Phuket province
[6] The name "Phuket" (of which the digraph ph represents an aspirated /pʰ/) is derived from the corruption of the word Bukit (Jawi: بوکيت) in Malay which means "hill", as this is what the island appears like from a distance.In addition to Phuket, Pinto's accounts also include references to other important port cities of the time, such as Patani and Ligor, the latter being the present-day Nakhon Si Thammarat.[9] In an effort to diminish Dutch and English influence in the region, the Siamese King Narai appointed a French medical missionary, Brother René Charbonneau of the Société des Missions Étrangères, as the governor of Junk Ceylon.[12] Light's warning came at a time when the island's military governor had recently passed away, leading the Burmese to believe that Phuket could be easily conquered.This ruse led the Burmese to overestimate the strength of the island's defenses, prompting them to abort their attack and eventually retreat after a month-long siege, which ended on 13 March 1785.King Chulalongkorn's tenure is noted for the modernization of the nation, encompassing governmental and social reforms, as well as negotiations involving territorial concessions to the British and French.Amid the pressures of Western expansionism during this period, King Chulalongkorn's leadership is credited with maintaining Siam's sovereignty, averting colonization.This natural disaster had far-reaching impacts, resulting in approximately 5,300 fatalities in Thailand, and causing extensive damage and loss of life across South and Southeast Asia, totaling around two hundred thousand deaths.Major beaches on Phuket's west coast, including Kamala, Patong, Karon, and Kata, suffered substantial damage, as did some resorts and communities along the island's southern shores.Notably, the Takua Pa District in Phang Nga province, north of Phuket, was among Thailand's most severely affected areas, with significant casualties, including a considerable number of Burmese laborers.These buoys, part of a regional warning system in the Indian Ocean, are located approximately 1,000 km (620 mi) offshore, positioned between Thailand and Sri Lanka.By March of that year, Phuket and other regions in Southern Thailand implemented lockdown measures, including stay-at-home orders, a mandate for mask-wearing, and social distancing protocols.The island's highest point is traditionally cited as Khao Mai Thao Sip Song, with an altitude of 529 m (1,736 ft) above sea level.suggesting the presence of an unnamed peak in the Kamala hills, behind Kathu waterfall, which may reach an elevation of 542 meters above sea level.The current population of Phuket is estimated to be around 600,000,[22] comprising a diverse mix of migrants, international expatriates, Thais registered in other provinces, and local inhabitants.In the northern, more mountainous part of the island, the Khao Phra Thaeo No-Hunting Area spans over 20 km2 (7.7 sq mi), dedicated to preserving rainforest ecosystems.[29][30] The ethnic composition of Phuket also includes a significant proportion of people of Chinese ancestry, many of whom are descendants of tin miners who migrated to the island during the 19th century.However, these figures may not be entirely accurate, as the Phuket Provincial Employment Office has recorded over 64,000 legally residing workers from Burma (Myanmar), Laos, and Cambodia, suggesting a higher actual population.[citation needed] Tourists, predominantly from Western Europe, China, Russia, and the United States, are drawn to the island around Christmas, contributing to this seasonal population increase.As of 26 November 2019 there are:[36] one Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (ongkan borihan suan changwat) and 12 municipal (thesaban) areas in the province.[38] The development of Phuket's tourism sector began in earnest in the 1980s, with the west coast beaches, notably Patong, Karon, and Kata, emerging as key tourist destinations.[39] The year 2017 marked a significant influx of tourists to Phuket, with the island welcoming approximately 10 million visitors, predominantly from overseas.[45] Phuket International Airport (HKT) initiated an expansion project in September 2012, with an allocated budget of 5.7 billion baht (approximately US$185.7 million).Daily scheduled bus services by private and government companies originate from Bangkok's Mo Chit and Southern Terminal stations.In 2018, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) announced plans for the development of a tram network in Phuket, with bidding set to begin in 2020.This project, estimated at 39 billion baht, forms part of the government's Private-Public-Partnership (PPP) initiative, aimed at accelerating its implementation.The proposed tram network, spanning approximately 60 km (37 mi) with 23 stations, is designed to extend from Takua Thung District in Phang Nga province to Chalong in Phuket.
Phuket (disambiguation)Province of ThailandSouthern ThaiHokkienThailandPhuket (city)Ranked 76thRanked 63rdRanked 4thTime zonePostal codeCalling codeISO 3166 codesouthernprovinces (changwat) of Thailandthe country's largest islandAndaman SeaSarasin BridgePhang Nga provinceSingaporerubbertourismaspiratedMalay PeninsulaAustronesianMalaysRattanakosin KingdomHistory of PhuketChevalier de ChaumontFernão Mendes PintoPortugueseKingdomtrading vesselsEnglishFrenchFrench East India CompanyRené CharbonneauSociété des Missions ÉtrangèresSino-Portuguesemaître d'hôtelSiamese revolutionDesfargesPuducherryFrancis LightBritish East India CompanyThan Phu YingKing Rama IThao Thep Kasattri and Thao Si SunthonPhuketkranok patternKing ChulalongkornMonthon26 DecembertsunamiearthquakeSumatraIndonesiaPatongTakua Pa DistrictIndian OceanSri LankaCOVID-19 pandemicSouthern Thailandstay-at-home ordersmask-wearingsocial distancingpost-pandemic phasemurder of Nicole Sauvain-WeisskopfThao Thep Krasattri and Thao Si SunthonThe provincial treePterocarpus indicusBougainvilleapearl oysterPinctada maximaStrait of MalaccaProvinceDistrictThalangMueang PhuketPhuket mountain rangeKra IsthmusJellyfishBryde's whaleBangkokrainforestSirinat National Parksea turtlestropical monsoon climateKöppen climate classificationMueang Phuket districtrelative humiditysunshine hoursPhuket International AirportKrom Luang ChumponBuddhismAustronesian inhabitantsMuslimChinese ancestryPeranakanPenangMalaccaChristianityamphoetambonthesaban nakhonthesaban mueangthesaban tambonTin miningrubber tree2004 tsunamiRevPARTourism Authority of ThailandPhuket International Airport (HKT)Surat ThaniKhiri Rat Nikhomsongthaewstuk-tuksMass Rapid Transit Authority of ThailandTakua Thung DistrictChalongPhi PhiKoh LantaMinistry of Public HealthVachira Phuket HospitalPhuket International HospitalPhuket F.C.