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 Infinito helps hotels in Thailand with revenue management
Maximising revenue and profit–isn’t that the ultimate goal for every business in the hospitality industry? If you run a hotel, you might have heard that revenue management is an effective way to boost your top-line revenue. It involves using data...
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Phuket head-on collision claims lives of two sisters
PHUKET: Two sisters were killed this morning when a car belonging to the Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority (PPEA) collided with the motorbike they were riding. The tragedy occurred on Rassada Nusorn Road, opposite Baan Kuku School, just north of Phuket Town. The motorbike driver, Warangkana Angsakul, a 51-year-old teacher at Muang Phuket Municipal School, died instantly as a result of…
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Phang Nga police closing in on Rohingya traffickers
PHUKET: Immigration Police say they know who was behind the mass escape of 18 Rohingya from the Phang Nga shelter on July 21 and are closing in to arrest them. The news follows Phang Nga Immigration and Ranong Immigration officers taking into custody a Rohingya woman and four children on Wednesday night while they were on a train bound for…
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DSI stops the music, seizes illegal Phuket karaoke machines
PHUKET: Officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) Region 8 headquarters in Surat Thani landed on the island last night to raid nine karaoke bars for music rights infringement. Led by DSI Region 8 Director Udom Phetcharakut, the officers raided venues in Phuket Town and Kathu, starting at 8:30pm. Along for the ride were legal representatives of the music…
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Phuket traffic cop run down by speeding motorcyclist
PHUKET: A Phuket City Police traffic officer was run down by a speeding motorcyclist late yesterday afternoon while trying to clear a rush-hour traffic jam near Vachira Phuket Hospital on Yaowarat Road. Sen Sgt Maj Somsak Chuenbangbah was en route to Saphan Hin, where he was to make sure no trouble erupted at the “birthday funeral” being held there by…
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Tourism minister gets tough with Phuket taxi and vehicle-rental cowboys
PHUKET: Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Pureesrisak has blankly called for an end to the age-old Phuket practice of foreigners’ passports being held as a condition of renting motorbikes, cars and jet-skis “We are deeply concerned about this situation. Rental-vehicle operators demand the passports of customers. Strictly speaking, this is illegal – passports simply cannot be handed-over to third-parties,” Minister…
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Phuket Sports: Going from strength to strength – Bodybuilding
PHUKET: In the 21st century, when women increasingly have the same rights as men, body image ideals have also been increasingly questioned and many women in modern society have become more open, and indeed, proud of their individual body characteristics. One thing is now certain, having a muscular body is no longer an ideal sought only by men. Many women…
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Phuket Sports: A tour de force for Froome – Cycling
PHUKET: First, the bald facts: Chris Froome has triumphed in the hundredth edition of the Tour de France. Last year, victory was claimed by Froome’s Sky team-mate, Sir Bradley Wiggins. Remarkable? Absolutely. They are the first Englishmen to win the world’s most prestigious and demanding cycle race since its inception. By any standards, it is a most extraordinary achievement.Not only…
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Phuket Sports: Hungary, hunters and hunches – F1
PHUKET: The Lions destroyed Australia, England is cruising through a shattered Australia in the Ashes, Andy Murray triumphed at Wimbledon and Chris Froome won the Tour de France. As Britons tower over world sports, Lewis Hamilton must be considering his chance of continuing this newfound tradition, starting with a win in Hungary this weekend. Can he do it? Mercedes has…
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Phuket official moves to create Patong Beach clear zone
PHUKET: Kathu District Chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol has requested Patong Municipality to clear all vendors – including sun bed operators – from a large section of Patong Beach. The affected area will stretch more than 500 meters from Loma Park to the area opposite the Phuket Graceland Resort and Spa (map here). “This part of the beach has been taken over…
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Phuket FC derail ‘Locomotive’ soccer squad in friendly
PHUKET: The Islanders got a strong injection of confidence this afternoon after making minced meat out of local college outfit, Rajbhat Phuket “Locomotive”, winning 9-0 in a friendly match at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club in Thalang.Scoring for Phuket FC were Chana Sonwiset (4 goals), Luiz “Dudu” Purcino (3) and Giorgi Tsimakuridze and Koset Gerd-Suk, who each scored a goal.…
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Phuket airport bus services pared back, full service to resume in August
