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Welcome to the Phuket Tourism News. Each week Shaun and Jay Leshark will bring you weekly Phuket Tourism News. Phuket News that is for you, Phuket News for those coming to Phuket, and Phuket Tourism News that is what you need to make sure you have an amazing time when you come on holiday to Phuket.
International Woman’s Day
The 8th March 2023 was a huge day for women around the words as ladies, men, kids all got together to celebrate International Woman’s Day. Here in Phuket, there were a host of events and happenings to celebrate the day, including a huge fundraiser at the 4 points by Sheraton to help raise funds for Phuket Has Been Good to Us. The local Government also held events across the island including a presentation to owner of 5 Star Marine Phuket wife, Lisa, who was celebrated for all her amazing work over the past few years here in Phuket. Well done Lisa and to all the hardworking ladies in Phuket.
Department of Marine and Coastal Resources Trains Move Divers on Coral Restoration
Phuket Tourism News now in audio format
In more positive Thailand Government news, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources has been running course for a wide variety of local divers and marine industry professionals to train them up on how to best help coral restoration. Coral is extremally sensitive to its environment and so trying to grow coral or even just trying to manage coral is very difficult. The training given by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources will be ongoing so that more divers are trained to help protect Thailand’s coral reefs as well as helping to restore the reefs back to how they were.
Phuket Tourist Police Looking for Volunteers
Tourist Police in Phuket are seeking foreign volunteers to provide assistance to law enforcers in dealing with other “aliens” This was the headline in the local English speaking newspaper last week. We all hope that when they say aliens, they mean any human from a different county and not that ET has landed in Phuket and is out causing trouble on Bangla Road.
Phuket Expo 2028
Over the past 12 months, all business and individulas in Phuket have been asked to support Thailand’s bid to host the Specialised Expo under the name of the Expo 2028 Phuket Thailand under the theme of “Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity”, where health and wealth are in balance, all lives can thrive and prosper, and the environment and nature are restored.
There are billboards everywhere around Phuket and many business have posters up, the biggest question many people have is, What is the Specialised Expo?
I guess that in 2028 if Phuket wins the rights to host it, we will find out what it is.
What is the Best 5 Star Marine Phuket tour to go on?
There are so many awesome tours to go on, there is something for everyone. To find your favorite tour then you can visit the destination page to get all the information on all the private Phuket speed boat tours that we run.
Shaun is a huge fan of the Koh Hong tour
Jay is a massive Phi Phi fan.
Which is your favorite 5 Star Marne Phuket tour?
Phuket Tourism News now in audio format
We have added the Phuket Tourism News in audio format and you can now listen to it on Apple Music and Spotify or on your favorite podcast provider.
Just search Phuket Tourism News or click the icons below:
Do you want to visit Phi Phi, but don’t know what to expect?
The Phi Phi islands are an archipelago of 6 islands, with the 2 main islands being Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh. These picture postcard islands are excellent tropical getaways in Southeast Asia and are one of the most popular private Phuket boat tours.
Phi Phi has pristine beaches, stunning limestone rock formations, and clear turquoise waters teeming with colourful sea life.
Phi Phi Don is the largest and most populated island of the 6. The second largest island, Ko Phi Phi Le is visited by many people and does have stunning beaches, and the other 4 islands which are not much more than large limestone rocks jutting out of the sea, such as Bida Nok, Bida Nai, and Bamboo Island.
History of Phi Phi and Maya Bay
Phi Phi Don was populated by Thai Malays fishermen during the late-1940s, and later became a coconut plantation.
The islands came to worldwide prominence when Ko Phi Phi Le, Maya Bay was used as a location for the 2000 movie “The Beach” featuring Leonardo DiCaprio. After the movie was released Maya Bay became one of the world’s most popular beaches with thousands of tourists and locals wanting to visit Maya Bay and swim in the stunning crystal-clear waters. Over the years the huge number of tourists had massive negative effects on Maya Bay, and the ecosystem.
It wasn’t until 2020 when COVID stopped all travel that the local Thai National Park Authorities took control and realized that when no one came the ecosystem started to repair itself.
They then took more control and banded boats from coming to close to the beach, as well as building a proper entrance to the bay from the backside of Maya Bay, as well as limiting the number of people who can visit the beach each day, and stopped everyone from swimming in the bay.
They also have implemented a plan to close Maya Bay every year for a few months to give time for the ecosystem to rest so that the Thai National Park Authorities can assist with the situation.
