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Thailand has selected General Samran Nuanma as the next Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police. He is expected to officially assume the position on October 1, 2026, following the retirement of the current police chief upon reaching the mandatory retirement age. General Nuanma is already familiar to many in Phuket. On June 20, he personally visited the island to launch the nationwide campaign against illegal nominee business structures involving foreign investors. He al

Phuket officials have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening public security, highlighting the expansion of the province’s AI-powered "Phuket Eye" surveillance network during a high-level meeting on national security policies. The Phuket Provincial Police Oversight Committee, chaired by Governor Chotinarin Kerdsom, met this week with senior police officers, committee members, and representatives from relevant government agencies to review progress on key security initia

The Thai government’s recent move to restore public access to Nui Beach in Phuket is being viewed as more than a local land dispute. Officials see the case as a potential turning point in the country’s approach to managing coastal resources, enforcing land laws, and protecting public access to natural areas. The operation was led by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suchart Chomklin together with Deputy Interior Minister Worasit Liangprasit. Supported by more than

Government offices across Thailand, including the Phuket Immigration Office, will operate for only two days during the final week of July, as the country observes three consecutive public holidays. State agencies will be closed from July 28 to July 30, meaning that, out of the last seven days of the month, only July 27 and July 31 will be regular working days. The holiday period begins on July 28, marking the birthday of His Majesty the King. It is followed by two important B

A 1.1-million-baht donation from the leadership of Phuket’s Chabad-Lubavitch Centre to Patong Hospital has sparked a lively discussion online, with many praising the charitable gesture while others questioned its purpose. On July 16, Patong Hospital announced on its official Facebook page that Rabbi Sholom Dovber Glitzenstein, co-director of the Chabad-Lubavitch Centre in Phuket, and the organisation had donated 1.1 million baht to support the hospital. Photos published by th

Thailand has stepped up enforcement of its cannabis regulations as part of a nationwide effort to ensure the plant is used strictly for medical purposes. As part of the campaign, authorities inspected cannabis dispensaries across Phuket and identified hundreds of businesses with licensing issues. Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploythalay Lucksameesaengchan announced on July 19 that officials are intensifying inspections of cannabis cultivation and retail businesses to prevent

A nationwide survey conducted by Thailand’s National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) has found that most Thais believe corruption within the state system is the primary reason illegal foreign businesses are able to operate in the country. The poll, titled "Illegal Foreigners", was conducted by telephone between July 13 and 15 and included respondents from across Thailand representing different regions, age groups, professions and educational backgrounds. The fi

Thailand's Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Sukhumbhand Chomklin, has instructed the Department of Forestry to continue taking firm action against illegal occupation of protected forest land in Phuket after rejecting an appeal submitted by investors accused of encroachment. The dispute involves an area within the Naka Kerd mountain range, close to Nui Beach, where authorities say private investors built 39 structures inside a national reserved forest. Earlier, t

Authorities in Phuket have intensified inspections of jet ski operators, resulting in action against 23 illegally operated watercraft as part of a campaign to improve safety standards in the island's marine tourism sector. The enforcement operation was carried out by the Phuket Regional Marine Office following instructions from Deputy Transport Minister Sornphet Boonyamanee, who recently visited the province and called for stricter supervision of maritime tourism businesses.

A nine-year-old student from Phuket has earned international recognition after winning two first-place awards at the International STEM Olympiad & Coding Olympiad – Grand Final 2026 in Rome, Italy. Pavin "Pace" Pattanavekin, a Grade 3 student at True Coding School Phuket, achieved the outstanding result while competing against students significantly older than himself. The school announced his success on July 12, and the achievement has since attracted widespread attention ac

A two-day auction of Phuket’s special “lucky” vehicle registration plates has generated 45,018,586 baht for Thailand’s Road Safety Fund, with overall proceeds surpassing last year’s total despite lower sales for the newest plate series. The auction was held on July 11–12 at Royal Phuket City Hotel in Phuket Town, with bidders able to participate both in person and online. The Phuket Office of the Department of Land Transport (DLT Phuket) confirmed the final revenue down to th

Thailand's Cabinet has approved a revised framework for the country's visa-free entry programme, paving the way for a return to the standard 30-day visa exemption instead of the current 60-day stay. However, the new rules have not yet entered into force, and no implementation date has been announced. The decision was approved on July 14, nearly two months after the Cabinet endorsed the initial proposal. During that period, a government committee refined the draft before prese

The Phuket Parkland & MusicFest will return to Mai Khao later this month, bringing three days of live music, local food, shopping and family-friendly entertainment to the island’s northern district. The festival will take place from July 24 to 26 at Phuket Gateway, also known as Phuket City Gate, one of the island’s newest event venues. Plans for this year’s event were officially unveiled on July 5 during a press conference at Limelight Phuket, attended by Phuket Provincial A

Phuket authorities have intensified inspections of hotels applying to renew their operating licences as part of a broader effort to improve safety, service quality and legal compliance across the island's hospitality sector. Governor Chotnarin Kerdsom has instructed Deputy Governor Romdon Hayiawa and inspection teams to begin reviewing hotels undergoing the licence renewal process. The latest inspections covered six hotels in Karon. According to Deputy Governor Romdon, the pr

Teenage musician Rattikan "Nene Royal" Amlai from Phuket has received official recognition from the Thai government as she prepares to compete in the next round of America's Got Talent (AGT). On the morning of July 14, Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports, Surasak Phancharoenworakul, introduced the young performer to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul during a meeting at Government House in Bangkok. The gathering highlighted the government's intention to support talented

Thailand's Deputy Interior Minister Polapi Suwanachawi has continued a high-profile inspection tour of Phuket, focusing on disputed land use and illegal business operations as part of the government's ongoing campaign to restore order in the province. The visit marks the second inspection by senior officials from Bangkok in less than a month. Accompanying the deputy minister were Ronnarong Thepsiri, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA)

Phuket's long-awaited Kathu–Patong tunnel remains one of the island's highest-priority transport projects, but revised plans have pushed it back to an earlier stage of the approval process, requiring a new review by Thailand's Cabinet. The change became public during a recent visit to Phuket by Deputy Transport Minister Sapphasit Boonyamanee, who confirmed that the project had been modified and must now be resubmitted to the Cabinet. If approved, officials expect the proposal

Phuket will host another auction of Thailand’s highly sought-after special vehicle registration plates this weekend, giving motorists the opportunity to bid on lucky number combinations while supporting road safety initiatives across the country. Unlike in many countries, the sale of premium license plates in Thailand is conducted through an official government auction. The proceeds are directed to the Road Safety Fund, which finances traffic safety projects and provides assi

Authorities in Phuket have begun enforcing a Supreme Court ruling ordering the demolition of a hotel development found to have illegally occupied protected land within Sirinat National Park. According to the Phuket Provincial Public Relations Office, the action forms part of the government's "Phuket Model", a province-wide initiative aimed at reclaiming protected land, accelerating legal proceedings involving encroachment, and revoking unlawfully issued land documents. Offici

A 16-year-old musician from Phuket has captured international attention after earning unanimous approval from the judges during her audition on America’s Got Talent, moving one step closer to her ambition of becoming a globally recognized artist. Rattikarn "Praew" Amloy, who performs under the stage name Nene Royal, is well known to visitors of Naka Night Market, where she regularly plays with her rock band, Ozone. The group has become a familiar attraction for both Thai resi