All Articles

Thailand’s Department of Provincial Administration has ordered the temporary transfer of five senior Phuket officials following growing allegations of extortion and misconduct connected to entertainment venue licensing in Patong. The order was issued on Wednesday, May 20, by Department Director-General Naruetcha Khosasivilai after complaints from nightlife business operators escalated into a public protest on Bangla Road. According to the official directive, the transfers wil

Patong is preparing to host the Phuket Pride Festival 2026, which will take place from June 1 to June 7, immediately following the Buddhist holiday of Visakha Bucha. The festival dates were officially confirmed during a press conference held on May 19 at Jungceylon shopping center in Patong. Representatives from both government agencies and the private sector attended the announcement event. Among them were Porntep Ruayrin, director of the Southern Office of the Thailand Conv

The Similan Islands National Park has announced tourism revenue exceeding 215 million baht during the 2026 season, marking one of the strongest financial performances in the park’s history before its annual seasonal closure. Park Chief Sirivat Suebsai said the famous marine park welcomed more than 400,000 visitors between November and May, with international travelers accounting for over 90% of arrivals. Despite a slight decrease in the total number of tourists compared to la

Thai authorities have launched an intensive search operation after a tourist went missing when a kayak overturned in rough seas near Railay Bay in Krabi province. According to officials from Hat Noppharat Thara–Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, two tourists rented a kayak and departed from Railay Bay before encountering strong winds and heavy waves earlier this week. The kayak reportedly capsized around half a nautical mile from the shore after being caught in deteriorating weathe

A 30-year-old man has been arrested in Phuket after allegedly shooting his neighbor following a late-night argument linked to alcohol consumption. According to Wichit Police, officers received reports of gunfire at a residence in Wichit subdistrict, Mueang Phuket, at approximately 2:30 a.m. on Monday, May 18. When police arrived at the scene, they found a 53-year-old man with a minor gunshot wound to his arm. Emergency responders provided assistance before the victim was take

Meteorologists have warned that heavy rain across Phuket is expected to continue through May 21, increasing the risk of localized flooding and dangerous sea conditions around the island. The current wave of bad weather arrived in Phuket last week as the southwest monsoon strengthened across the Andaman region. Phuket’s meteorological center, Phuket Met, initially issued a weather warning covering the period from May 14 to May 18 before later extending the advisory through Wed

A Russian man was arrested at Phuket’s Tha Chatchai checkpoint after police allegedly discovered a large quantity of illegal drugs hidden inside his luggage during a routine inspection of an interprovincial bus arriving from Pattaya. According to officers from Tha Chatchai Police Station, the suspect was identified as 29-year-old Mr. Gorskii, a Russian national traveling on a Phuket–Pattaya bus route. Police said officers became suspicious after noticing the man behaving nerv

The annual Phuket Baba Wedding Festival transformed Phuket Old Town into a celebration of Peranakan heritage on May 17, bringing together couples, locals, and visitors for traditional Chinese-style wedding ceremonies rooted in centuries of cultural history. This year marked the 13th edition of the event since Phuket’s Peranakan community launched the festival as both a cultural preservation initiative and a tourism attraction. The 2026 theme, translated as “Fragments of a Glo

Thailand’s leading hotel operators have proposed a package of eight measures aimed at stabilising and strengthening the country’s tourism sector amid growing economic and geopolitical pressures. The proposals were presented on May 15 during a meeting between Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and representatives of key business sectors. The tourism industry was represented by the Thai Hotels Association (THA), which used the opportunity to outline major

Police in Phuket detained four foreign teenagers after they allegedly stole and damaged decorative property outside a local resident’s home in Phuket Old Town. The incident came to public attention after the Phuket Times Facebook page published CCTV footage showing the group on Phang Nga Road, one of the main streets in the historic district of Phuket Town. According to the footage, one of the teenagers removed a decorative lamp shade hanging outside a house before walking aw

A body believed to belong to a missing police officer was discovered on Nai Thon Beach in Phuket this morning, May 17, two days after the man reportedly disappeared in rough sea conditions. The incident began on May 15 when the man went swimming at Nai Thon Beach in Sakhu subdistrict during strong winds and waves estimated at more than two metres high. Witnesses said he was pulled offshore by powerful currents and vanished in the water. Lifeguards attempted to rescue him but

A recently installed underwater statue of Hanuman near Racha Yai Island off Phuket has suffered serious structural damage after the arrival of the southwest monsoon and worsening sea conditions. The incident was reported on May 16 by Phuket’s branch of Radio Thailand, which operates under Thailand’s Public Relations Department. Officials warned that part of the structure had collapsed due to strong underwater currents and wave activity associated with the beginning of the rai

Police in Phuket have arrested a 38-year-old woman accused of involvement in multiple online fraud operations linked to so-called “horse accounts” used by scammers to receive stolen funds. Authorities said the suspect, identified as Ms. Kochamon, was wanted under three separate warrants issued by the Phuket Provincial Court, Chiang Mai Provincial Court, and Thanyaburi Provincial Court. She faces allegations including assisting public fraud, entering false information into com

Thailand’s Meteorological Department has reissued a weather warning for Phuket, cautioning residents and visitors about heavy rainfall and dangerous sea conditions expected to continue through May 18. According to Phuket Meteorological Center (Phuket Met), the island is now fully experiencing the effects of the southwest monsoon, which officially marked the beginning of the low season on May 15. Weather radar images throughout the day showed rain clouds moving from the southw

Thai police have arrested a 33-year-old British national accused of helping organize a cartel-linked assassination of an Iraqi man in Phuket earlier this year. The suspect, identified only as Mr. Amir, was detained during a raid on a luxury condominium in Nong Prue, Pattaya. The operation was carried out by officers from the Crime Suppression Division under the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) following a warrant issued by the Phuket Provincial Court. Authorities said the B

Thailand’s Meteorological Department (TMD) has officially declared the start of the country’s rainy season, confirming that weather conditions associated with the annual monsoon transition fully aligned on May 15. The announcement coincided with the traditional start of the low season in Thailand’s national parks, many of which begin seasonal closures around this time each year. Unlike the Department of National Parks, which follows fixed annual dates, the TMD bases its seaso

Thailand’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Suchart Chomklin, has ordered authorities to restore public access to Nui Beach in Phuket after complaints about blocked entry routes and unauthorized fee collection. The inspection took place on May 14 at Nui Beach in Karon and involved several senior officials, including Assistant Minister Pol. Lt. Gen. Nantachart Supamongkol, National Parks Director-General Attapol Charoenchansa, Deputy Director-General of the Royal

Police in Phuket carried out a raid in Rawai that led to the rescue of a 16-year-old girl allegedly exploited at a massage parlor operating as a cover for child prostitution. The operation was conducted by officers from Chalong Police Station together with the Phuket Provincial Office of Social Development and Human Security. Authorities arrested the owner of the business, identified only as Ms. May, as well as a 40-year-old employee known as Ms. Nid. The rescued teenager, re

Phuket authorities are stepping up efforts to improve public health preparedness by strengthening emergency response plans for possible future epidemics and pandemics. The Phuket Emergency Medical Center recently took part in a high-level workshop focused on reviewing response procedures and improving coordination between agencies during large-scale public health emergencies. The event was held at Phuket Deep Sea Port under the direction of Phuket Provincial Administrative Or