What can you see and do in Phi Phi?
Pileh Lagoon – This stunning inlet is found near the equally stunning Maya Bay beach. It is among the most beautiful places to visit in Thailand. It can get quite busy as you can only access Pileh lagoon during certain tide times.
Monkey Beach – Monkey Beach is located in Yong Kasem Bay; on the west coast of the larger Island of Phi Phi Don. Just be careful as the monkeys can be very naughty and are used to people so don’t show much fear.
Camel Rock – A rock that looks like a camel, hence the name Camel Rock
Viking Cave – Viking Cave is one of the most notable natural sites on Koh Phi Phi Leh. Located at the bottom of a tall limestone cliff it is home to a colony of swiftlets which are the birds that produce the nests for birds nest soup. The harvest of bird’s nests is rather a risky job – scaffolds are built with bamboo, on which the hunters climb in the dark to collect these valuable nests. Viking Cave owes its name to the paintings found in the cave – they represent various types of boats, including what resembles a Scandinavian Drakkar (Viking ship)
By selecting to go on a private VIP speedboat tour of Phi Phi Islands with 5 Star Marine you will ensure that you discover the area in the best possible conditions, with the least number of tourists, and also get to discover hidden coves and caves that you will not experience on group tours. To book a Phi Phi Private Speed Boat Tour then click here
Welcome to the Phuket Tourism News. Each week Shaun and Jay Leshark will bring you weekly Phuket Tourism News. Phuket News that is for you, Phuket News for those coming to Phuket, and Phuket Tourism News that is what you need to make sure you have an amazing time when you come on holiday to Phuket.
Increase in Flights to Phuket
International flights to Phuket airport are expected to continue growing in numbers on March as more carriers get permissions to add the island to their networks of routes.
The Phuket branch of the Airports of Thailand (AoT Phuket), lists 3,710 inbound and outbound flights by 52 carriers in March. There is also a continued growth on domestic flights to Phuket and the number arriving to Phuket airport is expected to reach almost the same amount as the international flights, 3,760 in March.
Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways and AirAsia Berhad all have 56 flights per week coming in to Phuket with Aeroflot Russian Airlines coming in with 54 flights per week.
The number of Chinese flights may well increase the numbers further as some carriers are still waiting for approval of their applications to come into Phuket. Currently only Juneyao and Spring Airlines arrive from China with a 40 flights from Juneyao and 28 flights from Spring.
Phuket Tourism News now in audio format
Don’t have time to watch a video? We have added the Phuket Tourism News in audio format and you can now listen to it on Apple Music and Spotify or on your favorite podcast provider.
Just search Phuket Tourism News or click the icons below:
Among the more than 150 islands of the stunning Phang Nga Bay, Koh Hong is by far one of the most beautiful destinations with possibly some of the best views of Phnag Nga Bay from it’s awesome viewpoint.
Koh Hong is off the east coast of Phuket, in fact Koh Hong is closer to Krabi than it is to Phuket. Koh Hong island is known for its stunning natural beauty, soft white sand, and sparkling, crystal clear waters, making it a one-of-a-kind place for relaxation and island adventure.
“Hong” means room in Thai and the island gets its name from this ‘room-like’ interior lagoon surrounded by limestone cliffs with only a small channel to the open sea. We spent our afternoon enjoying a quiet swim inside this untouched beauty that consists of amazing emerald waters, cool ocean breezes, and incredible vibe which seems to wrap everyone in comfort. I forgot the world for a while. This place needs to be seen to be believed.
Ko Hong Krabi and the smaller Krabi province archipelagos are typically quieter than the more popular Phi Phi or Phang Nga Bay area tours. However, the sheer natural beauty you get to encounter really is something else. This area provides you with everything you could want from a day out with your friends or family – whether it be snorkelling, discovering white sandy private beaches, hiking or sightseeing – there is something to keep everyone happy.
Ko Hong sits in-between the Koh Yao Islands and Krabi mainland, and already had a great name for itself with its stunning lagoon. Entering through a narrow passageway you are greeted by the scenic and mesmerising Ko Hong Lagoon. This striking turquoise body of shallow water is surrounded by high rock walls lined with lush mangroves giving a forgotten world feeling to it. Only accessible by small boat or longtail, some areas are so clear and shallow you can easily see your feet on the underwater sand.
