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.
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Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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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…
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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…
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Tsunami orphanage under investigation
PHUKET: A special committee set up by the province is investigating allegations of fraud against the former director of a foundation set up in March last year to care for children left orphaned by the tsunami. The panel was formed about six weeks ago following complaints to Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura. The provincial Ombudsman’s office was ordered to investigate the activities…
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Tourism industry backlash staves off doubling of park entry fees
THAILAND: The National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP) has decided to rethink its plans to double the entrance fees to National Parks after coming under fire from tourism businesses.The DNP had planned to double park entry fees so that foreign children would pay 200 baht, foreign adults 400 baht, Thai children 20 baht and Thai adults 40 baht.Phuket…
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92 killed in road crashes in 5 months
PHUKET: In the first five months of this year there were 6,076 accidents on the roads in Phuket, with 92 deaths. The vast majority of accidents involved motorcycles.Official figures from Vachira Phuket, Thalang and Patong government hospitals show that, from January to the end of May, there were 287 car accidents, 5,541 motorcycle accidents and 248 other incidents, including accidents…
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American teacher drowns off Karon
KARON: An American teacher drowned in heavy seas off Karon Beach on June 25, after she and three friends apparently ignored red flags and warnings by beachguards not to swim.Chalong Police Inspector Pol Lt Col Jessada Saengsuree named the victim as Elena Baldwin, 20. He told the Gazette that she had been teaching English language as a volunteer at a…
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PGTV News Tuesday 27th of June 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features the Club Med Children’s Day, a story about the tragic drowning of twenty year old American woman, how to get a Visa for Britain in Phuket, and a look at handicrafts made in local prisons. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with local Property…
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Andaman Sea Rally revived
PHUKET: After a hiatus of more than two years years, the Andaman Sea Rally – a race from Phuket to Port Blair in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and back – has been revived, with the next race scheduled to take place between January 13 and 27 next year. “We are happy that 2007 will see the return of the…
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PGTV News Monday 26th of June 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News today features a story about the crew of the MV Doulos who went to the Bangkok Hospital Phuket for a health check-up, an update on new flights to Phuket, an insight into the life of a lady who sells flower garlands or “Puang Malai” beside Chaofa West road. In addition to these and other news stories focused…
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Phuket service launched for UK visas
PHUKET: Freight forwarding and courier company Phuket Universal Services Co Ltd (Pusco), near the Mercedes-Benz showroom on Thepkrasattri Rd, is now accepting applications for visas to enter Britain. The new service follows the April 21 announcement by the British Embassy in Bangkok that it has entered into a partnership with VFS (Thailand) Ltd in a bid to improve the its…
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PGTV News for Friday 23rd June 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features an update on the plans by a local firm to salvage two WWII manned torpedoes found on the sea bed near Phuket, a story about illegal workers in Phuket, footage of Pro Women’s volleyball, and advice on how to keep fit in Phuket town. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this…
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PGTV News for Thursday June 22nd 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features an American thief, a story about the recent MOU meeting with Brunei to discuss cultural exchanges, spectacular footage of the Supercross Masters of Thailand 2006, and a look at girls who earn money being “pretty”. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with local Property Consultant…
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PGTV News Wednesday 21st June 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features a story about the recent royal visits from their Majesties the King and Queen of Sweden and HM the Crown Prince of Bhutan, an update on the old documents found by workers fixing the roof of Phuket Provincial Hall nearly six years ago, a meeting with part-time Phuket resident and authorJim Newport who is…
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PGTV News Monday 19th of June 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features a story about the recent yellow shirt shortage, advice from a doctor about keeping fit during the world cup, a visit to the Phuket Aquarium, and video of the arrival, in Phuket, of HRH Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgel Wangchuk of Bhutan. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this…
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Top beach volley players heading for Phuket
PHUKET: The island will play host in November to the Swatch-FIVB World Tour Women’s Professional Beach Volleyball tournament, from November 1 to 5 at Kata Beach, it was announced yesterday. Prize money of US$200,000 (about 7 million baht) will be up for grabs for the winners among some 60 two-player teams from countries including Germany, Brazil, the US, China and…
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Taiwanese dominate Phuket Marathon
CHERNG TALAY (Gazette, Nation): Taiwan’s Ko Shih Chieh won the inaugural Phuket International Marathon on June 18, while two Thai SEA Games gold medalists, Boonchu Chandecha and Boonthueng Srisang, were the best of the local runners, winning gold in the half marathon and 10k events, respectively.Boonchoo, from Chumphon, won the gold medal in the marathon in the 2005 SEA Games…
