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 Which is the best copy trading platform?
Copy trading has become increasingly popular with investors around the globe over the past decade. It's considered a simple way to capitalise on market opportunities with little effort. But is it really a shortcut to making big bucks in the...
-
Australian man arrested in Pattaya for multiple offenses and mafia connections
Immigration Bureau officers arrested an Australian man in Pattaya for multiple offences in his home country and his connection to a foreign mafia gang in Phuket. Officers arrested the Australian, identified only as Grey, at his luxury home in Pattaya after discovering his connection to the mafia gang. However, officers did not provide full details about the group. The Immigration…
-
Thai lifeguards nab American phone thief at Kata Beach (video)
Thai lifeguards helped a foreign woman catch an American man who stole her mobile phone while she was swimming at Kata Beach in Phuket. The theft took place at Kata Beach on Saturday, June 1. The foreign woman reportedly left her mobile phone on the beach while she was swimming, giving the American man a chance to steal the phone.…
-
British mum’s dengue fever warning after son’s Thai holiday tragedy
A crestfallen British mother urged travellers ahead of the holiday season to be wary of dengue fever after losing her son to the disease while he was on holiday in Thailand. The heartbroken mother, Jayne Toulson-Burke, recalled the last devastating phone call from her son, Bob, just before he died from the disease several years ago. The 59 year old…
-
Foreigner unharmed after motorcycle crash with van in Phuket
A foreigner narrowly escaped death without a scratch after crashing his motorcycle on a mountain road in Phuket, sliding down Patong Hill, and colliding with a van. The van driver, Weerapong, shared a video of the accident on his TikTok account, Smith.van, yesterday, June 3. The footage showed Weerapong braking suddenly as the foreigner and his motorcycle lost control on…
-
Intoxicated Thai man arrested after rampage in Wichit
A Wichit man was arrested following a seven-hour siege at his father’s car shop, with police seizing a small arsenal of firearms. The standoff, which saw residents gripped in fear, finally ended peacefully as the suspect tried to make a getaway in a luxury car that wouldn’t start. The ordeal began late Friday night when a distressed woman in Phuket…
-
Phuket beautician shot by van driver after DNA test dispute
A grey van driver in Phuket shot a slingshot at a beautician, causing her to bleed, due to anger over his wife refusing a DNA test for their child. Social Hunter 2022 posted an image and a warning, alerting Phuket residents about a grey van with the licence plate number 30-9306 Phuket. The van nearly collided with a motorbike, driven…
-
Phuket Airport to invest 6 billion baht in new international terminal
Phuket Airport plans to invest 6 billion baht to construct a new terminal dedicated to international flights, aiming to boost its passenger handling capacity from 12.5 million annually to 18 million. The airport’s director, Monchai Tanod, highlighted the urgent need for expansion. Last month, the airport saw an influx of around 16,000 domestic passengers daily, hitting 90% of its pre-Covid-19…
-
Russian nominee business bust exposes 1.5 billion baht scandal
In a dramatic crackdown on illegal businesses in Phuket, 231 suspects, including 98 foreign nationals, mostly Russians, have been arrested, revealing a scandal worth over 1.5 billion baht. The Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECSD), under the directive of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) commissioner Police General Jirabhop Bhuridej, raided several accounting and real estate firms on the island. The operation…
-
Mystery stabbing shocks community at Chalong temple
The brutal stabbing of a Thai man behind Luang Pu Supha Temple in Chalong last night sparked a massive police investigation. The shocking incident has left the community in fear and sparked a full-scale investigation. Chalong Police Station officers were alerted to the gruesome discovery at 10.09pm, yesterday, May 29, via the 191 hotline. Police Lieutenant Colonel Somkiat Sarasit, head…
-
Cable chaos: Trio busted for illegal TV scheme in Phuket
