The newest published stories from every Phuket Times category, ordered by publication date.
Historic Music Festival Debut Global Event Lands in Thailand Thailand is set to host the world-famous Tomorrowland music festival in 2026, marking a significant milestone for its tourism and creative industries. The announcement, made by Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), follows a strategic meeting in Bangkok with Prime Minister Paetongtarn
Regulatory Shift Sparks Concern Reclassification Threatens Livelihoods Thailand’s cannabis industry is reeling as the Ministry of Public Health moves to reclassify cannabis as a narcotic within 45 days, restricting its use to medical prescriptions. Small-scale growers and dispensary owners, already battered by falling prices and foreign competition, fear closures and financial ruin. The policy shift
Enhanced Airport Protocols Early Arrival Advised Phuket International Airport has urged passengers to arrive at least two hours early starting June 27, 2025, due to heightened security measures following the discovery of an explosive device. The device, hidden in an abandoned motorcycle, was safely neutralized on Wednesday night. Authorities are enforcing strict compliance with new
Avoiding Rama II Road Risks High-Risk Highway Challenges Traveling from Bangkok to Hua Hin often involves navigating Rama II Road, a notorious highway known for its frequent accidents and ongoing construction. Between 2018 and 2024, this stretch reported 2,245 accidents, 136 fatalities, and 1,320 injuries, making it a daunting choice for drivers. The persistent dangers
Central’s Spectacular Flower Show A Floral Extravaganza in Bangkok Thailand transforms into a vibrant floral wonderland with Central Department Store’s 77th Anniversary Flower Show, held from October 8 to 31, 2024, at Central Chidlom in Bangkok. Themed “Blooming Life,” the event features the awe-inspiring “Avant Gardena” display, showcasing global flowers in towering sculptures and tech-driven
Launching a Global Tourism Push Elevating Thai Soft Power The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has unveiled its Be My Guest campaign, a cornerstone of the Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism and Sports Year 2025. Running from June 26 to July 1, this international initiative promotes Thailand’s cultural heritage through immersive experiences. By blending tradition with
Military Empowered to Act Local Commanders’ Role Clarified Defence Minister Phumtham Wechayachai announced that local military commanders have the authority to recommend closing Ta Muean Thom temple in Surin province if Thai-Cambodian border tensions escalate. Speaking on Tuesday, he outlined the decision-making process amid ongoing disputes over the ancient temple and nearby Prasat Ta Kwai.
Government Moves to Recriminalize Cannabis New Regulations Shake Billion-Baht Industry Thailand’s thriving cannabis sector, valued at billions of baht, is reeling from the government’s decision to recriminalize recreational use. The Ministry of Public Health recently issued an order banning recreational cannabis sales, requiring a doctor’s prescription for all retail purchases. Set to take effect soon
New Scam Threatens Thai Families AI Mimics Loved Ones’ Voices The Thai government issued an urgent warning about a sophisticated scam using artificial intelligence to replicate family members’ voices, tricking victims into transferring money. Deputy spokesman Anukool Pruksanusak highlighted the growing danger of this cybercrime, which exploits trust by faking emergencies, as Thailand grapples with
Unified Software Naming Strategy iOS 26 Leads the Charge At the Worldwide Developers Conference on June 9, 2025, Apple announced a sweeping overhaul of its operating systems, adopting a year-based naming convention starting with iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, watchOS 26, and tvOS 26. This shift, aligning software names with the 2025–2026 release
Garudapterus Named After Mythical Bird Thai paleontologists have uncovered a new pterosaur species, named Garudapterus buffetauti, marking Thailand’s first documented prehistoric flying reptile fossil, announced on June 20, 2025. Found at the Phra Prong site in Watthana Nakhon, Sa Kaeo province, this 130-million-year-old fossil, revealed on June 22, 2025, sheds light on Southeast Asia’s ancient
Eastern, Northeastern, Southern Regions at Risk Thailand is bracing for significant rainfall through June 21, 2025, with the Thai Meteorological Department warning of heavy downpours in the eastern, northeastern, and southern regions. A strengthening southwesterly monsoon over the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand, combined with a low-pressure system in northern Vietnam, is driving the
ASEAN’s Premier Manufacturing Event Manufacturing Expo 2025 kicked off on June 18, 2025, at Bangkok’s BITEC, uniting over 2,000 brands from 30 countries in a 45,000-square-meter showcase of cutting-edge technology. Organized by RX Tradex, the event, running until June 21, 2025, features seven specialized exhibitions, cementing its status as ASEAN’s leading platform for industrial transformation,
Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn Dismissed NACC Uncovers Bidding Fraud Chaiwat Limlikit-aksorn, head of Thailand’s Office of National Parks, was removed from civil service on June 6, 2025, following a National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) investigation, as reported on June 16, 2025. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment acted on findings that Chaiwat manipulated bidding processes and falsified
Three Consortia Win Licenses Thailand’s financial landscape is set for transformation as the Ministry of Finance greenlit three virtual banking licenses on June 19, 2025, the Bank of Thailand revealed. These branchless, online-only banks, led by SCB X, Krungthai Bank (KTB), and Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group’s ACM Holding, aim to modernize the sector. The decision
Worst Performer in Asia Airports of Thailand Plc (AoT) has seen its stock value plummet by over 50% in 2025, marking the steepest decline among global airport operators valued at $100 million or more, as reported on June 17, 2025. The crash erased 460.7 billion baht ($14.2 billion) from AoT’s market capitalization, making it the
20-Baht Fare Cap Expansion Thailand’s government is accelerating plans to repurchase electric train line concessions in Bangkok, aiming to finalize the process by 2026, as announced on June 18, 2025. The initiative seeks to make public transport more affordable by extending the 20-baht fare cap, currently applied to parts of the Red and Purple lines,
Chef Ton Highlights Struggles Thailand’s restaurant sector is grappling with a severe downturn in 2025, driven by a sluggish economy and declining tourism, as reported on June 13, 2025. Renowned chef Thitid Tassanakajohn, known as Chef Ton, owner of Michelin-starred Le Du, described the widespread impact affecting all dining segments, from street food stalls to
