News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
-
![Phuket King’s Cup Regatta returns [video] | Thaiger](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0naHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmcnIHZpZXdCb3g9JzAgMCAzMjYgMjIwJz48L3N2Zz4=)
Phuket King’s Cup Regatta returns [video]
PHUKET: Revered as Asia’s most prestigious sports yachting trophy and attracting crews and boats from every corner of the globe, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta returns to the unpredictable seas of the Andaman, bringing with it split-second racing action, camaraderie and a series of legendary party events. The 28th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Under Royal Patronage, the region’s largest regatta,…
-
Opinion: Beach Games to showcase new Phuket
PHUKET: There has been a great deal of discussion and debate recently about how Phuket should “rebrand” itself as a world-class tourist destination in the wake of the National Council for Peace and Order’s unprecedented anti-corruption drive. Hopefully, the 4th Asian Beach Games next month will serve as the perfect showcase for the so-called “new” Phuket, spreading the message far…
-
Phuket police raid rounds up pirated goods
PHUKET: About 1,500 fake brand-name items were seized from three shops in Patong on Thursday. “The retail value of the counterfeit goods is about 1 million baht,” said Kitti Sapaothong, deputy commander of the Economic Crime Division of the Royal Thai Police. The majority of the items seized were polo shirts. However, bags, purses, luggage, watches and other items were…
-
Phuket loses an ‘original’ expat: Eric Snyder departs
PHUKET: Well known long-term Phuket expat Eric Snyder, 70, has departed the island he loved, succumbing to skin cancer earlier this week. Eric Snyder arrived in Phuket in 1975 and remained in residence here for 39 years. Initially, he lived with a Muslim family on Kamala Beach for several years, growing his own food and catching his dinner from the…
-
Investing time to develop passive income
PHUKET: I recently became involved in marketing products for the health and wellness industry, which follows a very different business model than any I have previously encountered. In fact, the investment consists mainly of time, as start-up capital required is extremely limited. “Human capital” is developed, rather than the standard brick-and-mortar business. The great thing about this style of investing…
-
Marketing duo to breathe new life into RPM
PHUKET: A duo of marketing experts have joined the ranks of Royal Phuket Marina to put it back on the Phuket map and in the minds of the island’s residents. “I had forgotten about RPM,” says Ian Spurdle, the marina’s new Director of Sales and Marketing for Luxury Property. “I’ve been in Phuket for 12 years, and have known RPM…
-
Annual Patong carnival to hit sands of Phuket
PHUKET: Patong’s annual carnival, this year themed “Blissful Beach @ Patong”, is set to hit the beach town’s sands on November 1, ahead of Phuket’s tourism high season. The event, now in its 29th year, will take place from November 1-3, and aims to attract locals and tourists alike with concerts, a mini-marathon, a photography contest (story here) and a…
-
Man and wife charged with rape, await court date in jail
PHUKET: A man charged with raping a 14-year-old undocumented Myanmar migrant worker, and his wife who helped him carry out the crime, remain incarcerated pending a court date. “We are still preparing evidence against both suspects – including fingerprint testing,” Lt Palita Kangsing of the Khuk Khak Police told the Phuket Gazette today. Lt Palita said Mr Ko-Nai and his…
-
![Phuket shrines gear up for second Vegetarian Festival [video] | Thaiger](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0naHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmcnIHZpZXdCb3g9JzAgMCAzNTIgMjIwJz48L3N2Zz4=)
Phuket shrines gear up for second Vegetarian Festival [video]
A much-anticipated aspect of the Vegetarian Festival is the bountiful array of interesting foods. PHUKET: Kathu Shrine is preparing to hold the second go-round of Phuket’s Vegetarian Festival from October 24 to November 1. Governor Nisit Jansomwong has urged all island-dwellers to take part in this special event, as a few shrines on the island are expected to hold even…
-
Prisoner kingpin implicated in Phuket drug-network raids
PHUKET: The kingpin of a major drug ring operating out of a Thai prison was identified after a series of raids in Phuket, police said yesterday. The raids, which began on Sunday, saw more than 2 kilograms of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) seized. “The major dealers arrested implicated a female inmate, who we will name only as ‘Ms B’ until…
