All Articles

Private sector representatives in Phuket have expressed support for the Thai government’s decision to cancel the 60-day visa-free entry scheme for travelers from 93 countries and return to country-specific entry rules, which in most cases allow stays of around 30 days. Phumikit Raktaengam, President of the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation, said the Cabinet’s decision followed lengthy discussions with tourism industry stakeholders and local business operators. Accord

Thailand’s Royal Forestry Department has ordered the urgent demolition of 11 unauthorized structures built inside the protected forest zone at Nui Beach in Phuket. The directive was signed on May 20 by Royal Forestry Department Director-General Bikorn Sirirojananan under Section 25 of the National Reserved Forest Act of 1964. The order requires all occupants and related parties to vacate the Nak Kerd Mountain Reserved Forest area and remove the illegal constructions by June 5

Officials at Khao Lampi–Thai Mueang National Park received encouraging news at the start of the rainy season after a massive leatherback sea turtle came ashore to nest on Thai Mueang Beach, widely known as “Turtle Beach.” The rare visit from a leatherback turtle, scientifically classified as Dermochelys coriacea, was recorded shortly after midnight on May 22. Images released by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) showed marine specialists successfully locati

Two men and a woman were hospitalized following a serious road accident on the morning of March 23 on Srisoonthorn Road, the main highway connecting Bang Tao Beach with central Phuket. According to a police report, the crash occurred near the construction site of The Title Villa Kirara project and the Nature’s Rest showroom. Officers from Thalang Police Station received the emergency call at approximately 9 a.m. A witness identified as Pitpichi Pipatadit told police she was d

Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism is continuing to move forward with plans to introduce a tourist entry fee for all foreign visitors entering the country. Officials now say the payment system could eventually be integrated directly into the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) platform. The proposal was discussed during the “Thai Tourism Amid the Global Crisis” forum held in Bangkok on May 20. Speaking at the event, Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phanchanworakun said Thaila

Police in Phuket are investigating the death of an Australian tourist whose body was discovered inside a condominium in Karon on the evening of May 20. Officers responding to the scene reportedly found a plate containing white powder near the deceased man. Karon Police Station received a report about the incident at approximately 7:30 p.m. After arriving at the condominium, officers entered the room and found the body of 27-year-old Australian national Christopher Kazantzidis

Residents in Phuket are demanding an official investigation after a foreign woman posted photos and videos online showing herself wearing clothing resembling a Thai police uniform. Images shared by the Phuket Times Facebook page on May 21 quickly sparked debate across Thai social media. In the photos, the woman appeared wearing a black vest displaying a Thai flag and a Royal Thai Police patch. She was also seen wearing a cap marked “Police” and carrying a badge holder featuri

Immigration police in Phuket have revoked the visa of an Austrian tourist and are preparing to deport him after a series of public disturbances in Rawai that drew widespread attention online. Videos of the man’s behaviour began circulating on Thai social media on May 19. Authorities later identified him as 39-year-old Austrian national Raphael. In the footage, Raphael appeared shirtless and wearing shorts printed with the Thai word “เฉิดฉาย,” which translates as “shining.” Ac

Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has dismantled a major heroin trafficking network that was allegedly supplying narcotics to Bangkok, Pattaya, and Phuket. One of the suspects was arrested moments before boarding transport to Phuket while allegedly carrying 16 kilograms of heroin intended for distribution on the island. According to information released by CIB officials during a press conference on May 19, police arrested a Nigerian national identified as Chiadika

Thailand’s government has confirmed plans to cancel the 60-day visa-free entry program introduced in 2024 for citizens of 93 countries and territories. However, authorities also made clear that the country will not simply return to the previous system that existed before the reform. The announcement followed a cabinet meeting held on May 19 and was officially published by Thailand’s Public Relations Department (PRD Thailand) on May 20. Despite the confirmation, the government

Authorities in Phuket have intervened to ease tensions following a dispute between a local shop owner and Chinese tourists in Phuket Old Town that recently went viral on social media. The incident attracted widespread attention after video footage showed a heated argument between an elderly shopkeeper and a group of visiting Chinese tourists on Yaowarat Road in Talat Yai subdistrict. The clip quickly spread online, triggering criticism and concerns that the confrontation coul

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