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Sawadee krap/ka, Phuket people! 🌺
The shoulder season is officially in the building. Fewer selfie sticks on Bangla Road, more parking spaces at Tesco, and the kind of slow, golden-afternoon energy the island does better than anywhere. But quiet does not mean nothing is happening. This week delivered a stack of stories with real consequences for residents.
This Week’s Headlines:
Waste Crisis: A Senate advisor warns the unresolved Saphan Hin landfill situation is damaging the island's reputation.
New Fees: Phuket Immigration now charges ฿1,000 for address-confirmation letters (required for driving licenses and admin).
Fuel Shortage: Purchase limits remain in effect at gas stations across the island.
Diplomacy: Finland has officially opened an honorary consulate in Phuket.
Smart Mobility: Phuket is in talks with Hyundai for a partnership to reshape island transit.
The Weekend Edit: ANZAC Dawn Service on Saturday & Bloc Party @ Courtyard Marriott
Let's get into it. 👇
Sunny skies with hot days and scattered storms all week! 🌞⛈️
Highs of 33-35C through the weekend with high humidity. UV index extreme through midday - hat, reef-safe SPF, early morning outings. Afternoon thunderstorms possible from Saturday. The rainy season isn't here yet, but it's doing warm-up stretches.
Independent stations in Chalong and Patong are capping fills at THB 700-800 per vehicle. Middle East supply disruption pushed jet fuel to a 10-year peak; knock-on effects include Thai Lion Air raising fares 10-15%. Best windows to refuel: before 7:30am or 7-9pm. E20 pumps have shorter queues and cost roughly THB 5/L less than Gasohol 95.
Phuket airport is handling 39% above its design capacity (17.4m arrivals in 2025 vs. 12.5m designed). The Immigration Bureau ordered an inspection on April 17 after congestion complaints. Add at least 30 extra minutes for departures and pickups. Runway maintenance continues through October 2026.
Tonight: Tatler Off-Menu at Rava Beach Club (22 restaurants, free-flow wine 6-7pm). Saturday: ANZAC Dawn Service 5am Kamala, BBQ Beatdown 185 at Tiger Muay Thai, Bloc Party in Phuket Town (free), SUP Challenge at Patong Beach. Full calendar: phuketcommunity.com/events
Relax and Rejuvenate at Ton Mai Spa
In a world that rarely slows, Ton Mai Spa feels like the island exhale we all forget we need.
Their herbal steam rooms, Nordic sauna and cold plunge create a rhythm your body instantly responds to. It’s a sanctuary where the island finally quiets down and you remember what breathing deeply feels like.
Massages range from Thai and oil to aloe vera, aromatherapy, sports therapy, facials and scrubs - each designed to loosen tension and recalibrate your mood.
If you’re feeling adventurous, try a full thermotherapy cycle. Hot, cold, rest. Repeat. You’ll walk out lighter, clearer, and just a little more human.
Poolside lounging is encouraged, not optional. And their spa restaurant keeps the wellness glow alive with fresh Thai and Western plates, smoothies, juices and imported teas.
Ton Mai Spa has also been a supporter of Phuket Community since the very beginning. We adore what they do, and we’re grateful to have them in our corner.
The Patong Expressway Is Finally Real - Here's What That Actually Changes
After years of committee reviews, feasibility studies, and collective eye-rolls from anyone who has sat on Patong Hill for 45 minutes in peak hour, the Phuket Expressway has officially entered the contractor bidding phase. The Ministry of Transport confirmed the development is split into two phases that will, collectively, redefine how this island functions.
Separately, the Light Rail Transit project remains technically alive but practically deferred - full operation is now targeted for December 2031, with EV buses serving the route in the interim. Officials opposing the LRT design argue that building on the Highway 402 median reduces traffic lanes during the decade-long construction period. That debate is ongoing. What isn't debated: something has to change.
Worth knowing, Phuket is in talks with Hyundai on smart mobility solutions - electric buses, smarter traffic systems - as part of its ambitions to become an international-standard smart city.
Middle East supply disruption has pushed fuel prices to uncomfortable levels and triggered purchase caps at independent stations across Phuket. Government is weighing overnight closures (10pm-5am) to conserve reserves - a real problem for night-shift workers in Patong and early commuters across the island. One arrest in Chalong for fuel theft worth THB 1.3 million confirms a black market is already forming. Details →
Finland formally opened an Honorary Consulate in Phuket on April 22, located on Yaowarat Road in Phuket Town. For Finnish residents and repeat visitors, this means consular support without routing everything through Bangkok. More broadly, it reflects the scale of Phuket's permanent international population - you do not open a consulate somewhere that is just a holiday destination. Full update →
Thailand's Immigration Bureau ordered a senior commander inspection of Phuket International Airport following complaints about passenger congestion and slower processing. The airport is operating at approximately 39% above its intended capacity - 17.4 million arrivals in 2025 against a design of 12.5 million. A B16 billion Phase 2 expansion is targeting Q4 2026 completion and would increase capacity to 25 million. A second airport - the Andaman International Airport - is being studied with a long-term capacity of 48-60 million.
