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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Did you know that treating a broken leg can cost around 200,000 THB for uninsured patients, and a three-day hospital stay for conditions like dengue fever averages 40,000 to 80,000 THB in Thailand? While healthcare in Thailand is more affordable...
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NZ brothers return home after 4 months in Thai custody for assault
Two New Zealand brothers, who were detained in Thailand for nearly four months following an assault on a police officer in Phuket, have returned home. Hamish and Mattson Day had faced multiple charges after a disagreement over a speeding violation on March 16 escalated into violence. A passerby captured footage of the incident, showing 38 year old Mattson Day attacking…
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Motorbike taxi speeds along Patong Beach, alarming tourists (video)
A motorbike taxi was seen speeding along Patong Beach in Phuket, causing confusion among the many tourists relaxing on the shore. Lifeguards attempted to intervene but were unable to catch the rider. A video showing a motorbike taxi riding on Patong Beach in Kathu district, Phuket, was shared by Monsoongarbage Thailand and Newshawk Phuket, causing a stir on social media.…
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Speeding motorcyclist dies in Phuket underpass crash
A tragic motorcycle accident at a Phuket underpass in Rassada resulted in the death of a motorcyclist. The motorcycle rider was allegedly speeding and lost control before being stencilled into the back of a car. The deceased, identified as 36 year old Nattapol from Nakhon Si Thammarat, was found lying on the road near a grey Toyota. The rear of…
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Viral Phuket motorcycle breast groper arrested
Chalong Police in Phuket apprehended a drive-by breast groper after his attack and the chase of a woman in Rawai earlier this month garnered significant public attention. Chalong Police Chief, Police Colonel Ekarat Plaiduang, announced the arrest today, July 12, confirming that officers detained a 23 year old Myanmar national Aung Ko Phyo yesterday. The arrest followed a thorough investigation.…
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Phuket vendors warned over price gouging during inspections
Police in Phuket yesterday conducted an inspection at Malin Plaza Patong Market and Banzaan Fresh Market, warning vendors against price gouging. The investigation, led by Pathumphon Yamkerd of the Phuket Provincial Commercial Office, took place yesterday, July 10, at the two markets, aiming to ensure fair pricing and enhance Phuket’s tourism reputation. Some vendors were found not displaying prices, a…
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Phuket vies to host 2025 InterPride World Conference
Phuket is gearing up to compete for the opportunity to host the 2025 InterPride World Conference, with local officials affirming the island province’s readiness. Governor Sophon Suwannarat led a ceremony for the Pride & Equality Phuket memorandum of understanding alongside representatives from both public and private sectors. The agreement, aimed at promoting gender equality, includes raising awareness about gender inclusivity,…
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Uproar over motorcycle accidents at Phuket’s rainbow crosswalk
A series of motorcycle accidents at the Rainbow Crosswalk at the Charter intersection in the Mueang Phuket district sparked widespread debate on social media. The vibrant crosswalk, a popular spot for tourists to take photos, became slippery during periods of rainfall, causing three to four motorcyclists to fall yesterday, July 10. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. In response to the…
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Phuket woman assaulted on motorcycle, prompts police action
A man on a motorcycle harassed and assaulted a woman in Phuket, prompting calls for police action. The event, which occurred late at night, saw the assailant grab the victim’s chest, almost causing her to fall from her bike. The incident, which occurred on July 1 near the Super Cheap Road in Soi Khok Makham, Rawai, Phuket was reported by…
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Phuket to become Asia’s wellness tourism hub with health expo
Phuket is set to make waves in the wellness tourism industry with the launch of the Phuket Health Expo later this month. Provincial officials, led by Governor Sophon Suwannarat, announced the event during a press conference at the Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, July 9. The expo, scheduled for July 24 to 28 at Central Festival Phuket, aims to catapult the…
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New bus routes from Phuket Airport to major tourist hotspots
A new agreement between Airports of Thailand (AoT) and state-run bus operator The Transport Co, better known by its Thai initials BorKorSor (บขส), will introduce new bus services from Phuket International Airport before the year ends. BorKorSor Acting President, Atthawit Rakjamroon, announced yesterday, July 9, that this initiative will see buses operating directly from three key airports managed by AoT:…
