Phuket
- Thailand News
Russian woman loses shoulder bag to snatcher in Phuket
A Russian woman last night lost her shoulder bag to an opportunist thief while sitting on a motorcycle outside her condominium in Phuket. Alisa Makarenko, the victim, reported the theft at Mueang Phuket Police Station at 9.30pm, yesterday, June 23. She informed the police that she had left Supalai Vista condominium on her motorcycle around 8.40pm. According to her account,…
- Thailand News
Body of missing Belgian man found after ignoring red flag in Phuket
A Belgian man drowned after ignoring a red flag warning on Freedom Beach in Phuket. Thai netizens’ opinions were divided. Some expressed condolences to his family, while others condemned him for being reckless and causing trouble to rescuers. According to a Phuket Times report on June 22, two accidents were reported on Kata and Freedom beaches. In the first incident,…
- Phuket News
Tourists flee as tuk tuk leader threatens taxi driver in Patong
A heated confrontation erupted in front of Jungceylon in Patong yesterday when a local tuk tuk leader threatened a metered taxi driver, prompting the taxi’s foreign passengers to quickly exit for their safety. The incident unfolded as the metered taxi was dropping off a customer at the bustling mall. Two foreign tourists entered the taxi, unaware of the turmoil that…
- Phuket News
British man found dead in Phuket hotel room, drugs suspected
A 48 year old British man was discovered dead in his hotel room in Cherng Talay, Phuket, prompting an investigation by local police. Police were alerted to the scene in Soi Cherng Talay 14 at 4.30pm yesterday, June 22. The man was found lying on his back on the bed, clad in grey boxer shorts, with his hands tightly clenched.…
- Thailand News
Teen shatters taxi window in heated Kathu dispute, pays damages
A heated exchange between a youth and a taxi driver in the Kathu district of Phuket on Tuesday night escalated to a point where the taxi’s rear window was shattered. The incident led to the youth being called in by police to pay for the damages but facing no charges. The altercation took place near the Si Kor Intersection, close…
- Thailand News
Russian man steals bag with 15,000 baht cash & phone in Phuket
A Thai woman issued a warning to locals in Phuket after a Russian man stole her bag, containing 15,000 baht in cash and a mobile phone, at a bar in the Karon neighbourhood on Wednesday. The victim shared the story with Phuket Times yesterday, June 20, stating that she worked at a bar in the Karon area of Phuket and…
- Thailand News
Phuket crowned Thailand’s tech haven
Phuket has been declared Thailand’s most technologically advanced province among 23 smart provinces, while Wangchan Valley in Rayong clinched the top spot in the city category, according to a report by the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA). The rankings, unveiled by DEPA’s Smart Cities Office in the Thailand Smart City Competitiveness Index (TSCCI) 2023 report, evaluated 30 smart cities across…
- Thailand News
American tourist and Thai girlfriend drown in Phuket
An American tourist and his Thai girlfriend drowned after allegedly ignoring a red flag weather warning at Mai Khao Beach in Phuket. The bodies of 45 year old James Edmond Newman from New York, and 48 year old Waranya Chanphai from Surin province, were discovered on Monday morning, June 17. Police Major Ronnapoom Permpoon of the Thachatchai Police Station stated…
- Crime News
Phuket raids uncover illegal e-cigarette sales in Patong, Ratsada
Police in Phuket raided the Weed Club in Patong and an associated address in Ratsada for allegedly engaging in the illegal sale of e-cigarettes. The operations were brought to light following a tip-off to the Phuket governor. Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat announced the raid on June 16, stating that the information prompted immediate action. He instructed Phuket Vice Governor Sattha…
- Thailand News
Thailand boat shows merge for a splash-tacular Phuket event
The Thailand International Boat Show and Thailand Boat Festival are set to merge, creating the largest and most extravagant boat show Phuket has ever seen. This landmark event will take place at Phuket Yacht Haven from January 9 to 12 next year, promising a spectacular display of luxury yachts and lifestyle brands. The organisers of both prestigious events have announced…
- Thailand News
Foreign man captured on CCTV stealing Thai woman’s motorcycle
