Phuket

  • Things To Do5 must-visit islands on your first trip to Thailand

    5 must-visit islands on your first trip to Thailand

    First-time travellers to Thailand may have seen its stunning islands in a travel guidebook. And, it is a great idea to visit the islands when you arrive. As Thailand has many types of islands for every type of traveller, it is easy to find a tropical oasis upon landing. From upscale islands such as Koh Samui and Koh Phi Phi to…

  • Phuket News“Green” Covid-19 cases to move to Phuket community isolation centres

    “Green” Covid-19 cases to move to Phuket community isolation centres

    The Phuket Provincial Public Health Office Chief Dr Kusak Kukiattikoon has stated the province will deal with the struggle to maintain available hospital beds by moving mildly affected “green” Covid-19 patients into home quarantine and community isolation centres. Phuket has been adding hundreds of hospital beds every week, with 200 beds added yesterday, to keep up with the rising Covid-19…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket update: 30 total Covid-19 deaths with 10 in the last 4 days.

    Phuket update: 30 total Covid-19 deaths with 10 in the last 4 days.

    With 234 new Covid-19 cases reported, the total infections in the Phuket Sandbox inches to nearly 6,000, deaths have seen a sharp rise on the island. 2 new deaths reported last night to bring the total to 30 Covid-19 deaths since April, a jump of 50% since Sunday. Over the last 5 months, 20 people had died of Covid-19 in…

  • Tourism NewsSurvey shows over half of Thai hotels are considering closing due to low demand

    Survey shows over half of Thai hotels are considering closing due to low demand

    A survey conducted by the Bank of Thailand and the Thai Hotels Association shows that 52% of hotels are considering closing temporarily and 9% want to shut down for good. 62% plan to reduce their workforce costs as a result of the financial fallout from Covid-19, while 61% say they will cut expenditure elsewhere. The Bangkok Post reports that the…

  • Thailand NewsPhuket, the hub of the next global superyacht destination

    Phuket, the hub of the next global superyacht destination

    Sponsored Thailand, and notably Phuket, is poised to become the core of the next major superyacht destination in Southeast Asia. As we learn to live with Covid what better way to promote this wonderful place than the Thailand International Boat Show (TIBS), which will be held from January 6 to 9, 2022, at the award-winning and SHA Plus+ certified Royal Phuket Marina…

  • Phuket NewsNo more sandbox: Phuket private sector calls for full re-opening by December 1

    No more sandbox: Phuket private sector calls for full re-opening by December 1

    The vice-president of the Phuket Tourism Association says businesses on the island need it to fully re-open by December 1 if they are to survive. According to a Bangkok Post report, Nanthida Atiset says fully re-opening the island could generate over 210 billion baht in revenue, adding that the sandbox scheme is simply not enough. “Only over 20,000 tourists have…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Sandbox draws 28,000 travellers, 1.634 billion baht

    Phuket Sandbox draws 28,000 travellers, 1.634 billion baht

    The Phuket Sandbox has been lauded as a success and derided as a failure, but officials have released some raw data over the past few days that indicates the programme falls somewhere in between. Immigration and the Tourism Authority of Thailand have reported on total incoming travellers and their opinions, and the Economics Tourism and Sports Division of the Tourism and…

  • Phuket NewsJetstar launches weekly flights between Phuket and Singapore

    Jetstar launches weekly flights between Phuket and Singapore

    Now that flight restrictions are finally easing, Jetstar Asia Airways has launched a weekly flight between Singapore and Phuket. The first flight departed Singapore Friday evening and arrived at Phuket International Airport an hour and 40 minutes later. The inaugural Jetstar flight was greeted with fanfare by various airport staff including the Deputy Director of Phuket Airport Operations and Maintenance. The…

  • Things To DoThe Breathtaking Architecture of Phuket

    The Breathtaking Architecture of Phuket

    In the last two years, the pulsing and colourful life in Phuket came almost to a total standstill. The worldwide pandemic has also reached the beautiful island in South-East-Asia and the lockdowns and global travel restrictions have left their mark on the touristic places of the world. Now though, as the vaccines are rolling out and more and more people…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Covid-19 passes 5,000 infections, bed occupancy up 5%

    Phuket Covid-19 passes 5,000 infections, bed occupancy up 5%

    Covid-19 data for Phuket was fairly stable yesterday with no new deaths, no new international Sandbox travellers infected, and the total daily cases today were 242, just 7 more than yesterday. Those new infections pushed Phuket’s total number of infections since the start of the third wave of Covid-19 to surpass 5,000 today. Statistically, the most drastic Covid-19 figure was…