After taking in the vibrant colours of Ko Hong Lagoon, let your adventurous side loose and make your way around to the most recent addition to the island; the breath-taking 360o Viewpoint. This impressive metal staircase structure was built in 2020, and was designed to give panoramic 360o views of Krabi and the surrounding islands. It certainly delivers, and is arguably one of the best seascape views of the Krabi island sets, Phang Nga Bay and surrounding islands in the national park that you can get from anywhere.
After enjoying these stunning panoramic seascapes, make your way back down to shore and catch your breath before heading out to your pick of fantastic snorkelling and island locations nearby. With clear waters, secluded lagoons and abundant marine life in the shallow and deep-water coral reefs; you could even get lucky enough to spot a reef shark on your adventure.
Welcome to the Phuket Tourism News. Each week Shaun and Jay Leshark will bring you weekly Phuket Tourism News. Phuket News that is for you, Phuket News for those coming to Phuket, and Phuket Tourism News that is what you need to make sure you have an amazing time when you come on holiday to Phuket.
Airport effectiveness
The Phuket immigration had to open all its passport control counters at Phuket International Airport last week when seven flights all landed one after an another. However even thou they were overwhelmed with tourists, the average waiting times from the planes landing and guests coming out was only 90mins. That includes passport control and bag collection, and some 1,450 passengers passed checks within 40 mins.
It is impossible to say how many total passages passed through during the rush, as the Phuket Information Center has stopped posting daily arrival reports. The daily average for January 2023 was 11,486.
Russia, India, Kazakhstan, UK and China are the top nationalities coming into Phuket with Russia being way out in from with almost 4 times as many pax 153,449 compared to the 33,873 from India and the 33,756 from Kazakhstan which are 2nd and 3rd on the list.
Airlines are optimistic about the recovery this year with the opening up of China being the key driver.
Thailand government is warning airlines
The Provincial Public-Private Joint Economic Development Committee in Phuket has warned airlines not to sell overpriced tickets to tourists who wish to travel to the resort island, especially during long holidays.
The committee pointed out that overpriced airfares during New Year and Valentines were off putting to travelers. Tickets prices were set to be increase again, for the long Maka Bucha Day and the up coming Songkran festival.
The committee have also added that they are going to look bringing in fines for anyone found to be ticket gouging on popular routes and possible jail time.
Blood donations in Thailand
Some Blood type reserves in Thailand are very low and even more so on Phuket. In the past some foreign nationals who wanted to give blood were turned away due to some very old blood donation rules that have been out of date for decades.
Foreigners in Phuket and nationwide have been invited to join the never-ending blood donation campaign to replenish much-needed reserves.
Emphasis is on donating Rh-negative blood types, which are not common among Asians, but critically needed for providing help to other foreigners especially so on Phuket where the high season has seen an increase of accidents manly due to tourists riding motorbikes.
The Phuket Red Cross outreach campaign has stared and will continue throughout March.
What is the Best local Thai Food?
We all know that Thai food is awesome and when you’re here in Phuket eating Thai food is a huge part of your holiday experience. Exotic flavours and fragrances, make Thai cuisine so popular around the world, BUT there is more to Thai food that a simple Pad Thai, or a Green Curry or a Tom Yum Goon.
When in Phuket, try some of the local Thai dishes rather than the more popular western Thai Dishes.
If you need some help, just check out these videos when 5 Star Marine YouTube Host Jay Leshark took an amazing food tour in Phuket Town – Click Here
And when Jay took a cooking class in Phuket – Click Here
Upcoming Events in Phuket
Shadow Play performance by Nong Diaw
International Women’s Day Lunch
Phuket Tourism News now in audio format
Don’t have time to watch a video? We have added the Phuket Tourism News in audio format and you can now listen to it on Apple Music and Spotify or your favorite podcast provider.
Just search Phuket Tourism News or click the icons below
One of the biggest things that I have learned in life, is that Freedom is something that many of us take for granted. I grow up in a country that gave us freedom. Freedom to choose, freedom to move around, freedom to do almost anything.
In the good old USA, they have a constitution that is basically a document that states “YOU ARE FREE”. Ok, I have somewhat paraphrased the 4 page 4,543 words. William Wallace did a whole battle cry on the English taking their Freedom, (Good work Mel Gibson)
Why, am I talking about Freedom? The simple reason is that we at 5 Star Marine Phuket offer you FREEDOM.
Unlike many other Phuket Boat tours, we offer all our tours the freedom to choose, the freedom to do what you want to do, to get the experiences that you want to get from your very own private boat tour, hence why our Captains Choice tour is one of our most popular.
