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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9 most common health issues covered by insurance for expats in Thailand
Thailand is a popular destination for expats due to its affordable lifestyle and excellent healthcare system. However, settling in a new country often brings health concerns. To ensure you’re covered for the most common medical needs, understanding what expat health...
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Boat Lagoon Yachting announces mega shipment of private yachts
Boat Lagoon Yachting, Thailand’s largest importer and distributor of luxury yachts, has made history in the region’s yachting industry with the importation of the largest single shipment of luxury yachts, worth over 1,400 million baht. The shipment comprises nine luxury yachts manufactured in the UK by Princess Yachts, with sizes ranging from 19 metres to a superyacht of over 30…
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Russian gang drain a couple’s Bitcoin account in a Phuket condo
A Russian couple have spoken to Thai police claiming that fellow-Russians, posing as Interpol, had entered their condominium and forced them to give passwords before stealing nearly 4 million baht in Bitcoin. 23 year old Maxsim Latsoka and 28 year old Anna Nikurina were returning home on Monday night. When they entered their fourth floor condo in Muang district they…
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“Careless captain may be the cause of boat explosion,” Krabi Police
The Krabi Governor held a meeting yesterday to discuss about marine safety with the boat companies and tourism companies in the wake of Sunday’s boat explosion off Koh Phi Phi Ley. The meeting agreed on measures to cover pre-incident, during the incident and post-incident, to improve the rescue efficiency and to encourage trust among tourists. An information ‘central HQ’ that…
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Krabi officials to limit the number of tourists to Maya Bay
Following thousands of tourists pouring into Maya Bay during the tourism high season and over-crowding the beach on a daily basis, the President of Krabi Industry Council, Aekawit Pinyothammanotai, said today (January 17) that the number of tourists will have to be controlled. “The number of tourists traveling to Krabi beaches keeps increasing while the resources remain the same; this…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, January 17
Second boat incident in three days | Prawit’s offering to resign if found guilty of ‘wrongdoing’ | Smart Visa details | Krabi and Thepa coal plants ‘still happening’ | PM puts hold on cannabis crops | Tax breaks for Thai families having babies.
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Bottlenose dolphin at Phuket dolphin show gives birth to ‘Nattya’
The General Manager of the Phuket dolphin show has revealed that the dolphin named Alice has given birth to her first baby bottlenose dolphin (calf) after about 10 months of pregnancy, on January 13. “Our team is very excited to see this very smart mammal give birth to a baby in our place. The baby is very healthy and playful…
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Three nabbed over fake goods and items seized in Karon
An undocumented migrant from Myanmar and two others from Cambodia have been arrested in Karon for selling pirated goods. The arrests, in a bid to suppress copyright violations, were made by a joint operation of Interior Ministry officials, troops and naval officers led by Muang Phuket assistant district chief Danai Jaikheng yesterday (Tuesday). The three were arrested at a roadside…
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Mercedes driver knocks out hotel security guard in Patong
A bar owner in Patong, 37 year old Chana Thammawichai, the owner of the Mercedes in the video on social media, punched a hotel security guard, 27 year old Jetsada Thong-Iad, just because the guard didn’t open the barrier for him. Khun Chana has been arrested. The 4 minute footage of the attack shows that the man driving his convertible…
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Mystery of beached ‘Elysion’ solved
The mystery of the boat beached on an Aceh beach (original post below) has been solved with this message from the man who was aboard the yacht when the decision was made to abandon it…. “I sailed ‘Elysion’, a Belgian registered yacht, from Phuket (Thailand) to Langkawi, Malaysia but had to abandon the vessel about 40 nautical miles west from…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, January 16
The investigation starts into Sunday’s boat explosion | NACC asks posters to ‘go steady’ on Prawit’s watches | Armoured vehicle kills one, injures three in Pattani | American & Russian nabbed selling drugs on Koh Phangan | ‘Poshtels’ are the latest accommodation trend.
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Boat debris discovered and tagged off Viking Cave, Koh Phi Phi
King Poseidon 959 debris found in front of Viking Cave A team of Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park officers, Krabi Marine officers, Forensic Police and divers explored the debris of King Poseidon yesterday (January 15), which washed up on a reef in front of the Viking Cave tourist attraction. The debris was about 200 metres…
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UPDATE: Two passengers and the captain of King Poseidon remain in ICU
The Deputy Director of Krabi Nakarin International Hospital, Doctor Sunthorn Fongfung, revealed today (January 15) that the two patients remaining at the hospital’s ICU including Xu Xin and Wu Zhi An are still under close care from the medical team and will have to remain in the hospital for at least 20 days as 50% of their bodies are burnt…
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UPDATE: Phi Phi boat explosion
Authorities have been visiting injured passengers and staff of ‘King Poseidon’ in Phuket and Krabi while a meeting regarding the accident will be held today (January 15) chaired by Phuket’s Governor as well as an investigation at the accident scene by Krabi authorities. The ‘King Poseidon’ was a 3-engine speed boat with 28 year old Kriengkrai Boonsri as the captain.…
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Boat fire off Koh Phi Phi – Chinese tourists injured
A speedboat named ‘King Poseidon’ carrying 31 passengers exploded this morning (January 14) in front of Viking Bay on Koh Phi Phi Ley. Injuries have been reported from the accident. https://www.facebook.com/phuketgazette/videos/1580631392014683/ There were 26 Chinese (23 adults and 3 children) plus 5 Thais who are the crew staff. There are five reported to be severely injured at this stage with…
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From ping-pongs to the real-deal. The evolution of sex-shows in Bangla Road.