-
Russian man who disappeared into sea found drowned in Phuket
PHUKET: The body of a Russian man who walked into the sea and disappeared on Wednesday night after an argument with his girlfriend was discovered this morning. “We were alerted by a local that a body was found floating between Freedom Beach and Paradise Beach at about 9am,” Sampawat Wannasangkam of the Patong Municipality Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation…
-
Human trafficking victims moved out of Phang Nga, await deportation
PHUKET: The first wave of human trafficking victims have been moved from Phang Nga, north of Phuket, to Ranong and Songkhla provinces, where they will await deportation. Police yesterday questioned 80 of the human trafficking victims that were rounded up in Phang Nga in two raids earlier this week (stories here and here). Most of the refugees claimed to have…
-
Man caught peeping in Phuket restroom to fuel sexual fantasies
PHUKET: A Myanmar national has confessed to watching women use a public restroom to fuel his sexual fantasies. The 18-year-old, named by police only as “Mr Joe”, was caught looking through a crack in the wall of the bathroom at Star Wash car care yesterday afternoon. “I saw his eyes watching me through the crack while I was using the…
-
Russian man walks into Phuket sea, presumed drowned
PHUKET: Rescue workers have given up a search for a Russian man last seen walking into the sea after a fight with his girlfriend in Phuket. “We saw four people – two men and two women – walking on the beach. They all looked drunk,” said eyewitness Apirat Chanpradab. “They sat down, then after about 30 minutes one of the…
-
Chalong Bay Marina shut down for one year
PHUKET: Boats will be prohibited from mooring within 200 meters of Chalong Bay Marina for one year, effective today, as seawall construction and renovations take place, confirmed the Phuket Marine Office chief. The order handed down and signed off by Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut was followed by the expulsion of all boats moored in the marina. “The marina…
-
7-Eleven counters in Phuket beach towns now accepting police reports
PHUKET: Victims of crimes in Kata and Karon can now file reports with police by visiting any 7-Eleven convenience store in the area. “Tourists in Kata-Karon now have an alternative and easy way to reach police. Our hope is that this will boost tourists’ confidence in their safety during their stay on the island,” Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Peerayuth…
-
Phuket mystery: Autopsies yield no results for reef fish deaths
PHUKET: Autopsy results of dead fish collected at Koh Racha Yai off the southern coast of Phuket have yielded no clues as to why scores of reef fish are being found dead in the area (story here). “We have yet to determine the cause of death. Experts conducted autopsies, but the results were inconclusive,” Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) Director…
-
Six illegal elephants to be expelled from Phuket
PHUKET: Six elephants with no valid documentation to stay in Phuket are to be booted off the island within the next few weeks, Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak told the Phuket Gazette yesterday. Phuket Livestock Office personnel will re-check documents which were presented by the owner of the elephants to officers at the Phuket Animal Quarantine Station at Tah Chat Chai…
-
Phuket ready to host 16th World Pencak Silat Championship
PHUKET: Phuket will host the 16th World Pencak Silat Championship next year, touted to be the biggest gathering of martial arts competitors ever held in the sport, with more than 600 athletes from 47 countries. “Thailand has hosted many international sporting events in the past with great success. We expect this to be the biggest gathering of athletes yet for…
-
Phuket Governor demands explanation of immigration extortion complaint
PHUKET: The Phuket Governor has demanded that the Patong Immigration chief clarify why a foreigner filed a complaint alleging extortion by his officers. The immigration chief has been given 15 days. “A foreigner filed a complaint at the Damrongtham Center [ombudsman’s office] at Phuket Provincial Hall – the complaint is now in my hands,” Governor Nisit Jansomwong told the Phuket…
-
Officials scramble to dismantle human trafficking network north of Phuket
