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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Oops! Auditor mislays B1.5 million
PHUKET TOWN: British vacationer Michael Michalke is a lucky man after recovering all of the 1.5 million baht he left in his Phuket hotel room at the weekend. Lucky and a little red-faced: back home, Mr Michalke is an auditor. The 50-year-old Brit and his 29-year-old Thai girlfriend, Rungtip Praujanteuk, checked into the Pearl Hotel on Montri Rd on Saturday…
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Indonesian boats caught fishing illegally
CHALONG: Phuket Marine Police boarded two Indonesian fishing boats moored near Koh Racha Noi on Sunday and arrested 10 crewmen for fishing illegally in Thai waters. Pol Lt Col Prathuang Srilamontri, inspector of the Phuket Marine Police, said that he had received a report from an investigation team that foreign boats had been seen fishing in Thai territory. At around…
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Campsite plan for Nai Yang beach
PHUKET: Tourists will be able to camp out on Nai Yang beach under a proposal to set up a company to run a campsite business, with profits going to the local community. The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), and the Moo Baan Saku Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) want to set up Saku Co with local stakeholders providing sites, equipment and…
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New official fees to curb tuk-tuk ripoffs
PHUKET: An official scale of fees based on kilometers travelled will be imposed on tuk-tuks from June 1 to curb overcharging of tourists. In some cases, the official fares are half what tuk-tuk drivers have been demanding. A trip from Phuket Town to Patong (15 km) will cost 200 baht, while the 32 km from Patong to the airport will…
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Teenage couple busted for dealing drugs
PHUKET TOWN: Police arrested two teenagers suspected of selling ya bah (methamphetamine) in Phuket Town on Saturday. The Phuket Special Unit Police force, led by Pol Capt Suwarith Prommul, nabbed Weerayut Puangmalai, 19, and his 17-year-old girlfriend, at around 2 pm in their rented room on Soi Pachanee, Rassadanusorn Rd. Pol Capt Chokchai Suthimake said that Weerayut was a repeat…
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Phuket looks at creative ways to raise funds
PHUKET: Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi says he is seeking new ways to raise additional funds to develop the island. The provincial government, he explained, receives 3.2 billion baht a year from Bangkok. About 2 billion baht of this covers fixed costs such as salaries and equipment, while the remaining 1.2 billion baht is allocated for specific projects. So far this…
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Sewerage project almost complete
PHUKET TOWN: Phuket Town Mayor Phummisak Hongsyok has announced that the final phase of the project to upgrade Phuket Town’s sewers is nearing completion. Speaking at a press conference, Mayor Phummisak said, “Phase 2 [the final phase] of the project is 77% complete and is on target to finish on schedule, on January 2 next year.” He explained that, of…
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Smugglers caught with B10 million of fuel
PHANG NGA: Marine Police on Tuesday seized a tanker, which they say was being used in an attempt to smuggle 300,000 liters of diesel fuel, worth 10 million baht, into Thailand. Pol Lt Col Nanthavuthi Nopphakhun, Deputy-Commander of the Marine Police, said today that investigations into a smuggling ring led to the seizure near the Surin Islands, during which four…
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Monsoon missed Phuket – weatherman
PHUKET: The weatherman said today that the strong southwesterly monsoon predicted to hit Phuket this week missed. Tawat Tantham-nu, director of the Southwestern Regional Meteorological center, told the Gazette that while there are still scattered clouds and isolated thunderstorms in the area, the southwestern coast will remain calm. He said that, with wave heights of only about one meter, people…
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Airport to get meter taxis, eventually
PHUKET: Piyapan Jampasut, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Land Transport (DLT) for Thailand, has announced that new regulations are to be proposed to Cabinet that would open the door for regulated, meter cabs in Phuket, starting with the airport. K. Piyapan made the announcement after meeting with Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi to discuss what laws need to be…
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Sea rescue center will protect tourists
CHALONG: A 15-million-baht Sea Rescue Center is to be set up to coordinate emergency rescue operations off Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi, it was revealed today. The center, to be set up in Chalong, will become a nerve center for information about mishaps and accidents at sea, which will be gathered and disseminated to various marine agencies. Making the announcement…
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Committee appointed to protect waterways
PHUKET: In an attempt to prevent flooding and landslides, Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi has appointed a committee to screen applications for excavation work affecting waterways. He also suggested today that excavation on private property may be forbidden if it is likely to affect waterways, or trigger landslides or flooding. “I think that we will have to propose that it be…
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Tourist saved from 20-floor death leap
PATONG: Floris Max Anton Van Sluys, a 20-year-old tourist from the Netherlands, was so distressed when his Thai girlfriend dumped him that he wanted to leap 20 stories to his death. Pol Maj Boonlert Onklang, of Kathu Police Station, told the Gazette that at about 11 am on Friday he received a call telling him that a man was standing…
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Call to double Tourist Police ranks
PHUKET: Pol Lt Col Supamit Sukjaroen, Inspector of Tourist Police, Region 5, yesterday lodged an official request with Pol Maj Gen Sanit Miphan, Commander of Thailand’s Tourist Police, for 50 more officers to be sent to bolster tourists’ security throughout the region. If approved, Col Supamit’s request will double the number of Tourist Police officers currently assigned to the region.…
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OrBorJor allocates B140m to education
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) has earmarked more than 140 million baht for upgrading education, and a further 40 million baht for developing tourism in Phuket. OrBorJor President Dr Prasit Koeysiripong explained, “It’s our policy this year to focus on education, the environment and tourism – particularly education, which deserves more funding because, in the past, the budget…