A Thai woman is seeking help on social media after a foreign man stole her motorcycle, which was parked near Soi Ta-iad in the Chalong district of Phuket today. The woman shared screenshots of the foreign thief from CCTV footage on her social media account today, June 17, and urged local news agencies to spread her story. “A foreigner stole…
- Phuket News
Phuket accountant arrested for involvement in call centre scams
A woman accountant in Phuket has been apprehended by officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on charges linked to multiple call centre scams. Identified only as Kanraya, the alleged scammer has been implicated in five separate arrest warrants for her involvement in fraudulent activities, including opening bank accounts used by scam gangs. Police Lieutenant Colonel Phongsak Meemusik led the…
- Phuket News
Phuket boosts tourism safety with new lifeguard training initiative
Phuket’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MoTS Phuket) is spearheading a workshop to bolster water tourism safety in the Andaman Tourism Development Zone. The Generation 1 project commenced on June 14 and continues through today at the Nai Yang Beach Resort & Spa and Sirinat National Park. Key attendees include Panlop Prajong, a policy and planning analyst at MoTS Phuket,…
- Phuket News
Andaman Hotelier 2024 showcases South Thailand hospitality
The Andaman Hotelier 2024 event kicked off at Robinson Lifestyle shopping mall in Chalong yesterday, showcasing the excellence of hotel and tourism service personnel in southern Thailand. Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat inaugurated the event with a press conference, joined by Rewat Areerob, President of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), Thianprasit Chaiyaphattranan, President of the Thai Hotel Association, and Suksit…
- Thailand News
Knife attack on Myanmar nationals leads to crash in Phuket
Two Myanmar nationals were attacked and chased by an unknown assailant wielding a knife, leading to a crash with a food delivery driver in Srisoonthorn, Phuket, late yesterday. The incident occurred at the three-way intersection outside Phuket Provincial Prison in Moo 4 at approximately 9.15pm. Thalang Police and rescue workers from Srisoonthorn Municipality responded to the scene, finding two motorbikes…
- Thailand News
AirAsia unveils direct flights from Bali to Phuket and Malaysia
Indonesia AirAsia has launched two international routes from Denpasar, Bali, to Phuket in Thailand, and Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia. This strategic move aims to boost Indonesia’s tourism by enhancing air connectivity. Veranita Yosephine Sinaga, President Director of Indonesia AirAsia, stated that these new routes are a significant step in the airline’s commitment to expanding its air network and strengthening Indonesia’s…
- Thailand News
Third sea turtle rescued from fishing nets in Phuket this week
Another sea turtle, entangled in discarded fishing nets, washed ashore in Phuket yesterday. The young turtle was found by lifeguards on Kalim Beach, north of Patong, amidst a mix of debris. Patong Surf Life Saving Club lifeguards successfully freed the turtle by cutting away the netting before notifying officials from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR). DMCR officials…
- Thailand News
Hook, line, and sinker: Two men nabbed for illegal fishing
Two men have been apprehended for illegal fishing within a restricted zone off Cape Panwa, an area designated as a sanctuary for aquatic animals and plants. Officials from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) stationed at the Phuket Marine Resources Conservation Center spotted the men fishing in the protected waters on Wednesday afternoon, June 12. According to a…
- Phuket News
Phuket ramps up flood prevention as rainy season nears
Phuket City Municipality is ramping up flood prevention efforts as the rainy season approaches, deploying a comprehensive strategy to protect residents and maintain city infrastructure from imminent rain damage. Preparations include mobilising manpower to combat incoming floods, deploying machinery, and distributing sandbags across vulnerable areas to minimise damages, according to Phuket Town Mayor Saroj Angkhanapilas. The municipality aims to ensure both…
- Phuket News
Phuket hosts Southern Halal Expo to boost tourism
The Southern Halal Expo & Tourism fair is currently taking place in Phuket, aiming to revitalise local tourism and enhance the incomes of local families while enhancing a sense of community for Muslims. Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat officiated the opening ceremony at the Robinson Lifestyle Shopping Center in Thalang yesterday. The event, organised by the Andaman Phuket Muslim Women’s Association in…
