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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Telecoms giant picks PGTV as partner
BANGKOK: Phuket’s own English-language TV service, PGTV, has been chosen by Thai telecoms giant TT&T as a provider for its new MaxnetTV.net website.Maxnet carries real-time programs from TV stations and local cable TV for broadband Internet users.Prachuab Tantinon, President of TT&T plc, explained at the recent soft launch, “MaxnetTV.net is home to a variety of multimedia content to match the…
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Limo drivers make concessions to keep concession
THALANG: The Phuket Limousine and Business Services Cooperative (PBC) has won the concession to continue serving Phuket International Airport.In return, however, the PBC has been forced to agree to improve its level of service and has had to drop its long-standing opposition to service desks inside the arrivals terminal for the rival meter-taxis and Airport Bus service.The conditions were laid…
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FantaSea to add “attractions’
KAMALA (The Nation): Phuket FantaSea theme park will add three new attractions this year: the Similan Entertainment Center, the Songbird Luminarie and the Tiger Adventure Safari.Phuket FantaSea CEO Kittikorn “Pin” Kewkacha said the Similan Entertainment Center, to be located in the park’s Festival Village, will open July 14. The center will showcase the ocean world and feature games, novelty shops,…
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Book Fair comes to Phuket
PHUKET: The annual Southern Book Fair, which is traditionally staged in Haad Yai, will this year be in Phuket, at the Big C supercenter, on the bypass road, from July 12 to 16.Apichart Kaewkubpet, Chairman of the Phuket branch of the Book Lovers’ Club, told the Gazette, “At the fair will be a wide variety of books at more than…
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PGTV News Wednesday 5th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features a story about inflation in Thailand, related news about an increase in the use of pawn shops, and a story about the Phuket Thai boxing team who are leaving for Nonthaburi. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features a documentary about kick boxing in Phuket. PGTV, produced…
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Saving Nemo
RAWAI: Police assisted by a member of the Royal Thai Navy arrested two men and seized over one hundred bags of smuggled clownfish and other protected marine creatures early Monday morning. The arrests were made by three officers, one each from the Phuket Marine Police, Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet and Police Special Branch in Phuket, who pulled over the…
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PGTV News for Tuesday 4th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features a story about what the “Aftermath” movie crew left behind, a meeting with a group of kids from Bermuda wishing to help tsunami victims, and a story about 100 free knee surgeries being offered by the Vachira hospital. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features a…
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Woman found murdered on beach
RAWAI: The body of Tada Sa-nguansuk, a 49-year-old motorbike taxi driver in Phuket City, was found on the beach near Wichit Bungalow late in the afternoon of June 28.She had been raped and her throat had been slashed.Pol Col Chalit Kaewyarat, Superintendent of Chalong Police Station, told the Gazette that staff at Wichit Bungalow made the gruesome discovery and reported…
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Special tickets for Phuket-Suvarnabhumi inaugural
PHUKET: Thai Airways International (THAI) is offering special inaugural flights between Phuket and Bangkok’s new Suvarnabhumi Airport on July 29. All passengers will receive special boarding passes and certificates from THAI as souvenirs. A total of 50 tickets, one-way, are for sale in business class at 2,999 baht apiece, while the 325 economy class tickets, one-way, are priced at 1,999 baht.Bookings…
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Phuket boys to box in Bangkok
PHUKET: The Phuket Amateur Boxing Club (PABC) will take a team of six promising international-style amateur boxers to compete in the Thailand Mini-Junior Open Championships, to be held July 14 to 18 at The Mall Ngamwongwan, in Nonthaburi.The event, divided into nine weight classes and open to boxers aged 14 to 17 years old, is part of the Amateur Boxing…
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PGTV News Monday 3rd July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features an update on the “Mick the Pom” trial, good news about the water level in Bang Wad Dam, a chat with the new Finnish Honorary Consul and a look at the unique Thai instrument the Kim. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with the German…
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“Aftermath’ set to be converted into tourist spot
LAYAN: A “destroyed” building specially constructed at Layan Beach by the team shooting the TV tsunami mini-series Aftermath, will not be knocked down.Instead, it is to be taken over by the Sirinath National Park authorities and converted into a rest area for tourists and park officials.The crew shooting the mini-series, which will be shown on the BBC and HBO networks,…
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PGTV News Friday 30th June 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features an update on the Thai tsunami early warning system which is now complete, the latest accident statistics, information on a new free internet TV service (which includes PGTV) and a look at Phuket pineapples. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features a documentary about those volunteers…
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“Mick the Pom” murder case suspended
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Court has suspended indefinitely its case against British murder suspect Michael John Taylor, after he failed to appear for a scheduled hearing this morning. It was the second hearing Taylor had missed after he also failed to turn up in court on April 24, 2006, in breach of the terms of his bail release. The case against…
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PGTV News Thursday 29th June 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features an update on the filming of the Tsunami movie”Aftermath” which is on location in the Bangkok Hospital Phuket, an expose on the alleged misuse of tsunami donations, and a look at a proposal to double entrance fees at national parks. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features a documentary…
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Killers gun down ‘wrong’ student
