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 Immigration Tourist Service Point opens in Patong
PHUKET: Phuket Immigration’s Tourist Service Point in Patong re-opened on Thursday to a flurry of activity, with about 20 expats and tourists taking advantage of the immigration services provided. “Most of them came to do their 90-day resident reporting and for extensions to permits-to-stay,” said Patong Immigration’s Capt Angkarn Yasanop, who now heads the office with a staff of five.…
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Newborn dumped, found dead in Phuket trash pile
PHUKET: A newborn baby boy with a rubber band twisted tightly around its neck was found dead in a pile of rubbish in southern Phuket beach area of Rawai yesterday afternoon.The baby, estimated to have been dead for over 24 hours, was spotted by Rawai Municipality trash truck driver Sutham Kansuwan on his regular route along Soi Suksan 1, said…
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Phuket teens in gang attack, motorbike theft
PHUKET: Police are urging motorists to exercise caution when travelling alone late at night in the Thalang area after a man was kicked off his motorbike while in motion and robbed of his motorcycle by a gang of youths late Thursday night. Chatmongkol Sukmak, 17, was riding home from Phuket Town at about 11pm when a gang of youths travelling…
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French Open: Powerful pair
PHUKET: When Serena Williams powered down three aces in the final game to beat Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-4 at Stade Roland Garros, she cemented her already legendary status in the game. The oldest winner – at 31 – of a Grand Slam in the modern era, the victory was, coincidentally, her 31st straight success. She has now won every Major…
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Lions Tour: Upping the tempo
PHUKET: After two relatively straightforward workouts – against the Barbarians in Hong Kong and the Western Force in Perth, the Lions encountered their first real test at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, the setting for the first Test on June 22. Against the Barbarians, the heat had been enervating, with Welsh prop Adam Jones declaring it “like nothing I have…
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Phuket on the cards to host Thailand’s F1
PHUKET: The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has admitted Phuket could host Thailand’s lucrative Formula One race in 2015 due to strong opposition from Bangkok residents. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) put the skids on the F1 race being held in the capital by banning the use of the historic Rattanakosin Island. The move came after residents and business owners complained…
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VIDEO REPORT: European Union tackles Phuket tourism woes
PHUKET: Ambassadors from 17 European nations today brought to the Phuket Governor’s attention four critical issues plaguing Phuket’s tourism industry: road transport, boat safety, tourist security and jet-skis.“The meeting today was held to identify several key issues affecting European tourists to Thailand and to come up with solutions to these problems,” said European Union (EU) Ambassador to Thailand David Lipman,…
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Triathlon champs coming to Challenge Laguna Phuket
PHUKET: Reigning World Champion Pete “PJ” Jacobs has confirmed he will race the inaugural Challenge Laguna Phuket half distance triathlon on December 1 – setting up an intriguing contest with fellow Australian Chris ‘Macca’ McCormack, the defending title-holder and two-time world champion, for a slice of the race’s 25,000 euro prize purse. The elite pair will compete at Challenge Laguna…
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No Phuket cars on DSI supercar list
PHUKET: No Phuket luxury cars are on the list of 488 supercars whose owners are being investigated for tax evasion, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has confirmed to the Phuket Gazette. The DSI on Monday revealed the names of the owners of 488 luxury cars who will be called in for questioning in a nationwide crackdown on supercar tax…
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Phuket security guard saved from suicide leap
PHUKET: A security guard sacked after two days on the job in Phuket was talked down from a four-storey building in Phuket Town yesterday after he threatened to jump. Police arrived at the Phoonphol Night Plaza just before 4pm, along with Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers and a medical team from Vachira Phuket Hospital. Officers were dispatched to the rooftop to…
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Mass tourism market blamed for degradation of Phuket
PHUKET: The Senate Standing Committee on Tourism yesterday highlighted a series of issues plaguing Phuket due to the rapid development of the province into a major center for mass tourism in Thailand.“The growth of the tourism industry in Phuket is the source of many problems at its natural tourist attractions. Land and beach encroachment, as well as air and water…
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Former male nurse confesses to at least 20 hotel room abortions
PHUKET: Police in Krabi province, across the bay from Phuket, raided a hotel room where they arrested a former nurse who was just about to perform an illegal abortion.Officers raided the small hotel in Ao Luek at about 12:30pm yesterday, finding Prapak Thiparat preparing to perform an abortion.The woman had already been prepared by Mr Prapak to undergo the procedure.…
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Special Report: Burmese manager climbs to the top of Phuket hotel industry
Special Report: Kyaw Kyaw Khine is a piece of living Phuket history. At 47 years old, he is the first Burmese national to become a hotel manager in Phuket’s critical tourism industry, at one of the best known hotels on the island: the On On Hotel on Phang Nga Road in Phuket Town. Here he tells the story of his…
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Heavy Phuket rains send snake slithering for shelter
PHUKET: A large python sought accommodation and food in a local Phuket woman’s home yesterday morning.“During heavy rain, pythons often come to find things to eat. My house has many chickens, which is good food for a snake,” said Kanittha Saechau.On spotting the snake, which stretched to about four meters long, Ms Kanittha contacted Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers.The rescue workers…
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Phuket flood, landslide warning issued as weekend deluges forecast
PHUKET: An island-wide flood and landslide warning has been issued as heavy rains continue to soak Phuket. The warning was issued to all local authorities across the island, San Jantharawong, chief of the Phuket office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM-Phuket), confirmed to the Phuket Gazette this morning. “There has been heavy rain every day for days…
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Phuket ITU Triathlon cancelled