Patong Police have increased enforcement following a cluster of Songkran incidents including assault cases, dangerous driving, and nuisance behavior by foreign tourists. Officers are conducting inspections of accommodation, restaurants, and rental-bike businesses. Phuket-specific road toll for Songkran: 5 deaths, 29 injured. The national figure was 191 deaths and 911 injuries. Roads are safer now, but the post-holiday enforcement mode is real.
Provincial officials confirmed talks with Hyundai as part of a push to upgrade public transport and become an international-standard smart city. Specifics around EV buses, traffic systems, and implementation timelines remain vague. What's clear: the political will to modernise transport is stronger than at any point in recent memory - driven partly by the pressure to justify the 2031 Light Rail delay.
We reach 4,000+ readers every Friday. If it's happening on the island, we want to know about it.
Submit here →Tired of the Same Five Hotels? Phuket Has Fixes for That
Every month, someone in the community gets a message from a friend or family member visiting Phuket asking the same question: where should I stay? And the default answer - Patong, Kata, maybe Kamala - does the island a disservice. Phuket has a genuinely interesting collection of stays that go well beyond the resort-strip formula, and most people asking the question have no idea they exist.
The Phuket Community team has put together a proper guide on this. Sino-Portuguese heritage hotels inside the Old Town's shophouse architecture. Hilltop boutique properties above Karon with panoramic views. Eco-stays on the quieter east coast. Even a few genuinely off-grid options for people who want to actually disconnect. The guide is sorted by area and character, not by star rating, which makes it actually useful.
If you have family visiting this shoulder season, or you are looking for a local weekend escape that does not feel like the same place you already live near, this guide is worth sending. And worth reading yourself - there are places on this island that even long-termers have not been to.
Read the full guide at phuketcommunity.com →Driver's Licence Renewal Now Costs B1,000 More Than You Think
Phuket Immigration quietly introduced a B1,000 fee for the official address-confirmation letter that foreigners need for routine admin - including Thai driver's licence renewals. If you're renewing both a car and motorbike licence at the same time, that's B2,000 just for immigration paperwork before you've even touched the Land Transport Office.
Bonus hack: Use the island's market rhythm instead of one big supermarket run. Friday = Boat Avenue, Saturday-Sunday = Naka, Sunday evening = Lard Yai Walking Street, Monday-Tuesday = Dao Aungkhan (near Chalong Circle). Better food, lower cost, and zero parking rage.
The 30-Day Exemption Is Back - and the Tax Trap Is Real
The visa exemption scheme has reverted to 30 days from 60. This is confirmed. If you arrived on a 60-day exemption before the change, verify your dates carefully before your next entry - overstaying carries fines. A 30-day extension remains available at immigration offices in person. For anyone doing repeated visa-exempt entries as a long-stay strategy: the scrutiny is increasing and this is the moment to get legal advice.
DTV holders: staying more than 180 days in a calendar year triggers mandatory Thai tax residency, requiring you to file a personal income tax return - even on foreign-sourced income. The Thai Revenue Department is also now classifying the use of foreign debit/credit cards (Wise, international bank cards) for expenses within Thailand as a form of remitting income, which may be taxable if you are a tax resident. The Global Common Reporting Standard means UK HMRC and others are already transmitting data to TRD. If this applies to you, get a tax adviser in the loop now, not at year end.
Phuket authorities are under pressure to clear a serious backlog in work permit renewals and new applications affecting over 130,000 people island-wide. If your permit is due for renewal in the next three months, start the paperwork now. Being caught in the queue without a valid permit is a legal exposure. Begin at least 90 days ahead of expiry.
The Place That's Been Getting It Right for Seven Years Straight
One Chun · Phuket Old Town
Phuket Town is lousy with "authentic" restaurant recommendations. Most of them are authentic in the way that a Muay Thai t-shirt bought on Bangla Road is authentic. One Chun is the real thing. Seven consecutive Michelin Bib Gourmand recognitions, a colonial shophouse setting on Dibuk Road, and a kitchen that takes Phuket-style cuisine seriously without taking itself too seriously.
Order the yellow curry crab if it's available (it often sells out), and the Phuket-style steamed pork belly with thick soy. Both are the kind of dishes that make you understand why this food tradition has persisted for generations. Budget around THB 250-350 per person. Go early or expect to wait.
After: Thalang Road Sunday Walking Street from 4pm. Head south out of One Chun and you walk straight into it.
