Phuket

  • Thailand NewsDrug-addled cabbie faces jail for driving under the influence

    Drug-addled cabbie faces jail for driving under the influence

    A drug-addled cabbie faces time in jail for dangerous driving while allegedly under the influence of narcotics in the Kathu district of Phuket. A motorcycle rider brought to light the drug-taking cab driver’s antics after becoming a victim of his erratic behaviour on the road. The taxi driver scolded the motorcycle rider after the latter complained. He said… “Don’t butt…

  • Tourism NewsTAT going green to smash a Guinness World Record

    TAT going green to smash a Guinness World Record

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is calling on all diving enthusiasts to help smash an official Guinness World Record. The TAT wants tourists and residents to get involved in their Go Green Active drive, a conservation diving event at Phuket’s famous Patong Beach between November 18 and November 20. The TAT wants to set a new Guinness World Records…

  • World NewsFlights from Myanmar arrive in Phuket

    Flights from Myanmar arrive in Phuket

    A Burmese airline launched a new flight from Yangon to Phuket International Airport. The flight will run on Thursdays and Sundays. Myanmar Airways International introduced the flight at a press briefing, the Bangkok Post reported yesterday. The new flight aims to help migrant workers and long-stay tourists. Migrant workers in Phuket who wish to return home can purchase a one-way ticket…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket ‘ready’ to open nightclubs until 4am

    Phuket ‘ready’ to open nightclubs until 4am

    The Phuket Tourism Association is pushing for later closing times in nightclubs. Entertainment venues in Phuket, southern Thailand, are “ready” to open until 4am, according to the Chairman of the Phuket Tourism Association Thanet Tanipirayakit. The association hopes to extend the closing times of entertainment venues on Patong beach’s Bangla Road from 2am to 4am in a Phuket Sandbox-style pilot…

  • Phuket NewsAI upgrade planned for pier in Phuket

    AI upgrade planned for pier in Phuket

    A new renovation is being planned for a pier in Phuket, complete with an AI system. The Deputy Chief of the Phuket Provincial Administration (OrBorJor) said they aim to improve service and safety for tourists. The chief, Thiwat Sridokbua, said… “One of the plans is to include an AI System and add more CCTV cameras with security control rooms. Long…

  • Phuket News4 Chinese fishermen lost at sea rescued near Phuket

    4 Chinese fishermen lost at sea rescued near Phuket

    A Royal Thai Navy (RTN) Area 3 team rescued four Chinese fishermen lost at sea near Racha Noi Island in Phuket. The owner of the fishing boat sought help from the RTN after the four Chinese fishermen, who rented his fishing boat named SAO, went to sea at 5am yesterday but didn’t come back. The worried boat owner told the…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket taxis drivers promise to quit fighting rivals

    Phuket taxis drivers promise to quit fighting rivals

    Representatives of taxi drivers in Phuket met with provincial officials to acknowledge proposals to avoid fights recently reported in the media. Following a recent fight between a traditional taxi driver and an app-based driver in the Kamala district last weekend, Phuket authorities decided to host a meeting to urge local taxi drivers to focus on the reputation of the province.…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Vegetarian Festival wraps up

    Phuket Vegetarian Festival wraps up

    The Phuket Vegetarian Festival officially wrapped up its last day yesterday. The last day began with street processions in the main city district. The processions started in the morning at the Lor Rong Shrine and headed toward Saphan Hin Public Park. Later in the afternoon, there was a fire-waking ritual from Kathu Shrine. In the evening, there was another fire-walking ritual…

  • Press RoomBest island boat tours from Phuket – must-visit islands and unforgettable experiences you should not miss out on

    Best island boat tours from Phuket – must-visit islands and unforgettable experiences you should not miss out on

    Press Release For many people, Phuket is the first place they think of for a tropical island getaway, and rightly so, with its amazing beaches, incredible scenery, fabulous weather and delicious exotic food, Phuket has something for everyone. For some, sunbathing on one of the white, sandy beaches sipping on a freshly cut coconut or enjoying a tropical Sabai Sabai…

  • Phuket NewsThousands join Chinese ceremony at Phuket Vegetarian Festival

    Thousands join Chinese ceremony at Phuket Vegetarian Festival

    Thousands of people yesterday joined a Chinese ceremony as part of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. About 2,200 locals and tourists gathered along the roadside during the Yu Keng parade. The ceremony participants paid respects and lit fireworks to call upon gods, in accordance with traditional Chinese beliefs. Many of the tourists who took part in the ceremony were from Malaysia…

