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.
-
Sponsored Limited-time deal: Save 20% on Cigna's expat health plans forever
Starting a new life abroad is exciting—new culture, new lifestyle, and new chances to grow. But living far from home also means taking steps to protect your health in unfamiliar surroundings. Without the right coverage, even small health issues can...
-
Mobile phone numbers to change
PHUKET: Mobile phone users will be giving their thumbs a serious workout between September 1 and November 30 as the country switches from nine-digit mobile numbers to 10-digit ones.The change, which will not apply to land lines, will be brought about by adding the number 8 after the initial zero. For example, a mobile number beginning with 01 will be…
-
Gov backs Chalong-Patong highway
PHUKET CITY: Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura has thrown his weight behind a proposal to build a 206-million-baht six-lane highway linking Patong with Chalong.At a meeting held today at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, Governor Udomsak explained that the highway would be 4.5 kilometers long and would follow the route of the current two-lane road leading to Wat Luang Phu Supha in…
-
Police arrest school-run mum, seize 6,000 ya bah pills
PHUKET CITY: Police yesterday stopped a 25-year-old woman after she dropped her daughter off at Kajornkietsuksa School on Pattana Rd, and searched her car. In it they discovered 3,000 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills. She was also found to have 63,000 baht in her possession.Pol Col Phuwadol Vudduccanok, Deputy Superintendent of Phuket City Police Station, yesterday named the woman as Aroonporn…
-
More direct flights to Phuket
PHUKET: The island’s tourism industry received a shot in the arm this week with the announcement by one of Denmark’s largest travel agencies that it will add two additional direct charter flights to Phuket weekly, starting in November, because current flights are already fully booked. Krabi received good news as well, with Singapore-based low-cost carrier Tiger Airways announcing that it…
-
Jungceylon underway again
PATONG: After a lull of five months, construction of the huge Jungceylon mall project in Patong is once more underway, with the mall’s new owners saying that much of it will be open for business in November or December.Suchad Chiaranussati, Managing Director of Recap, which in February bought 95% of Phuket Square, which in turn owns Jungceylon, said that the…
-
PGTV News Friday 14th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening finds features a story about four new libraries being built in Phuket, a look at two fairs and the Hotel exhibition and a tasty visit to one of the island’s Thai cooking schools. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with a local transexual. PGTV,…
-
Raiders heading for Phuket
PHUKET: The island may still be waiting for the F1 boat races to come but, in the meantime, waterborne entertainment of a different kind will be heading for Phuket in December, in the form of the Rubson Raid Turquoise 2006. The Rubson Raid, now in its sixth year, was devised by Belgian Philippe Martin as an event for large, fast,…
-
Aussie plans to launch second helitour firm
PHUKET: Australian Harry Kerylidis this morning met with Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura to solicit his support to launch Phuket Heli-Tours, which would become the island’s second helicopter tour company.Mr Kerylidis explained that the idea originated from Capt Bob Pagett who, he said, has been operating helicopter tours in Queensland, Australia, “flying stars around” for the past seven years, and now…
-
Phuket to get four new libraries soon
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) is close to completing what it calls “E-Libraries” at four locations on the island, with the goal of providing wider access to reading materials and information technology to all island residents.The libraries will, naturally, have books, with staff keeping track of those out on loan through a computer network linking all four…
-
PGTV News Wednesday 12th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening finds out why an angry mob blocked Thepkrasatri Rd. We also look at the World Cup final in the Green Man and visit the Kathu Waterfall. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with a young “Luk Kreung”. PGTV, produced by the Phuket Gazette, is aired daily…
-
PGTV News Tuesday 11th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features a story about the airport limousine concession, news about rising gold and sugar prices, and a look at “pretty” girls. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with property consultant Bill Barnett. PGTV, produced by the Phuket Gazette, is aired daily on the Phuket…
-
Moviemakers seek extras
PHUKET CITY: Thai Occidental Productions is calling for extras for its production Man Eaters, a series of five 90-minute, made-for-television movies to filmed on location in Krabi. Interested people of all nationalities, races and ages are encouraged to attend either of the two audition sessions being held by the production company on Sunday. In Phuket, auditions will be held from…
-
Angry mob blocks main road after crash death
MAI KHAO (Krungthep Turakij): A mob of around 200 villagers from Baan Kho En blocked Thepkrasattri Rd near the entrance to Yacht Haven on Saturday in protest after a local woman was knocked off her motorbike and killed on a tight bend in the road.Following the accident, at around 1 pm, a crowd came from the village and erected tents…
-
Dates set for provincial by-elections
PHUKET CITY: By-elections are to be held to fill two positions in the Phuket Provincial Council after one member resigned and another died. The first by-election will be held on July 22 in the Kathu area in District 2. The 17 polling stations will be open from 8 am to 3 pm. The member for this constituency, Boonma Eabsub, resigned…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
PGTV News July 6th 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening looks at an exhibition of HM the King’s paintings, news about Phuket flora going on show in Chiang Mai, and a story about the opportunities for prison inmates. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features a documentary about beliefs and superstitions in Phuket. PGTV, produced by the Phuket Gazette,…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Phuket to send plants to Jubilee flower show
PHUKET: Phuket is preparing to send four kinds of plants to display at the Royal Flora Ratchapruek 2006 flower show, to be held in Chiang Mai from November 1 to January 31 next year as part of celebrations to mark HM The King’s Diamond Jubilee.Phuket will send a Phuket pineapple plant as well as a lang khao palm – the…
-
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…
-
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…
-
“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,…
-
Pamuke appointed Finnish Consul
KATA: Pamuke Achariyachai, Managing Director of the Kata Group of hotels and resorts, has been appointed Honorary Consul-General for Phuket by the Republic of Finland. The appointment comes partly in recognition for the role played by K. Pamuke and his Kata Group staff in helping Finnish victims of the 2004 tsunami disaster. Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen visited the resort…
-
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…
-
“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…
-
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…
-
PGTV News Wednesday 28th of June 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features the building of a new public market in Phuket town, an update on the Phuket bay mega-project, a warning about floods, and a visit to a ballroom dance. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an exclusive interview with singer/songwriter Leo Sayer. PGTV, produced by the…
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.