Phuket News

Phuket Property Market Remains All at Sea

Phuket Villas — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:01:46 +0000

Phuket real estate is suffering a dramatic slowdown because of the global economy and the falloff in tourism, says Tanan Tonpiboon, President of the Phuket Real Estate Association. Up to 30 percent of construction has ceased, he said. Of developments where construction is complete, sales are running at 20 percent to 40 percent. (more…)

Secretary of State Clinton to Visit Phuket

Phuket Villas — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:54:19 +0000

Phuket may be suffering an economic crisis and a crime wave, but July is expected to bring a celebrity visitor to restore morale: one of the world’s most powerful women, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. (more…)

Small Phuket Beach Gains Big Eco Cleanup

Phuket Villas — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:13:48 +0000

Kata Noi, one of Phuket’s finest small beaches, benefited today from a surge of attention to mark World Environment Day. Local residents, tourists and students from nearby schools planted 300 trees and more than 5000 goat’s feet beach climbers as well as conducting a clean-up along the sand. (more…)

Phuket Airport Flight Crash Report Released

Phuket Villas — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 07:09:01 +0000

The results of the investigation into the One-Two-Go crash of Flight OG269 at Phuket Airport in 2007 were released today, listing six causes for the tragedy. The report also made three sets of recommendations, one for the airline, one for Airports of Thailand, and one for the Department of Transport. (more…)

Phuket Gets First Exec FBO

Phuket Villas — Sat, 23 May 2009 04:04:40 +0000

Airports of Thailand (AOT) has given the go ahead for Bangkok-based ASA Group to develop Thailand’s first world-class fixed base operation at Phuket International Airport. The move is a clear indication that the country has overcome its recent troubles when demonstrators seized control of Bangkok’s International Suvarnabhumi Airport. (more…)

Pacific Blue Applies for Phuket Route

Phuket Villas — Fri, 15 May 2009 07:15:23 +0000

Pacific Blue has applied to the International Air Services Commission (IASC) for the rights to fly between Australia and Phuket, Thailand, up to seven times per week. If approved, the flights to Phuket would be flown by 180-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft and would mark the second Asian destination for Pacific Blue, following the successful launch of flights late last year to Bali from Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth. (more…)

Turmoil Stalls Phuket Vacation Home Boom

Phuket Villas — Sun, 03 May 2009 14:11:15 +0000

When there is blood in the streets, can you sell real estate, even if it is your own? That is the question facing property developers, brokers and investors here. The island, Thailand’s largest, is one of Asia’s top markets for vacation villas. Behind the casuarina trees along “Millionaire’s Mile,” luxury multimillion-dollar homes perch on cliffs, their marble swimming pools looking out west over the Andaman Sea. Along Phuket’s roads, billboards tout “no risk” deals and flash pictures of fancy seafront apartments. (more…)

Political Turmoil Costs Phuket Two Direct Flights from China

Phuket Villas — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 14:27:15 +0000

Political turmoil in Bangkok last week has caused two Chinese airlines to shelve plans to launch direct flights to Phuket from Shanghai and Guangzhou. The flights were to accommodate increased demand from tourists in both markets. Unfortunately, recent events in the capital have raised security fears, causing both carriers to delay their launches indefinitely. (more…)

The Old Man and the Sea

Phuket Villas — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:52:23 +0000

Yachting legend Rolly Tasker will never forget the day Prince Charles hitched a ride on his racing boat. “We were lining up off Cowes for the Queen Victoria Cup in 1979, when one of the crew called out to ask me if I was prepared to take a passenger,” he said. (more…)

Governor Ordered to Move On

Phuket Villas — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:53:13 +0000

Phuket Governor, Dr Preecha Ruangjan, is leaving the island after serving only four months and 22 days as Governor. Dr Preecha has been posted to Phitsanulok province and will be replaced by Wichai Praisa-Ngob, who is currently the Governor of Singburi province. (more…)