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Phuket man arrested for raping his stepdaughter and niece
Police arrested a Thai man for repeatedly raping his nine year old stepdaughter and 11 year old niece at the homes of his wife and mistress in the Chalong sub-district of Phuket. A teacher from Ban Chalong School in Phuket filed a complaint with Chalong Police Station officers at about 8pm on July 6 that two young girls were victims…
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Patong Police hunt Thai man after knife attack on Indian tourist
Patong Police are actively searching for a Thai man who attacked an Indian tourist with a knife, resulting in a head wound. The incident occurred late Sunday night, July 7, when the Thai man blew cigarette smoke into the Indian tourist’s face, Patong Police were alerted around 11.10pm. Upon arrival, officers found 37 year old Aneesh Kumar Nikathithara Purushan, with…
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Foreign man escapes hospital, steals van, and crashes in Phuket
A foreign man escaped from a hospital at the weekend, stole a van parked at a petrol station, and crashed it into another vehicle on Khao Patong Road in Phuket. Officers from Patong Police Station were alerted to an accident on Baramee-Khao Patong Road in the Kathu district of Phuket on Saturday, July 6. Police then requested the Kusoldharm Phuket…
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Illegal streaming site administrator arrested in Phuket
Police from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) have arrested the administrator of the illegal movie streaming website dolphin4k in Phuket for copyright infringement. The suspect, 33 year old Supakrit was apprehended along with various items used in the illicit operation, including 16 Android signal boxes pre-installed with applications for viewing pirated movies, one flash drive, a computer, and a…
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Patong thief linked to multiple shop thefts remains at large
A woman suspected of stealing a gold amulet and 600 baht in cash from a smoothie shop in Patong has been linked to at least six other thefts in the area, yet she remains at large. Caught on CCTV on June 27, the woman was seen taking the amulet and cash from the smoothie shop. Subsequent footage and images shared…
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Thai woman arrested in Chalong for bank scam involvement
A woman in Chalong has been arrested by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) for her involvement in a scam operation with the illegal creation of a false bank account. Law enforcement officials apprehended Cantida at her residence in Chalong on Wednesday, July 3. The charges against her fall under the Computer Crimes Act, focusing on fraud by entering false data…
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Phuket officials inspect Chamcha Market for hygiene
Officials conducted a thorough inspection of Chamcha Market in Phuket Town yesterday, July 3, to ensure vendors adhere to food hygiene guidelines and display accurate prices. The inspection, led by Phuket Provincial Commercial Office Chief Woranit Apirat Jirawong, was a collaborative effort with the Sanitation and Environmental Health Department of Phuket City Municipality. Chamcha Market, also known as Lor Rong…
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Foreign teacher allegedly sexual assaults at least 5 Thai schoolgirls
A Thai woman accused the management and teachers of a school in the northern province of Phitsanulok of ignorance after several schoolgirls, including her niece, were sexually assaulted by a foreign teacher. The victim’s 30 year old aunt, Kai, decided to share details of the sexual assault with Channel 3 today, July 4, after the school dismissed the issue. Kai…
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Koh Samui’s drought nightmare vs Phuket’s flooding chaos
Koh Samui is reeling from an acute water shortage as its reservoirs are drying up amid a prolonged drought. On the neighbouring island of Phuket, residents are battling heavy rainfall and flooding. Koh Samui’s main reservoir, with a capacity of 800,000 cubic metres, is down to a mere 10%, enough to last just two weeks. The Krajood reservoir fares slightly…
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Phuket: 4 foreigners arrested for overstaying visas by up to 5 years
Immigration officers in Phuket apprehended four foreign men for overstaying their visas, with periods ranging from 234 days to over five years, during random inspections yesterday morning. Police conducted passport checks at locations known for harbouring visa overstayers as part of the ongoing Operation X-ray, targeting individuals violating visa regulations. Among those arrested were two Egyptians, one Pakistani, and one…
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Pickup driver caught at Phuket police checkpoint (video)