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Carpenter murdered over loan
TUNG TONG: Sanguansak “Nui” Kamtong, a 25-year-old carpenter from Rayong, was allegedly shot dead by a fellow construction worker in the early hours of Saturday morning after repeatedly pestering his colleague for a small loan. Pol Lt Col Ampolwat Saengroeng of Tung Tong Police Station said he received a call at 12:30 am saying that a man had been shot.…
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Storms on the way – weatherman
PHUKET: The weatherman has warned that a strong southwesterly monsoon over the Andaman Sea and the southwestern coast of Thailand is expected to hit Phuket very soon. Tawat Tantham-nu, director of the Southwestern Regional Meteorological Center, told the Gazette today that the system will bring a mix of clouds and heavy downpours to the island over the next few days.…
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Poor support for long-stay tourism rapped
PHUKET: Senator Suradech Yasawas, chairman of the Senate Committee for Tourism, and committee member Senator Paiboon Upatising of Phuket yesterday openly criticized the lack of government support for long-stay tourism, especially health-related tourism. Senators Suradech and Paiboon, along with 10 other committee members, arrived in Phuket yesterday for a two-day inspection tour of the island’s international-standard medical centers, to evaluate…
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Suicide pact with eerie echoes
THALANG: In a double suicide attempt with spooky echoes of a past tragedy, two deaf-mute women jumped from the Tao Thepkrasattri Tao Sri Soonthorn Bridge yesterday afternoon. One drowned, but the other was rescued by fishermen. Pol Capt Apidej Chuaykeau, of Khok Kloi Police Station, said that, despite driving wind and rain, the fishermen managed to rescue Sumalee “Roong” Pratheep…
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Amulet trader robbed of B3m
PHUKET: An amulet trader has reported to police that cash and amulets worth a total of 3 million baht were stolen from his room at the Royal Phuket City Hotel while he slept. Somchai Srisagawarat, 43, from Bangkok, arrived in Phuket on Tuesday on a business trip and checked into the four-star hotel. He reported to police the following day…
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US serviceman arrested for rape
PATONG: A serviceman from the visiting American warship, the USS Bonhomme Richard, has been arrested and handed over to the US Navy after allegedly raping a U.S. servicewoman in the early hours of yesterday. He is also alleged to have assaulted an Australian passer-by who tried to stop the rape. The accused man was named by Patong police superintendent Col…
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Bag-snatching gang arrested
PHUKET TOWN: Nine suspects, including five teenagers, were arrested yesterday for their alleged involvement in a series of bag snatchings, following a five-week police investigation into their activities. Police say that all of the suspects have admitted to being party to a number of snatchings in and around Phuket Town. The first case, on March 25 at around 7:45 pm,…
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Man drowns near community college
PHUKET TOWN: A man was found dead in a pool in front of Phuket Community College at Saphan Hin early this morning. Pol Lt Rassada Kluengwong, of Phuket Town Police Station, said that the man was found at about 2:30 am by a group of teenagers. After removing the body from the water, police found 90 baht in the dead…
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Police plan crackdown on parking at schools
PHUKET TOWN: Phuket Town Police have warned parents to obey the traffic laws when dropping off their children when schools reopen next Monday. Pol Lt Col Teeraphol Thipjaroen, Deputy Superintendent of Phuket Police Station, said today that police will concentrate on the problem of cars parked in the yellow-and-white or red-and-white no-parking zones. “During the period before schools open [traffic]…
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Phuket crash kills Central family member
THALANG: The youngest brother of Central Group Chairman Suthikiati Chirathivat died in a car smash in Phuket on Saturday night. Pol Maj Suppawat Suksiri, of Tah Chat Chai Police Station, said that Sutthipong Chirathivat, 42, was driving his Volkswagen alone from his house in Baan Kor-Ane along Thepkrasattri Rd toward Phuket Town at about 9 pm. In rain on a…
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Wife’s lover “hacked officer hubby to death’
KOH MAPHRAO: Desha Shum-nina, a 40-year-old community police officer for the Samphan community, was hacked to death yesterday morning, allegedly by his wife’s boyfriend. Called to the scene, police led by Pol Col Paween Pongsirin, Superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station, entered K. Desha’s single-story wooden house, which was surrounded by hundreds of local villagers, and found his body lying…
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Heart-broken singer hangs herself
PHUKET TOWN: A singer and part-owner of a karaoke bar killed herself because she thought her husband was once again seeing a former girlfriend, police believe. Following an anonymous phone call, officers found the body of Shanikarn Boonsomsu, 24, hanging by a rope in the kitchen of her home at Phanthep Condo Town on Mae Luan Rd, Phuket Town, at…
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WWII shells spark fear and hilarity
PHUKET TOWN: A scrap metal collector found 17 World War II-era artillery shells under a tree in an area off Rassadanusorn Road in Moo 3 yesterday. Pol Capt Anukul Nookate, of Phuket Town Police Station, said that he received a phone call at 12:30 pm that the shells had been found near the garbage pile belonging to Kijprasarnphattana Co. Pol…
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Yet another Burmese savagely murdered
PHUKET TOWN: Police are conducting a murder investigation after a man, believed to be a Burmese construction worker, was found dead with his neck almost completely severed. Called by nearby residents, officers found the body face down on a pile of sand in Soi Kingkaew-U-Tid, near Rassada Port, at about 8:30 am on Thursday. The victim’s head was almost separated…
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Tourist dies on island adventure
CHALONG: A 30-year-old Taiwanese tourist died while snorkeling off Koh Hei about noon on Wednesday. Police named him as Hsu Chi Jen. An officer said that although Mr Hsu was wearing a lifejacket, he appeared to have panicked and choked on water. The man was among a group of tourists who had made a day trip on a speedboat from…
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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