PHUKET: The operator of the recently launched Airport Express bus has suspended some services, but expects to return to the full schedule next month. The Airport Express bus, operating a “hop on, hop off” service between Phuket International Airport and Patong, launched last Friday to little fanfare (story here). Since then, the dwindling volume of passengers has forced the operator…
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Phuket firework blast puts teacher in hospital
PHUKET: A beach party in Cape Panwa took a horrific turn after a Phuket English teacher went to light a 49-mortar firework on July 13. Immediately after the fuse was lit, the mostly buried firework exploded, sending one of its rounds directly into the face of Danyel Erickson, 31, while the rest shot off in every direction. Ms Erickson, an…
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Two arrested as Phuket bus delivers nearly 10kg of kratom
PHUKET: Police arrested two men in Wichit last night after they picked up a box of kratom leaves delivered to Phuket by bus. The box had the sender’s and the recipients’ names clearly written on it.The bust came after an informant tipped off the Phuket Internal Security Office (PISO) that a kratom package would be arriving by bus from Chumphon…
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Phuket police arrest armed 7-Eleven drug dealer
PHUKET: Police last night arrested an armed man who confessed to selling ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) to teenagers in front of a 7-Eleven convenience store in Cherng Talay.Lt Col Sommai On-khum and fellow officers moved in and arrested 32-year-old Cherng Talay resident Sitthi Suebprasit in front of the 7-Eleven in Baan Pasak, on the Cherng Talay-Baan Don Road, at 10:30pm.“We…
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Phuket secures B22mn to fix notorious Patong Hill road
PHUKET: The Phuket Highways Office (PHO) has secured the 22 million baht needed to permanently fix the large section of the notorious Patong Hill road that washed away nearly two years ago, PHO Director Samak Luedwonghad announced yesterday. “Patong Hill Road in undergoing permanent restoration (story here). A contract was signed on May 15 and the repairs are expected to…
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Phuket policeman escapes injury after slippery road slams pickup into tree
PHUKET: A police officer on his way to work early yesterday morning lost control of his pickup truck on the bypass road and crashed into a tree.Though the impact demolished the front end of his pickup, he narrowly missed a nearby light pole and escaped injury.Police and Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers responding to a 5:30am call found a pickup straddling…
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Phang Nga Immigration reclaims Rohingya runaways
PHUKET: Phang Nga Immigration Police last night intercepted five Rohingya refugees who were en route to Bangkok by train after disappearing from a government shelter in Phang Nga, north of Phuket. The refugees, a 20-year-old woman and four children aged 5 to 14 years, were taken into custody at 11:30pm. They were among the 18 Rohingya who disappeared from the…
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DSI gives Phuket mafia 15 days to pack up shop
PHUKET: Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tarit Pengdith today leveled a warning at all mafia operating in Phuket: cease and desist within 15 days – or else. Mr Tarit arrived in Phuket this morning with Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Pureesrisak and a team of about 10 DSI officials to launch a crackdown specifically targeting illegal taxi drivers and…
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Trial date set for Phuket taxi driver accused of abducting Chinese teen
PHUKET: The trial of the illegal taxi driver charged with abducting and sexually assaulting a Chinese teen tourist on May 17 will start on September 2. “The case was transferred to the court on July 4,” said Phuket Public Prosecutor Theerasak Srichulalak. Paitoon Kruain, 32, faced five charges: deprivation of liberty; sexual assault; using a Category 1 narcotic; consuming alcohol…
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Slap attack gang members charged for attempted murder in Phuket Town street stabbing
PHUKET: Four members of a teenage gang have been charged with attempted murder after a Burmese man was seriously injured in a knife attack in Phuket Town early yesterday morning. The gang of 10 were riding motorbikes along Tilok U-Thit Road (map here) at about 1:30am when four of them took umbrage with a Burmese man riding his motorbike with…
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German consuls in Phuket urge travel insurance for visitors
PHUKET: The German honorary consuls for Phuket and Chiang Mai yesterday urged tourists to take out adequate travel insurance before travelling to Thailand.German honorary consuls Dirk Naumann (Phuket) and Hagen Dirksen (Chiang Mai) handed over a cheque for 100,000 baht to Vachira Phuket Hospital yesterday in appreciation for the facility providing medical services to travellers who were unable to pay…
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“What do you think they are smoking over there at the Emirates?”
