Phuket News
-
Sponsored Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes
Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...
-
Phuket shines a light on Islamic roots with weekend festival
A cultural event in Phuket celebrated Islamic heritage, bringing residents and officials together to promote unity, awareness, and community engagement. The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO) hosted a vibrant two-day event aimed at celebrating the island’s Islamic roots and promoting unity across communities. Titled Retracing the History of Islam in Phuket Province, the event took place on Saturday and Sunday,…
-
Justice Minister vows tougher anti-drug measures in Phuket’s Sea Gypsy Village
Justice Minister Police Colonel Thawee Sodsong has pledged stronger action to tackle persistent drug problems in the Sea Gypsy Village in Rawai, Phuket, while also addressing broader community challenges such as land disputes, flooding, and youth vulnerability. Pol. Col. Thawee visited the village on September 13, joined by officials from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, Corrections Department, Phuket…
-
Phuket officials clash over Bang Tao building permit dispute
A legal battle has erupted in Phuket as two local administrations clash over who holds the authority to issue building permits in the Bang Tao area. A jurisdictional dispute between two local administrations in Phuket has reached the Administrative Court, as Cherng Talay Municipality and Cherng Talay Subdistrict Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor) battle over authority in Bang Tao. The legal case,…
-
Phuket’s long-awaited boat taxi project finally sets sail
Phuket is moving ahead with plans for a boat taxi service along its west coast, as key officials signed an agreement to improve coastal transport options. Phuket is one step closer to launching its long-discussed boat taxi service along the island’s popular west coast, as key officials gathered to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday, September 12. Atthaphon Charoenchansa,…
-
Thalang cracks down on illegal claw machines in malls
Dozens of claw machines have been shut down across Phuket’s Thalang district in a major crackdown on unlicensed gambling-style games at public venues. Officials from the Thalang District Office inspected shopping malls, convenience stores, and other locations between September 6 and 9. Around 50 unlicensed machines were found and immediately deactivated, including several at the popular Robinson Lifestyle Thalang mall.…
-
U-turn project slashes road deaths to zero in Phuket
A road safety project in Phuket has transformed a dangerous highway, cutting fatalities to zero in a key area through joint efforts by local and international partners. The dramatic turnaround stems from the Safe & Seamless U-Turn initiative launched on Thepkrasattri Road (Route 402), Phuket’s busiest and most notorious thoroughfare, renowned for its deadly crashes and congestion. Formally handed over…
-
Tourist rescued after ignoring red flags at Karon Beach
A reckless tourist nearly paid the ultimate price after ignoring red flags at Phuket’s Karon Beach, only to be dragged out by powerful monsoon waves. The incident unfolded yesterday morning, September 10, when lifeguards raised red flags to warn beachgoers against swimming due to strong waves and dangerous currents. Despite the clear warning signs, a foreign man decided to swim…
-
Indian man caught masturbating in front of Thai woman in Phuket
An Indian man allegedly stalked a Thai woman in the Kamala district of Phuket and masturbated in front of her, leading local administrative officers to send him to the police. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Thaiger (@thethaigerofficial) The news Facebook page เจ๊ม้à¸à¸¢ v+ (Jmoi v+) shared video footage of the incident along with…
-
Russian man reunited with lost bag after Phuket beach wave mishap
A Russian man recovered his belongings, which were swept away by a wave on Mai Khao Beach in Phuket, thanks to the help of Belgian and Spanish nationals. The man filed a complaint with officers at Sakhu Police Station at 1.30pm yesterday, September 10, after losing his bag. He reported that he had been staying at a hotel along Mai…
-
Patong cops swoop on dodgy kerbside parking setups
Police launched a street operation in Patong to remove illegal objects placed on roads and pavements to reserve parking, following complaints from locals. At 10.30am today, September 10, officers from Patong Police Station launched a crackdown on unauthorised parking space blockades in a busy Phuket district. Led by Police Colonel Chalermchai Hirasawat, the operation targeted makeshift barriers placed along Rat…
