Phuket News
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Cops nab rape, robbery gang
TUNG TONG: Police have arrested a gang of six youths who last week forced their way into two homes in Kathu, where they stole cash and valuables and gang-raped one female occupant at knifepoint.The arrests were announced during a press conference led by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampetch at Tung Tong Police Station late Tuesday afternoon.The suspects…
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International superyacht brokers to descend on Phuket
PHUKET: Yacht Crews Ltd of Thailand (YCL) will host 10 international superyacht brokers from around the world on a fact-finding visit to Phuket, the Gazette learned today from Khun Thidarat Pimson, Managing Director of YCL.K. Thidarat has organized a four-day tour of the Phuket-Phi Phi-Krabi area aboard the motor yacht Taipan, a 172-foot superyacht managed by Emerald Yachts of Florida,…
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Capsized tour boat “not overcrowded’ – Marine Police
PHUKET: The ill-fated tour boat that capsized and sank in stormy seas off the Phi Phi Islands yesterday was not overloaded at the time of the disaster, Krabi Marine Office Chief Suriya Kittimonthon told the Gazette today.The 17.4-meter vessel was not overcrowded and a vessel of that size would normally be rated for about 60 passengers, he said.However, documents held by…
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Phuket Airport to stage disaster drill
PHUKET: A full-scale, emergency-response drill will take place at Phuket International Airport on Thursday as part of Phuket Airport’s Emergency Plan Exercise 2007 (PEMEX 2007).Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Phuket International Airport Director Sq Ldr Pornchai Eua-aree said the exercise, to begin at 10 am, is being co-organized by Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT).Taking part will be 14…
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Agreement reached over illegal Korean guides
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit, representatives of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Southern Region 4 office and representatives of Korean tour operators yesterday agreed on the conditions to be included in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will ensure that Korean tour operators hire Thai guides. Signatures to the MOU will be Governor Niran, TAT Southern Region 4 office…
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OrBorJor to revamp Phaya Thai Hospital
PHUKET CITY: The long abandoned Phyathai Hospital building is due a major makeover with the confirmation by press release that the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) last month completed its 327-million-baht purchase of the site from Thai Asset Management Corporation.After surveying the hospital building and its facilities, located on 14 rai of land, it was announced that OrBorJor will spend…
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Disabled man beaten to death
KOH KAEW: Police are seeking arrest warrants for two men wanted in connection with the murder of a disabled man that took place along Thepkrasattri Rd about 8:30 pm Sunday night.Phuket City Police Duty Officer Pol Lt Theeradet Jiraksa, who is responsible for the investigation, identified the victim as 23-year-old Somchai Mingpijaan, an employee of the Michelin tire store on…
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Israeli man drowns as Phi Phi dive boat capsizes
PHI PHI ISLANDS: An Israeli tourist died this morning when a boat sank off Maya Bay after becoming overwhelmed by stormy conditions.The boat was returning to Koh Phi Phi Don from a diving trip, said Suriya Kitimonthon, chief of Krabi Marine Office.Fifty-five tourists were out diving when Suriyan Sroyson, captain and owner of the Jor Kingfisher, noticed dark clouds beginning…
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“Compromise’ reached on illegal Korean guides
PHUKET: South Korean Ambassador Han Tae-Kyu met Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit yesterday to discuss the thorny issue of Korean tour guides working illegally in the province, but with few tangible results other than an agreement “to compromise”on the issue.Meanwhile, the terms of a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be signed by Korean tour operators in Phuket are under review…
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TAT targets Indian travelers
PHUKET: Representatives of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Southern Region 4 Office will tomorrow set off for the subcontinent as part of a nine-day “Amazing Thailand Roadshow to India 2007″, with stops in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.The road show, with funding by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), will promote Phuket tourism and facilities to Indian travel agencies,…
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Yellow-top brigade rides safe
PHUKET: In a bid to promote safety on Phuket’s roads, the Phuket Provincial Office and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM-Phuket) joined a nationwide campaign on Tuesday to persuade more riders to wear crash helmets.As part of the celebrations of HM Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 80th birthday this year, Bangkok-based Road Accident Victims Protection Co Ltd is producing motorcycle helmets…
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OrBorTor elections set for October 7
PHUKET: The four-year terms of eight tambon administration organizations (OrBorTor) in Phuket ended yesterday, with elections to replace them to be held on October 7, Phuket Election Commission (PEC) Director Supap Akkam has told the Gazette.Would-be representatives in the eight constituencies will be given from September 4 to 8 to register their candidacies with the Phuket Election Commission (PEC).Polling in…
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Half of Phuket’s population still unregistered
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit’s campaign to encourage people to register themselves as citizens of the island resulted in some success this month, with Phuket’s official population increasing by 1,231 to 324,891 people between July 21 and August 20.Launched last year, the campaign seeks to increase the number of Thai citizens whose names appear on household registration forms.Muang District saw…
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Wanted for TV: Property reports from Brits and Thais
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette has learned that ITV, the oldest and largest commercial television network in the UK, is currently making a prime-time, one-hour documentary about British people who own a property abroad. The program will feature a wide range of experiences from individuals buying or building holiday homes or a permanent residence overseas. It will air on ITV1 early…
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Annual “turtle’ festival underway
PHUKET CITY: The incessant rain today did not stop Phuket City’s ethnic Chinese from turning out en masse to pay their respects to the dead on the first day of the annual “Por Tor” festival.The festival, officially opened by Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit at 1 pm, saw hundreds lighting joss sticks and offering cakes in the shapes of turtles, the…