  • Covid-19 NewsCovid UPDATE Saturday: 257 deaths, news briefs

    Covid UPDATE Saturday: 257 deaths, news briefs

    The dramatic drop in new infections over the past week has levelled off a bit with 15,942 new infections being reported across Thailand in the past24 hours, a rise from yesterday’s reported 14,653 cases. 277 of today’s new cases come from the Thai prison system. There’s also been 257 deaths, the numbers remaining high whilst other trends are more positive.…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | Phuket eases domestic entry, Thitisan transferred to BKK prison | Sept 3 | Thaiger

    Thailand News Today | Phuket eases domestic entry, Thitisan transferred to BKK prison | Sept 3

    The deputy head of the national police has briefed a House Committee on the legal case against former cop Thitisan Utthanaphon. As Phuket prepares to carefully allow domestic tourists back onto the island, new Covid-19 infection number remain relatively stable. The Baiya vaccine, a plant-based Covid-19 vaccine being developed in Thailand, is ready to begin phase 1 clinical trials this…

  • Phuket NewsVaccinated domestic travellers allowed to enter Phuket starting next week

    Vaccinated domestic travellers allowed to enter Phuket starting next week

    Domestic travellers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will be allowed to enter Phuket starting on September 8, Phuket Governor Narong Woonsiew announced. Travellers from overseas have been able to enter the island province under the “Sandbox” model, but with the rise of Covid-19 cases, Phuket officials imposed tight restrictions on domestic entry. Travellers will need to book and pay for…

  • Covid-19 NewsFriday Covid Update: 271 deaths and 14,653 new cases

    Friday Covid Update: 271 deaths and 14,653 new cases

    271 coronavirus-related deaths and 14,653 new Covid-19 infections were reported today by Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. The infection rate has declined over the past week, but the daily fatality count remains high. In the 24-hour period since the last count, the CCSA recorded 18,262 recoveries from the coronavirus. There are now 159,800 people receiving treatment for Covid-19. The…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket entry rules relaxed to allow residents to exit and return

    Phuket entry rules relaxed to allow residents to exit and return

    A slight modification to the rules for entering and exiting Phuket will now allow people who live or work in Phuket to exit and re-enter the island more freely. Phuket Vice Governor Pichet Panapong explained that a special permission letter that was previously required in order to leave Phuket and gain re-entry after would no longer be needed. With strict…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok ranked #1 best “workation” city in the world, Phuket #10

    Bangkok ranked #1 best “workation” city in the world, Phuket #10

    Bangkok has been ranked as the number one city in the world for a ‘workation’ – a portmanteau combining work and vacation – with Phuket also ranking in the top 10. The two Thai destinations ranked among the top cities in the world where people can get a break from their office life and have a holiday while still actively…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket extends tight entry restrictions, vaccine required for most

    Phuket extends tight entry restrictions, vaccine required for most

    Tight entry restrictions to Phuket have been extended until at least for the next two weeks, according to a provincial order imposed yesterday. Domestic entry onto the island province by land, water, and air is prohibited, with the exception of essential vehicles, residents returning home, and travellers entering under the “Sandbox” scheme. Those allowed to enter Phuket under the exceptions…

  • Phuket News1 new death, another daily Covid-19 record in Phuket

    1 new death, another daily Covid-19 record in Phuket

    With one new death and one new Phuket Sandbox traveller infected, Phuket continues its upward climb in Covid-19 infection rates. Yesterday saw a record 257 Covid-19 infections in one day (Monday), one more than the last new record high in Phuket the day before. For Tuesday Phuket has reported 119 new infections. The death from Monday’s totals brought the total…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket officials look to vaccinated domestic visitors for tourism lifeline

    Phuket officials look to vaccinated domestic visitors for tourism lifeline

    Officials on the southern island of Phuket are pinning their hopes on vaccinated domestic tourists to revive the flagging economy. A proposal to attract vaccinated local tourists is being submitted for approval and if granted, would replace current restrictions, says deputy governor, Pichet Panapong. According to a Bangkok Post report, Pichet says the current measures on Phuket are damaging the…

  • Covid-19 NewsPhuket tourism operators call for curbs to be eased despite surge in infections

    Phuket tourism operators call for curbs to be eased despite surge in infections

    Tourism operators on the southern island of Phuket say Covid-19 restrictions must be eased to help the sector recover, even with a surge in infections. The island has been recording around 200 daily new cases in recent days. However, Thanet Tantipiriyakit from the Phuket Tourism Council points out that the infections are mostly caused by local activities as opposed to…