Phuket Tourist Police nabbed two Chinese nationals and one Myanmar national for working illegally on an audacious cable installation operation to provide Chinese TV channels in Phuket Town. Acting on an anonymous tip-off, officers swooped on the roof of an apartment building on Yaowarat Road, catching the five foreigners red-handed. Thai national Sittichai Klapdee, who was present at the scene,…
-
American man with depression commits suicide at Phuket hotel
A Thai maid discovered the dead body of a 63 year old American man in his Phuket hotel room after he committed suicide yesterday, May 29. His Thai ex-girlfriend reported that the foreign man suffered from depression but did not seek treatment. Hotel staff reported the death of the 63 year old foreign man, Michael Thomas, to Thalang Police Station…
-
Ring rage: Brawl erupts at Phuket boxing stadium
A viral video capturing foreign boxers and their cornermen brawling in the ring sparked widespread criticism online. The explosive incident occurred at the Bangla Boxing Stadium in Patong, Phuket, during the main event on May 26. The showdown featured an Irish boxer in the red corner and a Russian boxer in the blue corner. As the ring announcer prepared to…
-
Phuket dreams of a Vietnamese tourist boom
Tourism operators in Phuket, the jewel of Thailand’s southern resort islands, are optimistic about a significant influx of Vietnamese tourists following a high-impact promotional campaign in Vietnam’s two largest cities. Thanet Tantipiriyakit, President of the Phuket Tourist Association stated that the island aims to welcome at least 120,000 visitors from Vietnam this year, marking a 50% increase from last year’s…
-
Top 5 surf beaches in Phuket: Unleash your inner surfer on vacation
Phuket, Thailand’s “Pearl of the Andaman,” isn’t just about pristine beaches and turquoise waters. Beneath the idyllic surface lies a thrilling secret for adrenaline seekers. While the island caters to sunbathers year-round, surfing in Phuket flourishes during the southwest monsoon season, roughly from May to October. So… Where are the best surfing spots in Thailand? Phuket’s beauty lies in its…
-
Thai teenager with ADHD stabs uncle to death in Phuket
A 15 year old Thai boy stabbed his 60 year old uncle to death last night in a rented room in the Thalang district of Phuket. Officers from Thalang Police Station were alerted to the fatal stabbing incident at a rented room in the Thalang district of Phuket at about 7pm yesterday, May 27. The victim, 60 year old Somkiat…
-
Filipino motorcyclist dies after running over palm kernel in Phuket
A Filipino motorcyclist died yesterday morning after running over a palm kernel and losing control of his motorcycle, crashing into a traffic sign on Thep Krasattri Road in Phuket. Officers from the Thalang Police Station and rescuers from the Kuson Dham Phuket Foundation were alerted to the fatal motorcycle accident on the Thep Krasattri Road at about 6.40am yesterday, May…
-
Phuket’s tourism boom: Is the island ready for the rush?
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is confident that tourism revenue in Phuket this year will skyrocket to a staggering 400 billion baht. In a surprising revelation, the provincial TAT office reported that more than 3.6 million tourists graced the resort island in the first quarter alone. Lerdchai Wangtrakoondee, director of the provincial TAT office, announced yesterday that tourist numbers…
-
High-speed motorcycle crash kills 2 Frenchmen in Phuket
Two Frenchmen tragically lost their lives in a motorcycle accident in the early hours of this morning on Anusawari-Ban Pa Khlok Road in the Thalang district of Phuket. Officers from the Thalang Police Station and rescuers from the Kusol Dham Phuket Foundation responded to the scene after receiving a notification from a local motorist at 4.40am today, May 24. The…
-
Deranged expat threatens murder in Phuket over rental dispute
A Phuket neighbourhood was rocked by a chilling threat when a disgruntled Swedish expat promised to return and kill a local homeowner after being barred from his rental house. The shocking incident was brought to light on the Phuket Residents Seek Help Facebook page, prompting immediate action from the authorities. Immigration officers, accompanied by the Tourist Police, set up surveillance…
-
IndiGo boosts Delhi-Phuket route, take off June 1
Starting June 1, IndiGo will double its weekly flights from Delhi to Phuket from seven to 14, in response to Thailand’s extension of visa-free stays for Indian citizens until November 11. IndiGo, India’s premier low-cost airline, is enhancing its service with twice-daily flights, offering morning and evening departures. This increased frequency will provide greater flexibility and convenience for travellers planning…
