the Phuket…
-
Nadal sets up semi-final with Murray
PHUKET: There is not much that spooks Rafa Nadal at the French Open, but David Ferrer managed to do just that – for 49 bewitching minutes – before watching in despair as his fellow Spaniard turned into a man possessed to set up a semi-final with Andy Murray. Facing a rival who had beaten him the last time they had…
-
Army invades Phuket to clear violent, illegal taxi drivers
PHUKET: A deployment of 100 soldiers from Southern Thailand today provided military support to a huge task force of 1,110 police officers and 40 volunteers who swept along the west coast of Phuket to purge the island of illegal, violent, abusive and cheating taxi, tuk-tuk and minivan drivers. The soldiers were acting under orders from Maj Gen Peerapol Wiriyakul, Commanding…
-
No power rationing in Phuket during gas field shutdown
PHUKET: The chief of the Phuket Energy Office and Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut have both confirmed that there will be no enforced blackouts or power rationing in Phuket when a major gas field supply line goes offline next week. Supply of natural gas from field A-18 in the Joint Development Area (JDA) between Thailand and Malaysia in the Gulf of…
-
Breaking News: At least one dead in Phuket cement truck smash
PHUKET: At least one person died when a cement truck slammed into a pick-up truck and sedan on Kata Hill at about 5:19pm today. The cause of the fatal accident and number of other injuries or fatalities that occurred has yet to be confirmed by the Phuket Gazette. — Chutharat Plerin
-
Breaking News: Army leads blitz on illegal Phuket taxi, tuk-tuk drivers
PHUKET: A huge force of 1,150 police, volunteers and army personnel arrived in Phuket today and so far have arrested 73 illegal drivers of taxis, tuk-tuks and other commercial vehicles that prey on vacationing foreigners holidaying on the island. The arrests were carried out along the west coast of Phuket, in the Thalang, Kata-Karon, Cherng Talay, Kamala police precincts. No…
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.
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.