PHUKET: Officials north of Phuket are attempting to unravel a human trafficking network after the arrest of a Thai “caretaker”. “It is clear that locals are part of this network. We will dismantle it,” vowed acting Phang Nga Governor Prayoon Rattanasenee today. Songphol Klaimee, 20, also known as “Boss K”, confessed to police that he had been assigned the task…
-
Phuket chasing sisters in China
PHUKET: Phuket is chasing the chance to add to its sister-city collection by strengthening ties with Xiamen, a major city on the southeastern coast of China. “Having a sister city inside China, such as Xiamen, could be of great benefit for Phuket,” Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong said yesterday during his meeting with Chinese Vice-Consul General and Director of the Phuket…
-
Phuket’s much-needed Chinese consulate to open by month’s end
PHUKET: The long search for a home for the Chinese consulate in Phuket has come to an end, it was announced yesterday. The new consular office will be open by the end of the month, said Wang Huijian, who will be stationed there as the vice-consul general and director . It will be in the Royal Place project, the same…
-
Krabi shrimpers claim buyer cheated them of B30mn
PHUKET: A group of shrimp business operators east of Phuket have filed a complaint against their buyer, claiming they have been cheated out of a collective 30 million baht. The 13 operators turned up at the Krabi Damrongtham Center (ombudsman’s office) to file the complaint against shrimp trading company Sor-Mana yesterday morning. “We haven’t received any payment since the deal…
-
More human trafficking victims netted north of Phuket
PHUKET: A group of 72 human trafficking victims destined for Malaysia were caught in a raid in Phang Nga, north of Phuket, today. Four of the 72 men, who Thai officials are identifying as Rohingya, were taken to Takuapa Hospital to be treated for extreme exhaustion and minor scratches to their feet and bodies, Takuapa District Chief Manit Pianthong said.…
-
An Enchanted Evening’ for Phuket and for the Home & Life Orphanage
PHUKET: Just months ahead of the 10-year anniversary of the devastating tsunami that left hundreds of orphans in its wake, the the Home & Life orphanage is raising funds for capital improvements. ‘An Enchanted Evening’, to take place at the five-star Centara Grand Beach Resort on November 1, will be an unforgettable experience of art, entertainment, fine wine and gourmet…
-
Phuket officials call meeting to halt island’s growing elephant population
PHUKET: Provincial officials will meet with relevant authorities tomorrow to discuss ways to curb the large number of legal and illegal elephants that continue to arrive on Phuket. “Officials, led by the Phuket Livestock Office, will come together to look at ways to manage the island’s burgeoning elephant population, which has already surpassed the maximum number allowed,” Vice Governor Somkiet…
-
The second Phuket Classic bodybuilding competition comes to a close
PHUKET: Shoppers at Central Festival were surprised to find more than 150 oiled-up bodybuilders strutting their stuff for the “Phuket Classic” bodybuilding and modeling competition yesterday. In its second year, the competition was organized by Wilaiporn Wannaklang, president of the Phuket Bodybuilding Club and reigning Women’s World Champion. Ms Wilaiporn took a moment during Saturday’s hectic weigh-in at the Dara…
-
Phuket property rental platform aspires to clear muddied waters
PHUKET: Being an entrepreneur can be daunting at times. It often entails subjecting oneself – and one’s bank account – to an unknown level of risk and necessitates taking a blind step into the unknown. There are usually no guarantees and failure is a common, yet unwelcome, outcome. “Five months ago we said ‘we are going to come out to…
-
Protesters lash out at coal plant project east of Phuket – again
PHUKET: Hundreds of residents stood together against Krabi’s coal-fired power plant at public hearing for the project yesterday. The protestors claimed that the meetings were setups and locals were not being heard. The hearing, led by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and guarded by a brigade of armed soliders and police officers, was held at Nua Khlong Community…
![Phuket King’s Cup Regatta returns [video] | Thaiger](https://thethaiger.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/4_2014101814730816_rzBBMLSKzvcJJTiYtMunklVasEkFLFflUFEalQaV_jpeg.jpeg)
![Phuket shrines gear up for second Vegetarian Festival [video] | Thaiger](https://thethaiger.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/1_20141017141919195_ELEXiNtvckmkGqsBLOOoSVEQDPSqWSPgkgCWLFBu_jpeg.jpeg)
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.