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Phuket’s Sikh community remembers Guru Arjan Dev
PHUKET CITY: The island’s small Sikh community yesterday marked a particularly special festival in their religion: the 400th anniversary of the martyrdom of the fifth Guru, Arjan Dev. In 1606 Guru Arjan Dev was tortured, on the orders of Emperor Jahangir, by being boiled alive and then forced to sit on a red-hot iron plate, in an effort to make…
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Carabao heading for Phuket
PHUKET: Thai superstars Carabao are to perform in Phuket on Monday. The group will be joined on stage by Thai songstress Thanaporn “Parn” Waegprayoon, who collaborated with them on their latest album.Carabao’s career spans 25 years and their songs are some of the most recognizable in modern Thai music. The 12-piece band is part of the “Songs for Life” movement.…
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Dive industry facing tough new rules
PHUKET: Phuket’s Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Nivit Aroonrat yesterday handed the Governor a proposal to issue an order that will require all dive businesses on the island to register with the government within 30 days. Thereafter, the dive shops will have to provide specific details – including how many foreigners they employ and whether the foreign employees have work permits.The…
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Fascinating detail revealed by cache of old documents
PHUKET: The effort to classify four huge stacks of old documents found by workers fixing the roof of Phuket Provincial Hall nearly six years ago should be completed by the end of September, the official in charge of the project says.Suntree Sungayuth, Chief Archivist at the National Archives in Trang, told the Gazette that some of 70,000 pages of official…
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Four shops damaged in Patong blaze
PATONG: Four shophouses on the corner of Thaweewong Rd and Soi Phermpong Phattana 2, just south of the Banthai Resort, were damaged by fire early yesterday morning. There were no casualties.Patong Fire Chief Paitoon Pholrop told the Gazette that the blaze broke out about 2 am. “It took firefighters two hours to put out the fire. Luckily, no one was…
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Swedish royals arrive in Phuket
PHUKET: HM King Carl XVI Gustaf and HM Queen Silvia of Sweden arrived in Phuket yesterday for a week’s stay in a private villa at Trisara, near Nai Thon Beach, after attending HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in BangkokDuring their Phuket stay they will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary. They were married on June 19, 1976.HRH Crown Prince…
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Direct flights from HK, Korea “coming in July’
PHUKET: Dragonair still has no plans to restore its direct Hong Kong-Phuket service, but no fewer than three other airlines are planning to start flights on the route, a Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) official has announced. The first of these will start flying as early as next month.Anoma Wongyai, Assistant Director of the TAT office in Phuket, returned from…
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Bike gang terrorizes Kalim motorists
KALIM-KAMALA: Kathu Police Station Superintendent Pol Col Teerapol Thipjaroen has warned motorists using the Kalim-Kamala road at night to take extra caution after one woman was dragged off her bike and nearly held at gunpoint and another woman had the rear window of her car smashed by a motorbike gang.Vanessa Temple reported that she was attacked while riding her motorbike…
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Police unravel tale of money and murder
PHUKET: Phuket Police have arrested three people in connection with a web of crime including the assassination of a local newspaper editor and the attempted murder of the ex-husband of one of the accused. A police sergeant was among those arrested.Local businessman Peerasak “Ko Yu” Aiewpanich was shot on October 19 last year while he was giving alms to monks…
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Chalong police issue burglaries warning
CHALONG: Pol Col Chalit Kaewyarat, Superintendent of Chalong Police Station, this morning urged residents in the Chalong and Rawai areas to take extra precautions against burglaries following a recent spate of break-ins, mostly involving homes of foreigners.“A house in Soi Taiad [Chalong] and another one in Soi Samakkee 2 [Rawai] were recently broken into by burglars.“A couple of days ago…
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Phuket to receive award for “fastest recovery’
PHUKET CITY: Phuket has won the Arabian Travel Market 2006 (ATM) “New Frontiers Award” for being the tourism destination that recovered fastest from a natural disaster, Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura announced yesterday.“The Arabian Travel Market has praised Phuket for its outstanding recovery and positive contribution to tourism development after the tsunami,” Governor Udomsak said.“The island was chosen after organizers consulted professionals…
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Police get strict with red-plate cars
CHALONG: Traffic Police set up a checkpoint on Chao Fa East Rd on Monday night to check that all vehicles bearing red “temporary” license plates for newly-purchased cars were registered with the Transport Department and that the vehicles were not stolen or being used to commit crimes. The checkpoint, near the intersection with Soi Palai, was also manned by officials…
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Phuket readies security for Swedish royal visit
PHUKET: Security will be tight during the one-week visit to Phuket of King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden, with more than 100 police officers directly involved in the security effort and units from many other government agencies taking part. The Swedish royal couple will arrive in Phuket on the afternoon of June 14, following their attendance in…
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Airport limos give ground to keep concession
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Limousine and Business Services Cooperative Ltd (PBC) is to have its concession to operate limousines at the airport renewed, but members will have to agree to a number of conditions. The news came after both the PBC and the Airports Authority of Thailand (AAT) asked the provincial authorities to intercede in negotiations. The current concession agreement…
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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