Phuket Builds On
The headline number: ETRO Residences Phuket in the Gardens of Eden development at Bangtao reportedly hit B830,000 per sqm, with a quarter of its eight residences sold in the first three days after launch. One 3-bedroom unit was quoted at B182.6 million. This is developer-reported data rather than an independent verified sale, but the direction of travel is clear.
The pipeline: C9 Hotelworks reports 41 hotel projects and 8,344 keys in the 2026-2030 pipeline, with Bang Tao/Cherng Talay accounting for roughly 30% of future supply. Notable 2026 entries include Radisson Blu Resort Layan (312 keys), Staybridge Suites Bangtao (344 keys), and Chatrium Resort Rawai (304 keys).
The market shift: The tone has moved from boom to balance. Colliers data shows over 85 residential projects launched in the first 9 months of 2025 totalling B73.1 billion. But commissions have risen to as high as 10% (from a historic 5-6%), deal sizes are compressing, and buyers are more analytical.
Time-sensitive for buyers: The reduced transfer fee regime (0.01% instead of 2%) expires in June 2026. On a THB 10 million transaction, that's approximately THB 199,000 in savings. If you have a pending transaction, the case for completing before June is strong.
The proposal to raise the foreign freehold ownership cap in condominiums from 49% to 75% is still at cabinet level - not enacted as of April 2026. Nominee land structures remain an active enforcement target. If any part of your property arrangement involves Thai proxy shareholders, get a legal review now.
Things Worth Knowing This Week
The ANZAC Dawn Service takes place Saturday April 25, 5:00am at Kamala Beach near the Kamala Police Station, hosted by Phuket Veterans. An ANZAC breakfast follows at Devils Bar Kamala. Free to attend. Relevant for Australian and New Zealand residents, and anyone who wants to mark the day properly on the island.
The Hash House Harriers Phuket run regularly across the island. If you are new, recently arrived, or just looking for a way to meet people and stay active, this is one of the most established expat social clubs on the island. phuket-hhh.com →
The Thailand Biennale "Eternal [Kalpa]" closes April 30. Nineteen venues across Old Phuket Town and beyond, all walkable, all free. Contemporary Thai and international art in public spaces. This is genuinely one of the more unusual things Phuket has pulled off in recent years - combine it with Sunday Walking Street for a full Old Town afternoon.
| Date | Event | Venue | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 24 Apr | Tatler Off-Menu at Rava Beach Club | RAVA Beach Club, Thalang | THB 3,300 |
| Fri 24 Apr | Fun Friday Boat Avenue Market | Boat Avenue, Cherng Talay | Free |
| Fri 24 Apr | Weave, Paint and Create Workshop | PEYLAA Sales Gallery, Bang Tao | Free (reserve) |
| Fri 24 Apr | Phuket Tech Mixer + Social - AI, data, IT community | Mollys Tavern, Patong | Free |
| Sat 25 Apr | ABBA Night Eve | Churchill Bar, Karon | Free entry |
| Sat 25 Apr | Pearl of the Andaman SUP Challenge | Patong Beach | THB 1,300 |
| Sat 25 Apr | Bloc Party 2026 | Courtyard Marriott, Phuket Town | Free |
| Sat 25 Apr | Saffron x R-Haan Collaboration Dinner | Banyan Tree Phuket, Bang Tao | THB 4,900 |
| Sat 25 Apr | Baron and Dorian Craft | Cafe del Mar, Kamala | THB 400 |
| Sat 25 Apr | BBQ Beatdown 185 | Tiger Muay Thai, Chalong | THB 1,200 |
| Sat 25 Apr | 3 Years of Sub (UK Garage, Techno) | Courage Bar, Phuket Town | TBA |
| Sat 25 Apr | Saturday Signature Mookata | Vista Restaurant, Cassia Phuket | THB 399 |
| Sun 26 Apr | Zoo del Mar: Copacabana | Cafe del Mar, Kamala | Free Entry |
| Sun 26 Apr | Sunday Walking Street (Lard Yai) | Thalang Road, Old Town | Free |
| Sun 26 Apr | The Amatara Longevity Table | Amatara Resort, Panwa | THB 8,800 |
| Sun 26 Apr | The Sunday Pool at FIRA | FIRA Beach Club, Karon | Check venue (12pm-8pm) |
| Mon 27 Apr+ | International Conference Week (30+ summits) | Phuket Town | Prof. Reg Required |
| Daily to 30 Apr | Thailand Biennale Phuket | 19 venues, Old Town | Free |
Full calendar: phuketcommunity.com/events - Submit events: Submit here
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That's your week wrapped. Enjoy the long weekend. The ANZAC dawn service is at 5am in Kamala on Saturday if that's your tradition. The Bloc Party at the Marriott is Saturday evening if you want something more casual. And the Naka Market is always worth an hour of your time.
Sabai sabai, see you next Friday!
— The Phuket Community Team 🇹🇭
Next edition drops Friday, May 1, 2026
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