PHUKET GAZETTE SPORTS – Quote of the day: Liverpool owner John W. Henry asked on Twitter: “What do you think they are smoking over there at the Emirates?” PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World sports news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Reds favorite ‘son’ Suarez should heed fans: Rodgers Reuters PHUKET: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told Luis Suarez…
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Phuket Governor rides the bus, predicts smooth sailing
PHUKET: Governor Maitri Inthusut rode the new airport bus to Patong on Tuesday, four days after its inaugural run. “The condition of the bus was good, and it was clean and safe. The staff were good too,” Gov Maitri said. “One thing it needs is more publicity. I don’t think many people know it exists,” he said. The governor did…
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Phuket Police on lookout for “slap attack’ teen gang
PHUKET: Phuket City Police are rounding up teenagers from the streets of Phuket Town in the hope of apprehending the youngsters who have been sneaking up behind unsuspecting victims and slapping them on the back of the head.The reports started flowing in last week, with people complaining that they had just been slapped – hard – by a teenager, Phuket…
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Mum calls off search for missing American Brett Bean
PHUKET: The Phuket search for missing American surfer Brett Bean, 43, was called off by his mother, Lynne Bean, tonight. “Brett has been in contact with us several times. We are most grateful to the Karon Police department, the US Embassy, the news media and the many friends whom we have met in Phuket,” Mrs Bean wrote in an email.…
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Special Report: Phuket Gazette keeping an eye on corruption
Special Report: Thailand has again ranked poorly in Transparency International’s annual report on corruption worldwide, released last week. How does this report affect Phuket? The Phuket Gazette investigates. PHUKET: Global corruption watchdog Transparency International last week released its annual report on corruption worldwide. Known as the Global Corruption Barometer, the report compiles an international index of all countries based on…
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Phuket FC lock horns with Bangkok Iron Bulls to no avail
PHUKET: The Islanders dropped one place to sixth of the 18-team Yamaha League One (YL1), after playing out yet another draw – this time to Bangkok FC in a tense yet thrilling 1-1 dead-lock on Saturday evening in Thailand’s capital. Bangkok also lost their 3rd place standing, falling into 4th as a result of the draw and in conjunction with…
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Korean classical musicians to perform free Phuket concert for refugee children
PHUKET: An ensemble of 10 top-flight classical musicians accompanied by 100 students will perform in concert in Phuket free of charge tonight (July 23) to raise funds for Myanmar refugee children living near the border town of Sangkhlaburi, in Kanchanaburi province. The two-hour concert, to be held at the Andaman Embrace Resort & Spa on Haad Patong Road (map here),…
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Phang Nga bus crash leaves 22 injured
PHUKET: More than 20 passengers were injured when a bus en route from Bangkok to Phang Nga, north of Phuket, overshot a curve and crashed into a road barrier in Pranburi in Prachuap Khiri Khan province yesterday. A reported 21 passengers and the driver were sent for emergency medical treatment at Pranburi and Thanarat hospitals. Three were sent to Hua…
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Phuket rain and rockslides in Ranong
PHUKET: More than 90mm of rain fell at Phuket International Airport overnight and more rain is on its way, according to the latest weather report from the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). More than 41mm of rain fell across Phuket Town while wind speeds gusted above 32km/h, brought on by a low pressure system reaching all the way from the Philippines,…
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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