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Bitter lover murders rival
PHUKET CITY: A birthday party turned bloody in the early hours of Monday morning when local painter Sorapong Waimitta, 28, was stabbed to death in what police believe was a love crime.Lt Col Somkid Boonrat, investigation inspector at Phuket City Police Station, told the Gazette that K. Sorapong was drinking with his brother and about 10 male friends, one of…
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B34m of “fake’ goods destroyed
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Provincial Police incinerated fake goods worth some 34 million baht at Phuket City Municipality Incinerator on August 25.The imitation brand-name goods, totaling 68,809 items, were seized in raids over the past four years. The contraband included clothes, watches, bags, shoes, sunglasses, VCDs, DVDs and electronic games.Overseeing the burn-off was Police Region 8 Deputy Commissioner Maj Gen Worawet…
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Bank, Bass, Boss make Sgt Major’s day
PHUKET CITY: Staff at the maternity ward at Vachira Phuket Hospital received a treat on Sunday when Pol Sgt Maj Supat Ruangsri and his wife K. Thipawan arrived to have their triplets delivered.The couple arrived from their home in Phang Nga Town after K. Thipawan, who was eight months pregnant, started having contractions about two hours earlier.Sgt Maj Supat, an…
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Floyd still standing
PATONG: Keith Floyd, renowned British celebrity chef and owner of Floyd’s Brasserie at Burasari Resort, flew home this morning as planned in order to continue with his UK theater roadshow Floyd Uncorked – putting paid to rumors that he is suffering ill health.Rumors about Floyd’s health began circulating after he collapsed on Saturday evening while taking time out from cooking…
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ICEC location down to two sites
PHUKET CITY: After studying four proposed locations for the long-awaited Phuket International Convention and Exhibition Center (ICEC), project investor ING Funds (Thailand) Co Ltd has whittled the field down to just two sites: Anuphas and Sons’ 250 rai off Chao Fa West Rd in Wichit and 130 rai of government land at Tah Chat Chai.The announcement was made at a…
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Burmese concert hits bureaucratic barrier
PHUKET CITY: An ambitious plan to stage a concert to bring some fun into the lives of some 30,000 minimum-wage Burmese laborers living in Phuket received a lukewarm reception from Vice-Governor Worapoj Ratthasima yesterday, who said the event would need to be organized in accordance with all provincial regulations imposed on migrant workers – including the controversial 8 pm curfew.…
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Rough seas sink ferry
PHUKET: A ferry carrying 34 passengers and four crew sank yesterday afternoon, with all aboard left floating in the sea off Koh Phai until they were rescued by the Krabi Marine Police.Krabi Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Phuwadol Vudduccanok identified the vessel as Sea Breeze 2, owned by the Phi Phi Island Cabana Hotel.While awaiting rescue, all passengers and…
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Murray released on bail
PHUKET: Six weeks after Englishman David Murray was charged with the murder without intent in the death of his eight-year-old stepson, Narid “Curly” Budtharai, he is out on bail with a court date yet to be set.Angered by the slow response, Curly’s natural father Pissanu Badtharai asked for support from the Bangkok-based Pavena Foundation for abused women and children. The…
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AOT slashes number of airport limousines
PHUKET: The Phuket Limousine and Business service Cooperative (PBC) is seeking support from the provincial government after Airports of Thailand Public Co Ltd (AOT) slashed the number of vehicles it is allowed to operate at the airport from 150 to just 90 under a new concession. At an August 15 meeting with Phuket Vice-Governor Tri Augkaradacha, PBC President Manode Chupak…
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Loans offered to hard-hit shrimp farmers
PHUKET: With shrimp prices still on the skids, the Phuket Internal Trade Office (PITO) have announced that they will now accept shrimp as collateral for loans requested by registered shrimp farmers in Phuket.During a Governor Meets the Press meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall, PITO Chief Somphot Sangkhapong said that the office will accept Pacific white shrimp, also known as white…
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Phuket votes “yes’ to new Constitution
PHUKET: In yesterday’s national referendum of the draft constitution, Phuket residents overwhelmingly accepted the new charter with 88.9% of all those voting in favor compared to just 9.6% opposed.The remaining ballots, just under 1.5%, were deemed as spoiled.The official results were posted by the Phuket Election Commission (PEC) on a board outside the PEC counting center at Saphan Hin Gymnasium…
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Good news for gun enthusiasts
KATHU: A three-story building under construction on the eastern side of Patong Hill will become Phuket’s third shooting range, the Gazette has learned.Work on the 45-million-baht Patong Shooting Range is about 70% complete, said project owner Somchit Sucharitjiravongse.Honorary Secretary of the Trang Chamber of Commerce, K. Somchit is a shooting enthusiast who has represented Thailand in international competitions. He aims to help…
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Kathu concrete factory scrapped
KATHU: Construction of a controversial Siam Cement concrete factory in a residential area of Kathu has been scrapped following objections by local residents.Montri Promrit, chief of Kathu Municipality Public Works and Town & Country Planning Division, told the Gazette that Siam Cement bought about two rai of land on Phra Phuket Kaew Rd in Kathu in 2005 and leveled the…
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New foundation gives power to Phuket people
PHUKET: The people of Phuket now have a direct say in the development of projects to improve the local community – and how funding is used for them – with the recent launch of independent charity Phuket Community Foundation (PCF). The foundation is fully independent of any business, political or religious affiliations and provides a channel for organizations, businesses and individuals to address…
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No alcohol ban for referendum
PHUKET: Entertainment venues will be allowed to operate right throughout the weekend, regardless of the referendum on the draft constitution on Sunday, with no restrictions on the sale of alcohol.Phuket Provincial Police Superintendent Maj Gen Decha Budnampetch today told the Gazette that bars and nightclubs could open for business as normal, as police would not seek their “cooperation” in refraining…
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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