PHUKET CITY: Police believe that Phuket Rajabhat University student Teerapong “Song”Junsawee, 24, was shot dead on Soi Panieng on Sunday in an apparent case of mistaken identity.K. Song, who also worked at a Karon hotel, was shot four times as he was on the way to pick up his girlfriend from university about 9:30 pm. He was hit in his…
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Tsunami orphanage under investigation
PHUKET: A special committee set up by the province is investigating allegations of fraud against the former director of a foundation set up in March last year to care for children left orphaned by the tsunami. The panel was formed about six weeks ago following complaints to Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura. The provincial Ombudsman’s office was ordered to investigate the activities…
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Tourism industry backlash staves off doubling of park entry fees
THAILAND: The National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP) has decided to rethink its plans to double the entrance fees to National Parks after coming under fire from tourism businesses.The DNP had planned to double park entry fees so that foreign children would pay 200 baht, foreign adults 400 baht, Thai children 20 baht and Thai adults 40 baht.Phuket…
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Mixed emotions over tsunami mini-series
PHUKET CITY: Mixed reactions greeted the filming of scenes for the TV mini-series Aftermath at Bangkok Hospital Phuket this week.While some people said they saw the movie as potentially good for promoting Phuket, others – particularly victims – felt disturbed.Kudos, the company making the movie for the BBC and HBO, recently came under fire in the British media for insensitivity,…
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92 killed in road crashes in 5 months
PHUKET: In the first five months of this year there were 6,076 accidents on the roads in Phuket, with 92 deaths. The vast majority of accidents involved motorcycles.Official figures from Vachira Phuket, Thalang and Patong government hospitals show that, from January to the end of May, there were 287 car accidents, 5,541 motorcycle accidents and 248 other incidents, including accidents…
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PGTV News Tuesday 27th of June 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features the Club Med Children’s Day, a story about the tragic drowning of twenty year old American woman, how to get a Visa for Britain in Phuket, and a look at handicrafts made in local prisons. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with local Property…
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Andaman Sea Rally revived
PHUKET: After a hiatus of more than two years years, the Andaman Sea Rally – a race from Phuket to Port Blair in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and back – has been revived, with the next race scheduled to take place between January 13 and 27 next year. “We are happy that 2007 will see the return of the…
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Phuket City to get new market
PHUKET CITY: Work will begin next January on a 260-million baht market complex to replace the squalid public market on Ranong Rd.Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwannasuppana said the new municipal market would be a four-story building, with two floors of public parking above two floors of market stalls, as well as 27 shophouse units.The new complex will bring improvements in…
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PGTV News Monday 26th of June 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News today features a story about the crew of the MV Doulos who went to the Bangkok Hospital Phuket for a health check-up, an update on new flights to Phuket, an insight into the life of a lady who sells flower garlands or “Puang Malai” beside Chaofa West road. In addition to these and other news stories focused…
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PGTV News for Friday 23rd June 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features an update on the plans by a local firm to salvage two WWII manned torpedoes found on the sea bed near Phuket, a story about illegal workers in Phuket, footage of Pro Women’s volleyball, and advice on how to keep fit in Phuket town. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this…
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PGTV News for Thursday June 22nd 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features an American thief, a story about the recent MOU meeting with Brunei to discuss cultural exchanges, spectacular footage of the Supercross Masters of Thailand 2006, and a look at girls who earn money being “pretty”. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with local Property Consultant…
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Chariot salvage attempt scotched
PHUKET: The British government has scotched, at least for the time being, a planned attempt by local salvage company East Marine SBS Co to raise two British World War II Chariots from the waters off Phuket. The Military Attache from the British Embassy in Thailand, Col Mark Rayner, today delivered to Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura a letter from the British Royal…
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PGTV News Wednesday 21st June 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features a story about the recent royal visits from their Majesties the King and Queen of Sweden and HM the Crown Prince of Bhutan, an update on the old documents found by workers fixing the roof of Phuket Provincial Hall nearly six years ago, a meeting with part-time Phuket resident and authorJim Newport who is…
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Top beach volley players heading for Phuket
PHUKET: The island will play host in November to the Swatch-FIVB World Tour Women’s Professional Beach Volleyball tournament, from November 1 to 5 at Kata Beach, it was announced yesterday. Prize money of US$200,000 (about 7 million baht) will be up for grabs for the winners among some 60 two-player teams from countries including Germany, Brazil, the US, China and…
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Taiwanese dominate Phuket Marathon
CHERNG TALAY (Gazette, Nation): Taiwan’s Ko Shih Chieh won the inaugural Phuket International Marathon on June 18, while two Thai SEA Games gold medalists, Boonchu Chandecha and Boonthueng Srisang, were the best of the local runners, winning gold in the half marathon and 10k events, respectively.Boonchoo, from Chumphon, won the gold medal in the marathon in the 2005 SEA Games…
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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