-
Phuket stages full-scale fire drill to boost city safety
Phuket officials are preparing a full-scale fire drill at City Hall to train government agencies, volunteers, and the public in emergency response and safety. The exercise will see government agencies, volunteers, and private-sector partners join forces to simulate disaster response and enhance fire safety knowledge across the province. The drill is scheduled for today, September 10, at 1.30pm, with the…
-
Foreign couple survives unharmed after SUV crashes into Phuket sea
A foreign couple miraculously escaped unharmed after driving their SUV into the sea at a yacht marina in Phuket on Sunday, September 7. Footage of the incident went viral on Thai social media after being shared in several boat operator chat groups in Phuket. Multiple Facebook news pages later reposted the clip today. The video caption read… “A foreign couple…
-
Phuket drug suspect shot dead after killing police officer
A Thai drug dealer died in an extrajudicial killing after resisting arrest and fatally shooting a police officer at a rented room in Phuket yesterday, September 8. Officers from the Investigation Sub-division in Phuket had earlier arrested three drug suspects and questioned them until they revealed the identities of more senior dealers in the province. The suspects identified a couple…
-
Patong man arrested with methamphetamine in pre-dawn drug raid
A Thai man was arrested in Patong during a pre-dawn raid when district officers discovered methamphetamine, part of an ongoing anti-drug campaign. Officials in Kathu district launched a pre-dawn operation in Patong this week, arresting a Thai man for possession of meth as part of the ongoing No Drugs, No Dealers campaign. The raid, carried out at 1.30am on Tuesday,…
-
Phuket eatery raided for using all-Myanmar staff illegally
A Myanmar national was arrested in Phuket after officials raided a restaurant found to be illegally operated and staffed entirely by foreign workers. The venue, named Thu Nge Chin Sine, is located behind Public Market 1 on Bangkok Road in Phuket Town. It was raided following complaints from residents about its operations, according to the Bangkok Post. A team of…
-
Phuket ramps up drug-free drive with workplace testing push
Phuket officials are stepping up their campaign to make workplaces drug-free, with more than 2,500 employees screened, several companies certified, and dozens of staff referred for treatment. At a meeting chaired by Deputy Governor Suwit Phansengiam at the Phuket Provincial Labour Protection and Welfare Office, officials reviewed progress on the province’s drug-free labour initiative this year. The scheme is designed…
-
Phuket blood centre issues urgent appeal as type O runs low
The Phuket Red Cross Blood Centre (PRBC) has issued an urgent call for blood donors as supplies of type O blood remain at dangerously low levels. As of 9.30am yesterday, September 4, the National Blood Service in Phuket reported a daily demand of 390 units: 200 units of type O, 100 of type A, 70 of type AB, and 20…
-
Phuket taxi drivers face threats in clash over illegal ride-hailing service
A group of taxi drivers in Phuket reported receiving threats from an alleged illegal taxi driver after one of them photographed the suspect in an attempt to expose his violation of the law. The taxi drivers, who operate in the Kata Beach area, shared details of the threat with local news outlet Neshawk Phuket yesterday, September 4. They also released…
-
Scotsman’s Thailand trip cut short after ex cancels passport
A Scottish holidaymaker’s dream trip to Thailand turned into a nightmare when his ex-partner cancelled his passport, leading to his detention at the airport and subsequent deportation back to the UK. William Barr, from Inverkeithing, Fife, was detained by immigration officers as soon as he arrived in Phuket, and ultimately deported back to the UK before his holiday even began. “I…
-
Phuket tackles high fees at Deep Sea Port after complaints
Phuket’s provincial officials convened an urgent meeting yesterday to address growing complaints from transport operators regarding the high entrance fees being charged at Phuket Deep Sea Port. The meeting, chaired by Vice Governor Samawit Suphanphai, took place at the Damrongtham Centre (Phuket Provincial Ombudsman’s Office) in Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, September 3. The discussions were deemed crucial enough to involve…
