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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Phuket Immigration open today
PHUKET CITY: All Immigration offices in Thailand are open and offering a full range of services today and tomorrow, despite Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva having declared the two days as an extended government holiday following anti-government protests in the capital and other parts of the country.The decision to open Immigration offices nationwide is meant to ease the burden on foreign…
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Thaksin’s passport revoked
PHUKET: The Foreign Ministry has revoked the Thai passport of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The nullification of his right to travel under that document comes amid widespread concern, in and outside of the Thai government, that such travel could cause further damage to the Kingdom, government spokesman Tharit Charungvat said today. Thaksin’s revoked passport was his last Thai traveling…
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Thailand weakened, but government stronger after riots
PHUKET: Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced yesterday that the state of emergency would remain in place even though the authorities had managed to bring the anti-government protests to a tentatively peaceful conclusion. “The situation has eased and is almost back to normal. But the mission of the emergency decree has not been completed. The government will not be careless, and…
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Bangkok protests may be breaking up
PHUKET: Government TV Channel 11 reported late this morning that Veera Musigapong, a Thaksin supporter and red-shirt leader, told the protesters at Government House in Bangkok to disperse. Weng Tojitrakan, another red-shirted leader, asked soldiers to move back by 20 meters so that the protesters could pick up their belongings and leave the site. Veera told the crowd that the…
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Big bikes a big boost to Phuket
PHUKET: Organizers of Phuket Bike Week have reported record-breaking attendance at this year’s event with about 7,000 bikers and enthusiasts making their way to the island from ‘chapters’ all over the world to take part in a variety of activities that were held between April 10 and 12. Events over the three days under the theme “Global Warming, Riding for Peace”,…
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Phuket hotel operators upbeat despite cancellations
PHUKET: The Phuket office of the Thai Hotels Association today reported that about 20% of reservations made at Phuket hotels prior to the Songkran holiday have been canceled following the Thai government’s declaration of a state of emergency in the nation’s capital late yesterday.According to the office, most of the cancellations were from Japanese and Chinese tourists, following the issuance of…
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Phuket Songkran marred by road deaths
PHUKET: Phuket’s Songkran celebrations have been marred by the deaths of two Thai citizens and one foreigner in motorcycle accidents. Chotinrin Gerdsom of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) said that over April 10-11 there were 11 road accidents, with 12 injuries and the death of an 18-year-old Thai man. Ekkachai Jantuang died in hospital on April 11…
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Phuket Airport operating normally
PHUKET (thephuketinsider.com): A visit to Phuket International Airport this morning confirmed that flights between Phuket and Bangkok are operating as usual, despite the Thai government’s declaration of a state of emergency in the nation’s capital late yesterday. Thai Airways staff as well as those of other airlines say there has been no disruption of scheduled flights.Phuket Airport Director, Wicha Nernlop…
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Governor assigns deputies to oversee Songkran checkpoints
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop has assigned three of his vice-governors to oversee checkpoint inspections on the island during the Songkran holiday period. Worapoj Ratthasima will be responsible for Muang District, Tri Augkaradacha for Thalang District and Smith Palawatvichai for Kathu District. Gov Wichai made the announcement outside Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday. As well as the nine primary checkpoints previously…
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Governor leads oath of allegiance
PA KHLOK, PHUKET: Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop yesterday morning led a large number of government officers and local politicians from across Thalang District in a ceremony swearing their allegiance to HM The King and the rule of law. The ceremony, held at the Pa Khlok Administration Office, was held to mark “Senior’s Day” in Pa Khlok, as the entire month…
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EU blacklisting irrelevant: One-Two-Go chairman
PHUKET: The chairman of One-Two-Go says the recent addition of the carrier to a European Union blacklist will have no effect on the company, which has never flown to Europe. One-Two-Go’s addition to the updated blacklist was announced in a press release yesterday. To view the release, click here. One-Two-Go chairman Udom Tantiprasongchai told the Gazette this afternoon that the…
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Developers put luxury projects on hold
BANGKOK / PHUKET: Resort-area residential projects that are worth more than 10 billion baht have been put on hold now that demand from foreign investors is showing a significant drop since last year. The key areas affected are Phuket, Krabi, Hua Hin, Pattaya and Koh Samui. According to a survey by The Nation newspaper last week, a number of property…
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44th SEAMEO meet ends today
BANG TAO, PHUKET: The 44th SEAMEO Council Conference and 4th ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Hotel closes today. The conference, which began on April 5, aims to discuss education policy and co-operation on projects throughout South East Asia, a region estimated to contain at least 3 million children and 34.3 million adults without any education. Representatives…
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Over 1,700 men take part in military conscription draw
PHUKET CITY: Over 1,700 young men presented themselves to draw lots in the annual military conscription lottery that took place in Phuket from April 1 to 4. The draws were conducted at the Kathu Witthayalai School in Kathu District on April 1, the Thalang Pranangsang School in Thalang District on April 2 and the Phibul Songkraam School in Muang District…
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Summer camp for convicts
PHUKET CITY: Some lucky inmates at Phuket Provincial Prison are taking part in an experimental four-day “scout camp” education and training workshop between April 7-10. The wide-ranging program, including academic and vocational classes as well as a moral training session, is a good break in the tedium of life behind bars for those attending. In all, 55 men and 25 woman volunteered for…
