Location - Phuket

Phuket

Phuket has long been an important source of revenue for the Kingdom. The economy was dominated by tin mining in the 16 – 17th centuries. At the end of the nineteenth century as tin deposits and prices started to dive, the island's rubber industry began to prosper. Large chunks of the interior were cleared for rubber plantations and many are still present today.

It wasn’t until the 1970’s that Phuket’s natural charms started to attract adventure seekers on the backpacker trail. Word soon spread about Phuket’s qualities and in the mid 70s the airport was built and the island’s status as a tourist haven was destined.

Today Phuket welcomes over 3 million visitors annually and there are resorts, hotels and guest houses to accommodate all budgets. In the last five years there has been a definite sway toward the luxury market however the costs of living in Phuket are still significantly lower than in the UK, US and Europe.

One of the Kingdom’s wealthiest provinces, Phuket offers a wonderful mix of leisure and lifestyle amenities with the best golf, sailing and diving in the region, glorious spas and wellness centres, exotic shops and lively entertainment venues, all wrapped in Phuket’s scenic ocean surrounds. 

Life in Phuket

Phuket remains a beautiful tropical holiday island and a casual vacation atmosphere pervades all aspects of life here. The tourism sector is responsible for much of Phuket’s solid infrastructure and excellent portfolio of leisure and lifestyle amenities including top-notch golf, year-round sailing and diving, luxurious spas and beauty centres, international cuisines, big shopping complexes, boutiques, chic bars.

Burgeoning Phuket real estate is keenly focused on the middle to high-end international markets and has been instrumental in bringing more internationally recognized brands/services to the island. The Phuket tourism and property sectors have impacted the quality of medical and education services on the island. The British International School is one of the finest in the region and Bangkok Hospital Phuket offers exceptional medical care in 5-star luxury for much less than Western rates and with no waiting lists.

Throughout its rapid modernization Phuket has retained its tropical beauty and charm and affordability; the costs of living are approximately 1/3 of UK prices. Today Phuket property is not only the most sought-after in South-East Asia, but is a serious competitor with the Mediterranean for the European market.

Phuket International Airport connects the island with major Asian capitals directly and there are frequent daily flights to Bangkok.

Geography & Climate

Phuket is Thailand’s largest island at 539 square kilometers and enjoys a year-round balmy temperature of approximately 27 degrees Celsius.

Average rainfall and temperature chart

Island Interior – Except for Phuket Town, the island’s governmental and commercial centre, much of the mountainous interior remains largely untouched. Major roads dissect the island North-South and East-West and development has occurred in parallel. 

West Coast - Most of the development is concentrated   on the West coast which fronts the Andaman Sea and is blessed with long stretches of soft sand beaches, small protected coves, clean crystal water and dramatic headlands. The majority of Phuket’s tourist industry is located on the west coast between the airport and Kata beach.

North – The northern parts  of the island are largely  unpopulated and have long deserted beaches, waterfalls and rubber plantations. The island’s main road runs through the northern tip of Phuket to Sarasin Bridge, gateway to the mainland.                                     

East Coast –With spectacular views of the thousands of islands dotting Phang-Nga Bay, the east coast is becoming an exclusive residential address. The protected waters of Phang-Nga Bay are smooth year-round and therefore ideal for sailing and watersports.

South – The southern areas of the island are very picturesque, offering the east coast quality views with west coast beach conditions. As such the south is popular with the resident expatriate community and has many shops, bakeries and other western treats to cater for them.

Surrounding Phuket - The surrounding seascape is one of the most photographed in the world. Phang-Nga Bay is famous for the dramatic limestone karsts and islets that loom out of the emerald waters. The warm, sheltered bay, bids smooth sailing, swimming and snorkelling all year round, and allows easy access to marine parks.

Languages and Religions

The last official census showed about 250,000 people living in Phuket. This figure only includes those registered as resident in Phuket and as there is a significant semi-permanent work force form other provinces of Thailand, many semi-resident foreigners, and up to 75,000 visitors at any one time, it is likely that a more realistic figure would be in the range of 500,000.

The official language is standard Thai, but a local southern Thai dialect is widely spoken and the large indigenous Chinese minority still makes limited use of Hokkien and other Chinese dialects. 75 percent of the islanders are Buddhist (this includes the Chinese Buddhists), 22 percent Muslim and 3 percent Christian. There are 30 main Buddhist temples, 34 Mosques and 2 churches.