-
New non-stop Mumbai to Phuket flight opens doors for tourists
Mumbai, India’s bustling financial capital, is now directly connected to one of Thailand’s most coveted tourist destinations, Phuket, thanks to the launch of a new flight route by Akasa Air planned for September 20. This non-stop service promises to revolutionise travel between India and Thailand, offering an efficient and seamless journey, leaving behind the long layovers and connecting flights that…
-
Phuket’s Patong Tunnel greenlit with 11-billion-baht budget
Phuket’s much-anticipated Patong Tunnel project has been given the green light, but with a hefty price tag of 11 billion baht and a new set of roadblocks ahead. On August 26, the Cabinet approved a major shift in the project’s investment model, paving the way for the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT) to take direct control of the construction. The…
-
Phuket tuk tuks set to go electric in new pilot project
Phuket’s famous tuk tuks are about to get a green makeover as the island becomes the testing ground for Thailand’s first project to switch small passenger vehicles from petrol to electric power. Akaradej Wongpitakroj, MP for Ratchaburi and chairman of the House Industrial Committee, confirmed on a recent visit that Phuket will spearhead the conversion drive. The lessons learned here…
-
Foreign motorcyclists slammed for risky U-turn on Phuket traffic island
Thai netizens criticised two foreign motorcyclists for making a U-turn by riding onto a traffic island in Phuket, with some suggesting they were simply following the example set by Thai motorists. The Phuket Times Facebook page shared a video of the incident yesterday, September 2, with the caption, “Very dangerous! Foreigners in Phuket at a U-turn near Thai Watsadu on…
-
Phuket Airport stages emergency drill as safety test Friday
Passengers flying through Phuket International Airport this Friday morning can expect to see chaos, but only as part of a full-scale emergency drill. Airport officials confirmed that the exercise, scheduled for 9am on Friday, September 5, will simulate a major incident under the Airport Contingency Plan. The goal is to sharpen safety standards and ensure staff are fully prepared to…
-
Phuket man sets ex-girlfriend’s car on fire, blames anger and impulse
A Thai man in Phuket confessed to setting his ex-girlfriend’s car on fire two months after their relationship ended, admitting he acted on a foolish impulse and now regrets his actions. Officers from Wichit Police Station launched an urgent search for the suspect after the red hatchback belonging to 49 year old Thitipha Suppasamran was torched outside her home on…
-
Phuket’s pricey new night market flop shut in 2 months
Phuket’s newest night market has turned into a multimillion-baht flop, shutting its doors just two months after opening in a blaze of publicity. The 30 million baht Plern Pao Night Market, near Surin Circle’s clocktower roundabout, closed abruptly this week. Organiser Plern Pao Co Ltd issued a notice on Monday, September 1, confirming the shutdown and instructing vendors to collect…
-
Burmese man dies from head injury on Phuket construction site
A Myanmar worker was fatally struck by heavy machinery on a Phuket construction site this morning. The incident occurred today, September 2, at a building site near the main SuperCheap branch north of Phuket Town. Police confirmed the victim as 53 year old Ko Thet Win, a Myanmar national employed at the site. According to Phuket City Police, the worker…
-
Tourist surge in Phuket drives revenue into the billions
Phuket’s tourism industry is riding a wave of recovery, welcoming millions of visitors and raking in staggering revenue in just seven months. According to the Provincial Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Office in Phuket, more than 7.6 million tourists arrived between January and July this year. The influx generated 290 billion baht for the island’s economy, reinforcing Phuket’s status as…
-
Phuket police arrest foreigner caught drifting pickup in viral video
Police arrested a foreign driver, caught on a viral video drifting his pickup truck outside a convenience store in Phuket, and seized the vehicle. The footage, showing a white pickup repeatedly drifting in the car park of a 7-Eleven store in the Bang Tao area, spread rapidly across Thai social media. Both the driver and passenger were reported to be…
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.
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.