What is the Captain’s Choice Tour?
When you get to the 5 Star Marine Phuket office one of our guides will meet and greet you and then take some time to talk to you to find out what YOU want to do, What YOU want to see, what YOU want to eat, where you want to go?
Once the guide has this info, they will consider the weather, the tides, and all other conditions and then create a tour there and then, just for YOU.
I think you get the idea here
Our team has years and years of experience and many of our guides are from this area, they grow up in Phi Phi, in Phang Nga, in Phuket so this is their back yard and they are dedicated to making your time on the sea a 5-star experience in every way. So, whether you are looking to go snorkeling in deserted spots, have a romantic beach picnic off the beaten track, want to explore hidden caves or need help creating your perfect private beach celebration – we have something to delight everyone.
They know the best spots and the best times to go to those spots.
We are here to make your Captain’s Choice Tour exactly what you desire – so ask us.
Welcome to the Phuket Tourism News. Each week Shaun and Jay Leshark will bring you weekly Phuket Tourism News. Phuket News that is for you, Phuket News for those coming to Phuket, and Phuket Tourism News that is what you need to make sure you have an amazing time when you come on holiday to Phuket.
Jelly Fish in Phuket
Last week some of Phuket beaches issued jellyfish warnings after there was an increase in stings. Phuket Marine Resources Conservation Centre with local administrative organisations have been stocking up the Phuket West Coast lifeguard stations with extra bottles of vinegar and other medical supplies to help treat stings. The west coast, including Patong Beach, has seen an increase in stings in the past week. The reports of jellyfish stings have all be minor with most people getting treated at the beach with vinegar.
“More than 30 people have recently been stung by jellyfish while playing in the water at the beach. Most of the people were not seriously harmed.”
“There are many species of jellyfish. For normal jellyfish stings, vinegar can be poured over the area continuously for at least 30 seconds to help, but never pour fresh water, drinking water or alcohol onto the sting.” Said Suchart Ratanaruangsri, who is the director of the Phuket Marine Resources Conservation Centre.
Phuket Weddings – Over 100 on Valentine’s Day
More than 100 Thai and foreign couples in Phuket celebrated Valentine’s Day by registering their marriage across the island. For the special mass weddings here in Phuket, District Chiefs from around Phuket Island gave away gifts and souvenirs for the couples. In Mueang District every couple that registered was put into a lucky draw for more gifts including gold worth over 7,500 THB.
Congratulations to all the couples and remember if you want to celebrate your honeymoon in style then you can book a 5 Star Marine Phuket private boat tour.
Best Island destination for families
There are 100’s of islands to visit in Phang Nga Bay, Phi Phi and Krabi, BUT what are some of the best to visit for families.
Khai Islands
The close by Khai islands day trip is very good for families.
The Khai Islands is made up of 3 separate islands:
Each of the three Islands offers something slightly different for you to experience; Khai Nai offers clear, shallow water and snorkelling which is perfect for families with young children. Khai Nau is also an excellent spot for some snorkelling right off the boat, and has a great variety of coral and marine life to explore. Finally, Khai Nok has some good off the beach snorkelling and offers you the opportunity to relax on the beach.
Accessible in only 15 to 20 minutes from the 5 Star Marine pier at Boat Lagoon.
Coral Island
Coral Island, also known locally as Koh He, is an easy and family friendly day-trip destination from Phuket.
This beautiful island has 2 main beaches (Long Beach and Banana Beach), where you can find a handful of restaurants, enjoy a few different snorkelling spots or just relax on its sandy beaches.
At Long Beach, you can rent a canoe and explore or just relax at one of the restaurants on the white sandy beach. Just around the island, Banana Beach Club serves a good selection of dishes, plus offers massages, canoes and plenty of Instagram-worthy set ups. You can enjoy some decent snorkelling from the shore there also. It is both kid and adult friendly with big loungers, tables in the shade and fun areas to explore for all.
You can also combine this tour with an afternoon stop at Mai Ton on the way back to try your luck spotting the dolphins there.
Upcoming Events in Phuket
A perfect destination for Snorkeling and Fishing and MORE
The meaning of the name Maiton represents idealism, intuition, romance, generosity, creativity, wisdom, and tolerance
Maiton island is an understated paradise. A beautiful tropical island just off the Southeast coast of Phuket
It’s a fantastic day out and only 30 minutes from the 5 Star Marine Phuket pier.