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Google Maps now available for Phuket Classifieds
PHUKET: Initially introduced as a feature in the Gazette Guide, Phuket’s ‘yellow pages’, Google Maps were launched this morning at Phuket’s primary classified marketplace, the Island Trader Online. Classified advertisers can now pinpoint precisely where the item, property or business they’re advertising is located – a major benefit in a community where postal addresses are often more confounding than enlightening.…
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Rawai Beach seawall crumbles
RAWAI BEACH, PHUKET: Rawai Municipality will set up a panel to investigate extensive damage to a seawall that was built in 2004. Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos said he did not know what caused a section of the wall over 30 meters long to collapse, exposing sharp pieces of rebar and leaving broken lengths of PVC pipe suspended in the air.…
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Phuket Rajabhat students protest UDD actions
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Rajabhat University student organization has released a statement condemning the actions of “certain individuals and groups” which it claims are violating the sanctity of the institution of the Thai monarchy. Though the statement does not mention any names, it clearly refers to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his red-shirted supporters in the United Front for…
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Phuket Prem supporters demonstrate
PHUKET CITY: Hundreds of Prem Supporters’ Association members from around the South on April 2 marched through the streets of Phuket City in support of General Prem Tinsulanonda, president of the Privy Council.Around 300-400 mostly yellow-shirted members of the organization took part in the demonstration, which assembled at Queen Sirikit Park at around 12:30pm.Some of the protesters came from as…
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Singaporean jailed for alleged fraud
PHUKET CITY: A Singaporean man was arrested by Phuket City Police last week for allegedly defrauding an American citizen of 25,300 baht in a bogus business directory scam.Eric Snyder, 64, of the Jairak Enterprise consulting firm said he paid the money to Marcus Tan for advertising in “Info Phuket“, described as a “business listing and traveler’s guide book”.The guide was…
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Frenchmen arrested for poker playing
PATONG, PHUKET: Fifteen foreigners, mostly Frenchmen, were arrested in Patong early yesterday morning for playing poker in a small gambling den clandestinely set up behind a beer bar.Acting on a tipoff, Kathu Police Inspector for Investigations Sakol Bunditsak at 3:30am led a special investigation unit on a successful raid of the Top Relax bar, located at 2/1 Phang Muang Road.Of…
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Province unveils Songkran safety strategy
PHUKET CITY: As in years past, the provincial government is advising the public on how to safely enjoy the upcoming Songkran Festival – and warning people who endanger others that they risk fines or arrest. At a meeting chaired by Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop at Phuket Provincial Hall on Thursday, the Governor called on police and some 50 representatives of local…
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Former town councilor shot in head
CHERNG TALAY, PHUKET: Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of a former deputy mayor wanted for shooting another local politician in the head outside a mom-and-pop store last night. Cherng Talay Police received a report of the shooting at about 9:30pm. At the scene, outside a small grocery store on the road from Cherng Talay to Ban Don,…
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THAI adds extra flights for Songkran
PHUKET: Thai Airways has scheduled eight extra round-trip flights between Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and Phuket International Airport to cope with the additional numbers of passengers expected to travel over the busy Songkran period. The airline has scheduled a total of 29 additional round-trip flights between Bangkok and the provinces, according to a press release. Other round-trip flights have been added…
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More noise promised for beaches
PATONG, PHUKET: A special committee tasked with finding ways to generate more noise and extra revenue for Phuket is moving forward with a unique plan that would allow businesses to broadcast advertisements through the island’s existing network of 19 tsunami warning towers. The project will be launched early next month in Patong, where the entire beach front is covered by…
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Slain Briton’s body identified by family
PHUKET CITY: The body of slain British sailor Malcolm Robertson was returned to shore late last night after its discovery by a fishing vessel yesterday afternoon. The recovery of the body ended a week-long search by marine police and navy vessels as well as fishing boats. For the original reports of how Mr Robertson was killed by three Burmese men,…
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McDonald’s employee survives multiple stabbing
PHUKET CITY: A McDonald’s employee was seriously wounded in a stabbing attack while on his way home from a party at a friend’s house in the early hours of Saturday, March 29.The attack took place at around 1.50am at a restaurant in front of the Bang Neaw Shrine, on Phuket Rd in downtown Phuket City.After finishing work at 10pm, 18-year-old…
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Slain Briton’s body recovered
PHUKET CITY: After days of searching, the body of slain British sailor Malcolm Robertson was recovered by fishermen about 10 nautical miles north of Satun’s Lipeh Island at about 3pm today. A source in the Marine Police said the fishermen are now bringing Mr Robertson’s remains by boat to Tu Tae Lam Pier in Satun’s La-Ngu District, where it is…
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Culture Minister vows to help sea gypsies
PHUKET: The government has set up a national-level committee aimed at resolving land rights issues and other problems affecting Moken and other sea gypsy communities in the Andaman Coast region. Minister of Culture Teera Slukpetch on Friday afternoon visited five sea gypsy villages: the Moken villages of Ban Lam Lah and Ban Hin Look Diaw in Mai Khao; the sea…
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Paiboon “not worried’ about EC ruling
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) President Paiboon Upatising has denied he has ever been involved in vote buying, in an interview with the Gazette. In a March 19 ruling, Mr Paiboon received a “yellow card” from the Election Commission (EC) for electoral fraud in the Thalang voting district 3 in the PPAO election held last year. For our…
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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