  • Transport NewsKorean Air resumes two routes to Thailand

    Korean Air resumes two routes to Thailand

    On October 1, Korean Air resumed two direct routes to Thailand. The airline reopened services between Seoul to Chiang Mai and Phuket, which were both suspended in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The South Korean flag carrier announced the return of the popular routes in August. Flights from Seoul Incheon to Phuket depart on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and…

  • Environment NewsAo Kung gets green light for marina despite opposition

    Ao Kung gets green light for marina despite opposition

    Conservationists are opposed to plans to build a new marina in a sleepy bay in Phuket. Developers believe it will reignite tourism blighted by the Covid-19 pandemic but preservationists hit back saying the project will damage the island’s coral reefs and affect marine life in the area. A developer has targeted Ao Kung, a sleepy bay north of Phuket Island,…

  • Tourism News5-star squatters evicted from Layan Beach

    5-star squatters evicted from Layan Beach

    Heavy earth-moving equipment was taken to Layan Beach, Phuket, yesterday to demolish the last remaining illegal beachfront buildings. Eviction notices were served in 2017 when the Supreme Court ruled that occupiers were illegally encroaching on state land. Several “final warnings” were issued, with the last eviction notice delivered on September 12. Layan Beach is a beautiful but little-known bay on…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket’s governor Narong braces for storm Noru

    Phuket’s governor Narong braces for storm Noru

    Phuket’s Governor Narong held a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall on Wednesday to prepare the island province for tropical Storm Noru. Narong said officials are ready to handle the storm with water removal, shelter, food, and other assistance. He said… “Every relevant office is ready to help as fast as possible with plans.” Meanwhile, Noru has wreaked havoc on other…

  • Phuket NewsFour alleged investment scammers arrested in Phuket

    Four alleged investment scammers arrested in Phuket

    Four alleged investment scammers have been arrested in Phuket’s main city district. The alleged scammers were arrested in the Wichit sub-district. Police held a press conference at the Region 8 Police Station base in Phuket on Tuesday. Lieutenant General Amphon Buarabphon said that eight arrest warrants have been issued. Amphon said… “The cost of damage is 1,258,630 baht from online…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket dwellers honour 10th Lunar Month

    Phuket dwellers honour 10th Lunar Month

    Temples across Phuket have honoured Thailand’s tenth lunar month with food offerings, and traditional puppets. Festivals are held for the tenth lunar month between September and October. During the festival, people offer food to their family members who have died. It is believed that during this time, the spirits of deceased people can come to meet with their relatives. Puppets…

  • Thailand NewsCanadian gangster in Phuket killing faces death penalty in Thailand

    Canadian gangster in Phuket killing faces death penalty in Thailand

    Thai police are convinced that Canadian Matthew Dupre and accomplice Gene Karl Lahrkamp gunned down Vancouver gangster Jimi Singh Sandhu on the island of Phuket in February. The extradition hearing of a former member of Dupre began in Edmonton on September 27. Dupre is on the run from Thai police who claim the Alberta man took part in the killing…

  • EventsPhuket Vegetarian Festival underway, avoid firecrackers

    Phuket Vegetarian Festival underway, avoid firecrackers

    The Phuket Vegetarian Festival officially kicked off and will last for nine days. The festival launched yesterday with Minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul in attendance at the opening ceremony. The ceremony began the festival which will run daily until October 4. Anutin, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister and is considered a potential Bhumjaithai Party candidate for prime…

  • World NewsEarthquake in Indonesia felt throughout southern Thailand

    Earthquake in Indonesia felt throughout southern Thailand

    An earthquake in Indonesia was felt as far away as southern Thailand. The quake, which had its epicentre on Sumatra Island, measured 6.2 on the Richter scale and took place yesterday morning. People reported feeling the tremors in Phuket, Phang Nga, and Songkhla provinces in Thailand, some 500 to 550 kilometres away. The earthquake struck at 3.52am yesterday and was…

  • Phuket NewsForeign women rescued from rip current in Patong

    Foreign women rescued from rip current in Patong

    Jet ski operators and lifeguards rescued three foreign women from a rip current off Patong Beach on Friday night. The women were seen in the water calling for help. Fortunately, some jet ski operators and lifeguards were still at the beach at the time, and the women were taken safely back to shore on a jet ski. The Patong Surf…