The island is small and only spans 2.5 km across at its widest point but with a large and quiet beach and a lush green hill as a backdrop. It has beautiful white sands and tropical palm trees, as well as pristine waters that are home to vibrant coral reefs.
The island is still relatively untouched by tourism, the white sandy beaches are soft, pristine, and full of stunning washed-up corals and seashells, and the natural environment of Maiton Island has not been disturbed by mass tourism.
There are not too many things to do on this island but if you are feeling fit and strong you can hike up the hill to get stunning views looking south towards Phi Phi and north towards Phang Nga Bay.
Maiton Island is famous for its unspoiled nature and the spectacular underwater world, and the best things to do at Maiton Island all happen in the clear tropical waters around the island.
Maiton Island offers some fantastic snorkeling. The coral reefs are alive and teeming with a variety of tropical fish and you can also Enjoy a mesmerizing experience through a giant clam garden. The best time for snorkeling at Maiton island is from December to May when the sea around Maiton is crystal clear like a blue mirror.
After a couple of hours of snorkeling, it’s time to catch dinner.
Head out a little deeper and drop in a hook and bait and you will soon catch a fish or 3, and if they are big enough then you have dinner sorted as well, which you can give to the 5 Star Marine Phuket Team and they can take care of this for you and have it cooked up with Thai flavors and spices on the BBQ while watching the sun set behind Phuket.
And finally, is seeing dolphins in Phuket on your bucket list?
Maiton Island is also home to a pod of dolphins, and if you’re lucky enough, you will be able to see these incredibly playful animals. The best time to see the dolphins is first thing in the morning or around the early evening.
Maiton Island is a fantastic destination for a 5 Star Marine Phuket private tour, as it has so much to offer.
You will definitely have a 5 Star Experience when you book a 5 Star Marine Phuket private tour to Maiton Island.
For information on this and all our 5 Star Marine Phuket Tours click here
Welcome to the Phuket Tourism News. Each week Shaun and Jay Leshark will bring you weekly Phuket Tourism News. Phuket News that is for you, Phuket News for those coming to Phuket, and Phuket Tourism News that is what you need to make sure you have an amazing time when you come on holiday to Phuket.
Patong motorbike racing
Last week a large group of French motorbike racers in Patong were arrested and charged with various traffic offenses.
Phuket, Patong police received a number of complaints that a group of tourists was racing motorbikes in Patong. Footage of the racers also went viral on local social media platforms, causing outrage among many Patong residents.
Patong locals complained that the racers were disturbing them when they were trying to relax, and posing a threat to the safety of the people. Most of the riders were not wearing the required protective motorcycle helmets as per Thai law.
Patong Police have also taken action against the motorbike rental operators who allowed foreign tourists to rent vehicles without a valid driving license. These operators were fined 1,000 baht each for their actions.
Hollywood movies here in Phuket
Phuket and its surrounding areas have been the backdrop for plenty of movies, and as a whole Thailand has always been eager to attract Hollywood and the international cinema industry as a way to promote tourism in the country.
Some of the films shot in Phuket:
Shot in 2000 and directed by Danny Boyle, The Beach is based on the eponymous Alex Garland novel. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, this movie made a small cove on the western side of Koh Phi Phi Leh world-famous: Maya Bay.
Shot in 1974, The Man with the Golden Gun was the 9th James Bond movie. Featuring Roger Moore as the iconic British spy and Christopher Lee as the villain, Francisco Scaramanga.
Shot in 2004 and directed by Beeban Kidron, this sequel to the successful Bridget Jones’s Diary reunites the same cast members: Renée Zellweger as Bridget Jones, Colin Firth as Mark Darcy, and Hugh Grant as Daniel Cleaver.
Shot in 1993, Heaven & Earth is a superb film by Oliver Stone about the Vietnam War and its consequences. Based on a true story written by Le Ly Hayslip.
Shot in 1995, Cutthroat Island is a romantic/comedy/action/pirate movie starring Geena Davis. The film was a big flop, credited for ending the production of any pirate-themed Hollywood movies until the Pirates of the Caribbean series.
Shot in 1997 and directed by Roger Spottiswoode, Tomorrow Never Dies was the 18th James Bond movie of the series, and the second using Thai locations to represent other Asian countries
Shot in 2005 and directed by George Lucas, the 3rd episode of the world-famous Star Wars movies saga has a few scenes filmed in southern Thailand. The tall limestone cliffs and lush vegetation of Krabi Province were used to represent Kaashyyk, the home planet of the Wookiees.