  • Covid-19 NewsCovid UPDATE Sunday: 264 deaths, news briefs

    Covid UPDATE Sunday: 264 deaths, news briefs

    New infection numbers across the country continue to drop in today’s report from the past 24 hours across Thailand. New infections in the capital continue to drop although other provinces are still worrisome for officials, including Samut Prakan, Chon Buri and Rayong, to the east of the city. In the southern region, Phuket features with the province having the most…

  • Phuket NewsBangkok Hospital Phuket offers expats vaccines including Pfizer

    Bangkok Hospital Phuket offers expats vaccines including Pfizer

    Another round of free Covid-19 vaccinations for expats was announced yesterday, this time with the option of receiving the Pfizer vaccine. Bangkok Hospital in Phuket made the announcement stating that they would be providing expats the free vaccines in partnership with the Department of Disease Control, but they would only be offering inoculation for those who have never received any…

  • Phuket News1 new death as daily Covid-19 infections in Phuket top 200

    1 new death as daily Covid-19 infections in Phuket top 200

    Just 16 days after Phuket saw domestic Covid-19 infections surpass 100 cases in a day, the island has now passed the 200 mark with 209 new Covid-19 infections reported yesterday. The Phuket Provincial Public Health Office also released data confirming 1 more Phuket Sandbox international traveller infection and 1 death from Covid-19. The surge in cases has now pushed the…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Covid-19 numbers drop slightly to 169, no new deaths

    Phuket Covid-19 numbers drop slightly to 169, no new deaths

    Though today’s Covid-19 numbers in Phuket are lower than yesterday, they do push the rolling weekly total above 900, 10 times the original threshold for reevaluating the Phuket Sandbox. One new Sandbox infection was identified, along with 169 domestic infections yesterday. Now, new deaths have been reported. The Phuket Provincial Public Health Office report confirmed the new infections and no…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Covid-19 over 3000 total, nearly 900 this week, 189 today

    Phuket Covid-19 over 3000 total, nearly 900 this week, 189 today

    Today’s Covid-19 numbers in Phuket push the overall total above 3000, bring the weekly total to just about 900 (10 times the original threshold for reevaluating the Phuket Sandbox), and sets yet another daily record. 189 new domestic cases of Covid-19 were reported yesterday, making the count for 6 of the last 7 days over 100 infections. 3 new Sandbox…

  • Thailand video newsThailand News Today | 7 policemen arrested over killing of drug dealer | August 25

    Thailand News Today | 7 policemen arrested over killing of drug dealer | August 25

    Thailand’s PM has ordered a full investigation into the apparent police killing of a drug suspect in Nakhon Sawan. Flights between Phuket and Koh Samui, that had originally been cancelled until the end of August, have now resumed. A 38 year old man was killed in a fire that broke out in his home in Pathum Thani, just north of…

  • Covid-19 NewsRecord 156 Covid-19 infections as Phuket edges near 800 a week

    Record 156 Covid-19 infections as Phuket edges near 800 a week

    The number of weekly rolling Covid-19 infections in Phuket is poised to pass 800, as 5 of the last 7 days have seen infections of over 100 people and the 7-day total now stands at 798 new local Covid-19 infections. According to the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office, yesterday marked a new daily high of 156 new infections and one…

  • Transport NewsPhuket-Samui flights on Bangkok Airways resume from today

    Phuket-Samui flights on Bangkok Airways resume from today

    Flights between Phuket and Koh Samui that had originally been cancelled until the end of the month have now resumed nearly a week early as Bangkok Airways relaunched the flight route with limited service. From today, the Phuket Sandbox and Samui Plus schemes will be reconnected as part of the Sandbox 7+7 Extension, allowing people to arrive in Phuket, spend…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket tourism operators more hopeful after Sputnik approval

    Phuket tourism operators more hopeful after Sputnik approval

    Phuket’s tourism operators are feeling slightly more confident about the last quarter of the year, following the approval of the Sputnik V vaccine. The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration has added the Russian vaccine to the list of vaccines that will be accepted when granting entry to foreign tourists arriving through the Phuket’s sandbox scheme. Thailand’s tourism sector has taken…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket sees third consecutive day over 100 Covid-19 infections

    Phuket sees third consecutive day over 100 Covid-19 infections

    For the third day in a row, new Covid-19 infections in Phuket had topped 100 people as 126 new local infections were identified in the province yesterday. 2 new infections were found in Phuket Sandbox travellers as well. There were no new deaths reported yesterday, and the total remains at 17 fatalities from Covid-19’s third wave. The rolling weekly total…