  • Phuket NewsAnother push for helmet use in Phuket

    Another push for helmet use in Phuket

    Officials once again pushed for more motorcycle riders to wear helmets in Thailand, this time in Phuket. The push is part of another of Thailand’s many road safety campaigns. Local officials handed out helmets to students and other community members in the Wichit area of Phuket’s main city district on Wednesday. The officials also finished painting a crosswalk in front…

  • Phuket NewsPrice hike in vegetables prior to Phuket Vegetarian Festival

    Price hike in vegetables prior to Phuket Vegetarian Festival

    Phuket is seeing a jump in its vegetable prices as the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival is coming up on September 26. The prices of many vegetables have shot up on average from five to 20 baht per kilogram. The prices on other vegetarian ingredients have bumped up as well. Vegetable prices usually increase in Phuket before and during the festival…

  • Things To DoThe 5 best wedding planners in Phuket for your big day

    The 5 best wedding planners in Phuket for your big day

    Organisation, details, style, taste levels and logistics are the most important things to make your dream wedding come true. At first, this may seem daunting and can often lead to a fair share of stress. This is further intensified when executing a destination wedding, like in the tropical haven of Phuket, as unique obstacles can arise. Thus, to ensure maximum…

  • Phuket NewsTAT expects Phuket Vegetarian Festival to make over 3 billion baht

    TAT expects Phuket Vegetarian Festival to make over 3 billion baht

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says it expects Phuket’s upcoming annual vegetarian festival to rake in more than 3 billion baht of visitor money this year. The festival will be held from September 26 to October 4. Some 81,429 travellers on 506 international flights are due to visit Phuket during the festival. Meanwhile, 110,165 domestic travellers are due to…

  • Thailand TravelThailand to fly in Russian tourists on chartered flights this High Season

    Thailand to fly in Russian tourists on chartered flights this High Season

    Unlike several European countries launching travel bans on Russia, Thailand is welcoming tourists from the former Soviet state with open arms this winter. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) unveiled plans this week to fly Russian tourists into Thailand via regular chartered flights to boost tourism revenue this High Season, which runs from November to February. In the years leading…

  • Thailand video newsBangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket to open new theme parks | GMT

    Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket to open new theme parks | GMT

      Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket to open new theme parks. NGOs plan to boost Thai language skills in migrant workers. Can the space industry revive the Thai economy? Thailand says going backwards is not an option for cannabis. Tour bus incentive by TAT hoped to spur domestic tourism. Weddings record bid for Valentine’s Day.

  • Phuket NewsShrines preparing for Phuket’s upcoming vegetarian festival

    Shrines preparing for Phuket’s upcoming vegetarian festival

    Phuket‘s annual vegetarian festival is right around the corner, coming up on September 26 to October 4. Now, city workers and volunteers are helping Chinese shrines prepare for the festival. Yesterday, teams helped scrub the forecourts of the main shrines participating in the celebration, including the Pud Jor and Jui Tui shrines in the main city district. Phuket’s Vice Governor…

  • Phuket NewsHundreds of Phuket public school students receive scholarships

    Hundreds of Phuket public school students receive scholarships

    Students at a public school in Phuket are being given more educational opportunities. With funding through various charities and foundations, 418 scholarships were given to students at Satree Phuket School yesterday. The total amount of scholarship money provided added up to almost 1.5 million baht. The president of the foundation organising the scholarships spoke at a ceremony in the school’s…

  • Phuket NewsPolice ask public to help find person who left dead baby at Phuket temple

    Police ask public to help find person who left dead baby at Phuket temple

    UPDATE Police in Phuket’s Kathu district is asking the public to help track down the person who left a dead baby girl at a temple in the district. Monks found the poor newborn baby girl’s body in a plastic bag under a bodhi tree at Wat Anuphat Kritsadaram in Thung Thong on September 9. The body was already decomposing. Yesterday,…

  • Phuket NewsMonkeys barge into new Phuket resort

    Monkeys barge into new Phuket resort

    The monkeys are coming! Well, at least they are coming to one new resort in Phuket’s town of Chalong. The management team at the Noku Phuket resort says that monkeys have been seen on the resort’s grounds and tried to get into the guest’s rooms. Wildlife officers inspected the resort on Tuesday, with the chief of the Wildlife Education Centre…