Shot in 2012 and directed by Juan Antonio Bayona, The Impossible is based on the true story of a British family that was staying in a Khao Lak beachfront resort for Christmas 2004, when the tsunami occurred.
Leatherback turtles have been seen in Phuket
The leatherback sea turtle is the largest turtle in the world. They are the only species of sea turtle that lack scales and a hard shell. They are named for their tough rubbery skin and have existed in their current form since the age of the dinosaurs.
No marine life encounter is guaranteed but the chance of snorkeling with sea turtles whilst in Thailand is pretty high. Turtles can be seen almost anywhere, the most common places are the Similan Islands (mooring rocks, island number 9), the Surin Islands and the Phi Phi Islands.
Where is the best place for Thai Food
Thai food emphasizes on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components and a spicy edge. It’s all about the juggling of elements to create a harmonious finish.
Traditional Thai cuisine loosely falls into four categories: tom (boiled dishes), yam (spicy salads), tam (pounded foods), and kaeng (curries). Deep-frying, stir-frying, and steaming are methods introduced from Chinese cuisine.
Back in 2017, seven Thai dishes appeared on a list of the “World’s 50 Best Foods”, an online poll of 35,000 people worldwide by CNN Travel. Thailand had more dishes on the list than any other country: tom yam kung (4th), pad thai (5th), som tam (6th), massaman curry (10th), green curry (19th), Thai fried rice (24th) and nam tok mu (36th).
There are so many amazing Thai restaurants to choose from, and our top tip is to head into Phuket Town and go on a food tour so you can really experience the amazing Thai food.
A Chefs tour offers amazing Food tours
Upcoming Events in Phuket
Welcome to the Phuket Tourism News. Each week Shaun and Jay Leshark will bring you weekly Phuket Tourism News. Phuket News that is for you, Phuket News for those coming to Phuket, and Phuket Tourism News that is what you need to make sure you have an amazing time when you come on holiday to Phuket.
Plane stuck on Phuket Airport runway
Phuket International Airport is the second busiest airport in Thailand. Millions of passengers each year visit Phuket to enjoy a wide range of tourist services, natural beauty of the world-famous Phuket beaches and fascinating tourist attractions. Last week there was a minor incident with a Russian plane that was spotted by the air traffic control staff that smoke was coming from the right side (Starboard) engine of the Boeing 767-300ER.
The Azur Airplane was meant to be heading to Moscow, and it was about to take off when the Phuket Airport staff saw the smoke. The plane blocked the taxiway for other flights from landing and taking off. It took a few hours to remove the plane and after that flight services returned to normal.
The incident affected nearly 50 flights, with some having to circle over Phuket and others being diverted to Krabi, Samui, and Bangkok.
Phuket Coral Reef restoration
Two chapters of the Rotary Club in Phuket have come together to help restore the coral reef at Maiton island, about 10 km south of Phuket. They will supply 39 3D-printed concrete frames and will drop them around the island. An MOU has been signed and the Rotary club will supply the frames to the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO). The project is being funded through the “Save Underwater World” project with funds raised by the Rotary Clubs and SCG. The frames will help corals grow naturally and also provide a habitat for a variety if marine animals.
Patong Tunnel Project
If you have lived in Phuket over the past 20 years you would have heard about the New Patong Tunnel coming soon, every year. But, it seems that 2023 is different and that the tunnel is finally happening. The famous Patong hill that every tourist and local has to go over to get to Patong beach will finally get a tunnel. Discussion on the tunnel has been going on for over 20 years, and it has been a stop, start the project. But after all the delays and meetings, Thailand’s cabinet has now approved the 14.7 billion bath budget to construct the expressway connecting Kathu and Patong. The project should be starting in mid-2023 and should finish by July 2027.
Where is the best place for a romantic dinner in Phuket
There are many awesome restaurants and resorts where you could spend a romantic dinner this Valentine’s but one location that we think is perfect is the stunning Baan Rim Pa Restaurant.
The name Baan Rim Pa is well known not only in Thailand but around the world. This multi-award-winning restaurant has proven to be a favorite to international travelers, ex-pats and locals. Baan Rim Pa boasts an incredible cliff-side location directly over the Andaman Sea. Every table has a magnificent panoramic view of the blue waters across to the beach at Patong.