-
Bleak reefs: Coral bleaching hits Mooh Koh Surin & Phi Phi Island
The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DMCR) revealed seven coral bleaching sites have been identified in Moo Koh Surin National Park in Phang Nga, with up to 70% of coral fields around Krabi’s Phi Phi Island also affected. An investigation into the bleaching situation, conducted over two days, revealed that seven coral reef sites in Moo Koh Surin…
-
Thai man and Frenchman duel in knife fight, both wounded
A knife fight erupted between a Thai man and a Frenchman in the middle of the road in the Karon sub-district of Phuket last night, May 20, resulting in injuries of both parties. Officers from Karon Police Station received a notification from a Thai man who discovered an injured individual, later identified as Jirasak Thonghor, outside his apartment building at…
-
Chalong Bay luxury yacht goes up in flames
A 34.2-metre luxury yacht yesterday suffered extensive damage in a dramatic blaze, which left its towering mast levelled. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) sprang into action around 3pm, dispatching two boats, Tor 111 and Tor 272, to the scene. Upon arrival, they found the yacht, Obsession II, anchored and continuously burning. The yacht’s crew, who…
-
Cash clash: Temple abbot stabbed over 20-baht in Phuket
A suspected drug addict stabbed an abbot from the Phra Thong Temple in Phuket after the monk delayed giving the attacker 20 baht in cash. Officers from Thalang Police Station investigated Phra Thong Temple after being notified of the stabbing at around 11pm on May 19. The temple’s abbot, Phra Kru Suwan Phuttapiban, was the victim. He sustained a stab…
-
British tourist stabbed in gang assault on Bangla Road, Patong
Patong police are currently pursuing a group of men responsible for a gang assault on Bangla Road that left a British tourist injured early yesterday morning. The incident took place near a 7-Eleven close to Soi Sea Dragon at 4.40am. Charlie Faulkner, a British tourist, was found with a stab wound on his lower left side when officers arrived at…
-
SpiceJet launches daily flights from Delhi to Phuket
Indian low-cost airline SpiceJet unveiled its latest venture: daily non-stop flights connecting Delhi to Phuket, commencing on May 31. Ajay Singh, SpiceJet’s Chairman and Managing Director, expressed his enthusiasm for the new route. “We are incredibly excited to launch our first-ever service to Phuket, a world-renowned destination. We are confident that our new daily non-stop flights will be a popular choice…
-
Patong: Intoxicated tourist causes chaos on Thaweewong Road
Authorities in Patong had to intervene when a foreign tourist, heavily intoxicated, caused a disturbance on Thaweewong Road early Tuesday morning, May 14. Despite the incident occurring four days prior, details were released today, underscoring that officers adhered to standard police protocols. At approximately 2.30am on Tuesday, Patong Police Station received multiple alerts from concerned citizens and tourists about a…
-
Thailand unveils Phuket monorail plan to improve transport
The government unveiled an ambitious plan to enhance Phuket’s transportation infrastructure, featuring a new monorail system linking the airport and Phuket Town. This initiative arises from the island’s robust economic performance, with over 300 billion baht in circulation last year. Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke announced yesterday that Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin recognised Phuket’s potential, aligning with the government’s strategy to…
-
Israeli girl dies in tuk tuk accident on Patong Beach Road
A tragic accident claimed the life of a young Israeli girl on Patong Beach Road last night. Patong police received a report at 10.40pm that a five year old girl, Nbaa Bahnasi from Jerusalem, had fallen from a tuk tuk while travelling with her family on Thaweewong Road. The tuk tuk driver, 51 year old Bunyang Kaewaksorn, explained to the…
-
Motorbike rider fatally crushed by trailer truck in Srisoonthorn
A tragic accident occurred in Srisoonthorn, Phuket last night when a motorcycle rider was fatally crushed by a trailer truck on the Khao Lan-Bang Jo road. The truck driver claimed he did not see the motorcycle rider. Thalang Police received the accident report at 5.20pm. Upon arrival at the scene, opposite Soi Ban Kluai in Moo 1, Srisoonthorn, police and a…
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.