A pickup truck driver revved his engine, causing thick black smoke to billow out, as he passed a police checkpoint in Phuket. Two officers on motorcycles immediately pursued and captured him, earning praise from netizens who commended their swift action. A video clip, one minute and four seconds long, was posted by the Choeng Thale Police Station in Phuket, accompanied…
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Phuket Bolt driver defends actions after entering passenger’s room
A Thai Bolt driver in Phuket turned himself into officers at Patong Police Station yesterday to defend himself. He insisted that the female passenger allowed him to enter her room and that he had no ill intentions towards her. The 25 year old Thai woman, Nan, filed a complaint at Patong Police Station after the Bolt driver, later identified as…
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Phuket’s inadequate infrastructure development raises concerns
Inadequate infrastructure development in Phuket is struggling to match the island’s rapid urbanisation and severe flooding, tarnishing its reputation. The government’s failure to allocate sufficient budget and upgrade public facilities as promised is a significant concern. The President of the Phuket Tourist Association, Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, highlighted that 60% of tourists are first-time visitors who might not return if infrastructure issues…
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British man arrested in Phuket Airport amid embezzlement claims
A 37 year old British man was apprehended at Phuket Airport upon his arrival in Thailand, due to a long-standing arrest warrant. The Brit, whose identity remains undisclosed, has been on the Thai police’s radar since 2017, and his actions are now facing intense scrutiny. Thai immigration officers arrested the suspect at 1.10pm yesterday, July 2, after his passport check…
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Tourist rescued from tree after parasailing mishap on Phuket beach
A foreign tourist found himself in a precarious situation when a parasailing adventure went awry, leaving him stranded atop a 5-metre pine tree on Kamala Beach in Phuket. Police were called to the scene to rescue him using a crane truck. Surasit Wandee, a deputy investigator at Kamala Police Station in Phuket, received a report of a foreign tourist stuck…
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Thai woman demands justice after finding Phuket Bolt driver in bed
A Thai woman filed a complaint with the police after a Bolt driver in Phuket entered her condominium room in the Patong sub-district and slept with her in her bed. The 25 year old woman, Nan, shared her story with the Phuket Times to warn other women and urge the app-based driver not to repeat his actions. According to Nan,…
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Phuket’s Walking Street market leads new street food initiative
Phuket’s Chartered Walking Street market has been selected by the Department of Health as the premier venue for the Street Food Good Health from Local to Global initiative. This programme aims to bolster tourist confidence and attract visitors throughout the year. Deputy Director-General of the Department of Health, Dr Atthaphon Kaewsamrit, and Dr Kusak Kukiattikoon, Chief of the Phuket Provincial…
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Phuket governor washes up Kamala after torrential rain (video)
Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat spearheaded a substantial cleanup operation in Kamala following heavy rains that caused widespread flooding across Phuket. The downpours yesterday, June 30, led to traffic disruptions, flight delays, and inundated neighbourhoods. Joining the Governor in Kamala were Phuket Vice Governor Sattha Thongkham, Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Office Suwit Suriyawong, Phuket Provincial Police Commander, Police Major General Sinlert…
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Rain check: Floodgates open as downpours dampen Phuket spirits
The Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) released an updated report on the recent flooding in Phuket, following heavy rains that caused significant disruption across the popular holiday resort island. Floodwaters inundated roads and homes, while landslides and fallen trees rendered several routes impassable. The TMD highlighted that water levels in Kathu had largely decreased, making most roads passable, including those…
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Heavy rainfall disrupts flights and floods Phuket (video)
Heavy rainfall in Phuket disrupted flights and caused widespread flooding across the tourist island province. Starting at 7am, today, June 30, persistent rain forced the diversion of around 10 inbound flights to other airports, including Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, Krabi, Langkawi, Penang, and Surat Thani. The heavy downpour reduced visibility, making it impossible for pilots to see the runway, according to…
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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