- Phuket News
Gun-brandishing pickup driver threatens couple during road rage
A road rage incident saw a white pickup driver allegedly brandishing a gun and threatening a truck driver and his wife in Phuket yesterday. Wichit Police are currently searching for the suspect involved in this alarming incident. According to Kwannapa Patjirang, she and her husband were travelling northbound on Chao Fa West Road when they noticed a white Toyota Revo…
- Thailand News
Spitting mad: Russian tourist’s traffic light tantrum in Phuket
A Russian man spat on a Thai woman and tried to slap her at Wat Naka Intersection in Phuket on May 29 in anger over a traffic light misunderstanding. The 46 year old Thai woman, Phatchareeya Rattanatorrakarn, accompanied by her husband, Boonyong Burirak, filed a complaint against the Russian at Vichit Police Station at 2pm on May 29. Phatchareeya said…
- Thailand News
Phuket raids uncover multi-million baht foreign business schemes
In a crackdown on illicit foreign enterprises, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), in collaboration with the Immigration Police, Tourist Police, and other authorities, stormed three businesses in Phuket. These companies, ostensibly legitimate, are suspected of being fronts for illegal activities. Thaveewat Surasit, Director of the DSI’s Security Cases Division, revealed that the coordinated raids, backed by search warrants, aimed…
- Property News
Phuket’s real estate world’s collide as off-plan sales flatten in wake of growing resales
Phuket’s massive influx of new real estate development is witnessing rising competition from the secondary marketplace. The collision between off-plan property sales and resales is inevitable given the sheer number of units being completed and a growing critical mass of older properties. Comparing primary and re-sale transactions on the island from the first four months of the year compared to…
- Thailand News
British man revived in Thailand, giving back in Africa
A British man, revived after dying in an ambulance in Thailand last year, wants to repay the fundraisers who saved his life by helping those less fortunate in Africa. Liam Kilby was clinically dead for eight minutes following a motorcycle accident in Phuket on May 1 last year, which caused more life-threatening injuries. The 26 year old from Moreton collided…
- Thailand News
Thai lifeguards nab American phone thief at Kata Beach (video)
Thai lifeguards helped a foreign woman catch an American man who stole her mobile phone while she was swimming at Kata Beach in Phuket. The theft took place at Kata Beach on Saturday, June 1. The foreign woman reportedly left her mobile phone on the beach while she was swimming, giving the American man a chance to steal the phone.…
- Tourism News
British mum’s dengue fever warning after son’s Thai holiday tragedy
A crestfallen British mother urged travellers ahead of the holiday season to be wary of dengue fever after losing her son to the disease while he was on holiday in Thailand. The heartbroken mother, Jayne Toulson-Burke, recalled the last devastating phone call from her son, Bob, just before he died from the disease several years ago. The 59 year old…
- Thailand News
Foreigner unharmed after motorcycle crash with van in Phuket
A foreigner narrowly escaped death without a scratch after crashing his motorcycle on a mountain road in Phuket, sliding down Patong Hill, and colliding with a van. The van driver, Weerapong, shared a video of the accident on his TikTok account, Smith.van, yesterday, June 3. The footage showed Weerapong braking suddenly as the foreigner and his motorcycle lost control on…
- Thailand News
Phuket beautician shot by van driver after DNA test dispute
A grey van driver in Phuket shot a slingshot at a beautician, causing her to bleed, due to anger over his wife refusing a DNA test for their child. Social Hunter 2022 posted an image and a warning, alerting Phuket residents about a grey van with the licence plate number 30-9306 Phuket. The van nearly collided with a motorbike, driven…
- Thailand News
Russian nominee business bust exposes 1.5 billion baht scandal
In a dramatic crackdown on illegal businesses in Phuket, 231 suspects, including 98 foreign nationals, mostly Russians, have been arrested, revealing a scandal worth over 1.5 billion baht. The Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECSD), under the directive of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) commissioner Police General Jirabhop Bhuridej, raided several accounting and real estate firms on the island. The operation…