PHUKET: The Local Organizing Committee of the 2013 Phuket ITU Long Distance Triathlon Series event has announced the cancellation of the event set to be held in Patong on November 9-10. The weekend of triathlon activities was to include a series of triathlon events over two days, culminating in the first ever ITU Long Distance triathlon in Thailand. Part of…
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US Ambassador Kenney showers praise on Phuket
PHUKET: US Ambassador Kristie Kenney praised an array of aspects of Phuket during her one-day outreach trip to the island yesterday. “I am very thankful for every Phuket police officer. I am aware of how hard your work is, especially as Phuket is a tourism city and you have to take care of not only Thai people, but also foreigners,”…
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VIDEO Report: Phuket officials unveil “drive-thru’ preview of Patong Tunnel
PHUKET: The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT), commissioned to roll out the Patong Tunnel project, has released a video highlighting the preferred route the tunnel will take through the Phuket hills separating the Kathu valley from the beachside resort town of Patong. The preferred route was chosen after a panel of experts investigated three major factors in the selection process,…
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Phuket gold shop gives B170k to fiancee of slain man
PHUKET: The fiancee of the man shot dead trying to stop a gold shop robbery in Phuket in April received 170,000 baht from the shop owner on Monday. Surasak Wattananawin, owner of the C.P. Gold Master & Jewelry store, had promised to donate the money shortly after the murder of Apichet Choo-kliang, 32, and had already made one donation of…
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Phuket’s new Airport Bus slated for July 1 launch
PHUKET: The Phuket transport authorities today verbally agreed to launch the new Phuket Airport Bus service on July 1.The provincial transportation committee will meet again next Tuesday to ratify the decision in writing, Phuket Vice Governor and committee chairman Chamroen Tipayapongtada confirmed.Of the 29 government officers, airport officials and tourism and hotel industry representatives present at the meeting today, not…
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Phuket flood warning issued as Patong hospital, police station access hampered
PHUKET: The torrential rains across Phuket this morning caused more flooding in Patong, with access routes to the Patong Hospital and Patong Police Station under water. The downpours this morning saw 56.2mm of rainfall recorded within just three hours in Phuket Town, from 7am to 10am, while the weather monitoring station at Phuket Airport recorded 14.4mm from 4am to 7am…
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Phuket Police suspect arson in three-truck fire
PHUKET: Three pickup trucks burned early this morning in a fire police believe was caused by a faulty liquid gas tank (LPG) tank or arson.Police responded to a report just after 1am that a vehicle was ablaze at a commercial building near the entrance to Wat Manik in Srisoonthorn, Thalang.Firemen took 30 minutes to put out the fire, which appeared…
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Long-awaited Patong Phuket Immigration office to re-open Thursday
PHUKET: The Patong Immigration office, scheduled to re-open almost a year and a half ago (story here), will open on Thursday, and provide limited immigration services in addition to general immigration information. The office, located on Thaweewong Road next to the Patong Tourist Police Volunteers office (map here), will provide 90-day resident reporting services. In addition, hotels will be able…
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Prison products to hit Phuket streets
PHUKET: The 10th annual Southern Prison Products Fair gets underway at Saphan Hin this evening and continues to June 17.The fair showcases products made by inmates in the 14 southern provinces.“There are many handmade products for sale at fair prices, including good quality furniture,” said Phuket Prison Chief Rapin Nichano.“The project is excellent for prisoners because 50 per cent of…
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Swedish domino effect nets another Phuket drug dealer
PHUKET: Two gun-stashing drug dealers were scooped up on Friday in the wake of a drug bust that netted a Swedish national in Karon last month. Hasachai Khaokhem and Suvimon Chaikhun were arrested on Friday when police recognized them from a description given last month by drug dealer Nattharin Dansathaporn, 29. Mr Nattharin was found based on information supplied by…
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Laguna Phuket International Marathon sees fun and fund-raising
PHUKET: Michael Page of the UK won the eighth Laguna Phuket International Marathon (LPIM) when the annual running festival took to the island’s roads over the weekend. More than 4,000 entrants of all ages and abilities from 45 countries competed on a variety of distance courses in an atmosphere of community fun and charity fund-raising. Page finished the 42 kilometer…
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Drunk looking German busted for meth in Phuket
PHUKET: A German national whose inebriated driving style caught police attention on Saturday was arrested in Patong after he failed a drug test and confessed to having drugs in his hotel room. The 44 year old was stopped by Phuket Immigration officer Capt Angkarn Yasanop at about 1:30am. “We were on patrol as usual,” said Capt Angkarn. “When we arrived…
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V for Thailand unmasks Phuket unrest
PHUKET: Thousands of Phuket residents donned white Guy Fawkes masks and joined anti-government group “V for Thailand” to protest the current administration’s running of the country. “We are not a mob, we have gathered to let the government know that their management of Thailand has failed,” said a statement issued under the name of V-Phuket to the media during the…
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Weather warning for Phuket, Andaman as Patong’s streets flooded
PHUKET: The flood waters from last night’s deluge have cleared from Patong’s streets, but the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a weather warning for Phuket and the Andaman region forecasting more heavy rain until at least Friday. A two-hour torrential downpour last night flooded major streets in Patong, including the party district of Soi Bangla, to depths of half…
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UK’s Page wins Laguna Phuket Marathon
PHUKET: Michael Page of Great Britain won the Laguna Phuket International Marathon 2013 this morning, completing the 42km circuit in 2 hours 41 minutes and 2 seconds. Officials have yet to confirm the results, but according to the preliminary times posted by official timekeeper Championchip Thailand (click here), Page crossed the finish line 10 minutes ahead of Yasuhiro Saito of…
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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