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains material that may offend some readers. Thailand, despite it’s many natural wonders, superb street cuisine, vibrant culture and (mostly) warm weather, still has a reputation well-earned. Let’s call it the three Ps – Patpong, Pattaya and Patong. Whereas, say ten years ago, you could visit a few go go bars, see an occasional ping pong…
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SUNDAY MORNING HEADLINES – All your local news in 3 minutes
Hope you enjoyed Children’s Day activities yesterday. Certainly a lot of activities around Phuket. If you want to check out the longer stories, click on the headlines. Looks like a mostly fine but cloudy day ahead. Here’s some of the main news stories, locally and around the region this Sunday morning… Children’s Day favourite at Government House Thailand yesterday celebrated National…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, January 12
Would you pay 40 baht for a small bottle of water in Thailand? | Prawit’s watch collection knows no bounds | Chalong ‘drifters’ hand themselves in | Committee set up to manage the Layan beach foreshore | Bangkok sends it’s cable underground…eventually | Dismantling begins of the Royal Crematorium in Sanam Luang.
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Marine Office sets new life vest standards
The Phuket Marine Office has issued a rule about life vest standard’s certification for each boat to ensure all vessels only use the life vest approved by the Marine Office to guarantee quality. Phuket Marine Office Chief, Surat Sirisaiyat, says that the new rule will order all boats to use life vesta approved by the Marine Office, which comprises qualifications…
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FRIDAY MORNING HEADLINES – All your news in 3 minutes
Chalong racers charged over drifting The 10 drivers, who have been drifting their cars and spinning wheels in Chalong, generally disturbing the locals, handed themselves into Police last night. They are accused of reckless driving, blocking the traffic way and disturbing the public. The 10 cars were seized by the police. The video on Facebook showing the group in Chalong’s…
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Chalong drift gang makes locals furious
Members of a car racing gang in Chalong are being arrested for making noise, disturbing local people in the area as well as breaking several traffic laws. A member of the Chalong Municipality Council, Suppawatkan Kunnaluk, has revealed that he received complaints from many local Chalong people about a car race on the public road during the night of January…
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Dante Alighieri Phuket rolls their sleeves up for the elderly
Today (January 11), Dante Alighieri Society Phuket distributed food for elderly people at Ban Phuket Elders Public Aid in Thalang. Mrs Nonglak Khantong, president of Dante Alighieri Phuket and Mr Carlo Briola, treasurer of the Association, have declared that this is just the first of the group’s charity initiatives. Already recognised by Provincial officials, Dante Alighieri Phuket aims to promote…
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Progress on Sea Gypsy Sirinath NP fishing case
Rawai’s Mayor, Arun Solos, led a group of Rawai Sea Gypsies to file a complaint this morning (January 11), in order to call for justice for the 6 fishermen arrested in Sirinath Marine National Park. The mayor headed a delegation including Niran Yangpan, the community leader, village chief and sub-district chief with the 6 fishermen to hand the letter to…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, January 11
Kathu Temple being asked why it is in business with Chinese Tour Groups | Yingluck on ‘Entrepreneur’ visa in the UK | Minimum wage decision postponed | Dental Council warning us against online orthodontic promotions | BKK receives 120mm in rain over 24 hours | Thai goalie first ever for Euro football team
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Krabi Coal Power Plant to get more public hearings
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and its consulting company are preparing another set of public hearings about the proposed coal power plant project at Baan Klong Rua Pier after a series of protests against the project from locals and activists. “After the government suspended the project following the disagreements from locals, who commented that the EHIA (environmental health…
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Ten injured in buggy crash in Hanuman World, Kathu
A buggy transporting tourists to Phuket’s famous zip lining destination, Hanuman World in Kathu, crashed into a tree resulting in 10 people being injured and taken to hospitals. Yesterday afternoon (January 9), a group 8 tourists from Kazakhstan were traveling on the buggy to the zip line destination when the driver, Boonrak Sri-Iad, who works for Hanuman World, crashed the…
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I’ve got a drone. Can I bring it with me to Thailand? Yes, but…
INFOGRAPHIC: Tourism Authority of Thailand Last week it was reported that over 7,000 drones had been registered for flying in Thailand since October 2, 2017 when the law came into effect where drones must be registered. This number only included drones registered at NBTC offices, not at police stations around the country, so the true number of registrations is much…
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THAIGER TODAY Wednesday, January 10
Boat wreck threatens oil spill off Cape Panwa | Porche Vs Taxi in BKK | Big rains in the capital overnight | Van crash kills one, injures eight | Three killed in Pattaya after high-speed bike crash | Minimum wage debate heats up | “Get off the bus!”
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Threatened oil spill off Phuket’s east coast
A boat named ‘Cheburi’, a fishing boat from outside Thai waters, has washed ashore in front of Tapao Yai Island, just off Cape Panwa, after being prosecuted by the Fisheries Office for breaking Thailand’s Fisheries Act for not reporting on time. Officers surrounded the scene with floating protection barriers to avoid the oil leaking out. The old and ‘out of…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, January 9
Over 7,000 drones registered so far | Taxi industry getting new ‘Taxi OK’ App | Suspects arrested over bus torching in South last month | No plans as yet for HM King’s coronation | Restaurants holding out along Layan Beach | Brit arrested in Pattaya over women falling from balcony | Latest in the Bang Tao beach ‘private beach’ affair.
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TUESDAY MORNING HEADLINES – All your local news in 3 minutes
Hang on.. “100% rain predicted Wednesday and Thursday”. Isn’t this meant to be the dry-season, the high-season, the blue-sky season? Despite the dramatic forecasts we still seem to be getting plenty of sunshine. Here’s today’s main new stories… Bus torching leads to arrests More arrests are anticipated over the torching of a Bangkok-bound bus in southern Yala province last month thanks…
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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