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Phuket, a large
island in the Indian Ocean, is 867 kms. from Bangkok. It
is the only island having provincial status, and was a
regional headquarters as well, with a rich and colorful
history.
Known
as the Pearl of the Andaman, it derived much of its former
glory and its enormous wealth from tin production, which
in Phuket dates back over 500 year. Today, Phuket is the
major tourist attraction of Thailand with
hotels of all price ranges.
The surrounding waters contain much varied marine
life, and the town is notable for its Sino-Portuguese
architecture.
It is a very attractive island for sightseeing, with
lovely seashores and forested hillsides.
Its population of 1.6 million people ranks sixth among all
provinces.
Approximately 1.75 million Rai of the area is forest land.
The main occupation here is rice farming. The average per
capita income is 14,343 Baht.
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Geography |
About 70 percent of Phuket is mountainous; a
western range runs from north to south from
which smaller branches derive. The highest
peak is Mai Tha Sip Song, or Twelve Canes,
at 529 meters, which lies within the
boundaries of Tambon Patong, Kathu District.
The remaining 30 percent of the island,
mainly in the center and south, is formed by
low plains. Streams include the Khlong Bang
Yai, Tha Jin, Khlong Tha Rua, and Khlong
Bang Rong, none of which is large.
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Economy |
 Since
the early 1980's the tourist business has
been Phuket's chief source of income.
Hotels, restaurants, tour companies, and
souvenir shops are much in evidence on the
west coast. However, while once
all-importance tin mining has ceased,
tourism is by no means the island's only
activity. Agriculture remains important to a
large number of people, and covers by far
the most part of the island. Principal crops
are rubber, coconuts, cashews, and
pineapples.
Prawn farming has largely taken over the
east and south coasts. Pearl farming is also
important. Phuket's fishing port is at all
time filled, and processing of marine
products, mainly fish, makes a significant
contribution to the economy. With so many
healthy industries supplying income,
construction has become a major factor in
employment. This range from massive public
works projects, large office buildings and
hotels, and housing estates with hundreds of
units, down to single family homes,
apartments and additions.
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Population |
 Official population as of
December, 1998, was 231,206. This figure numbers those who
are registered as living in Phuket. Phuket' s attraction
as a center of economic activity has resulted in many
living on the island whose registration is elsewhere.
The total population of
Phuket varies considerably depending on the time of year,
through it is never less than the figure given above.
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Government |
The island is divided into
three districts, Thalang in the north, Kathu in the west,
and Muang in the south. Thailand's system of government
relies upon a strong central authority, thus the
Provincial Governor is a civil servant appointed by the
Interior Ministry in Bangkok, as are the Nai Amphoe, or
District Chief. The cities of Phuket and Patong have their
own city governments, with elected city councils, the
leading members of which serve as mayor. There are also
elected provincial, district, and sub-district, or Tambon
councils. The local constabulary is part of the Interior
Ministry.
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Climate |
 Phuket's weather conditions are dominated by monsoon winds
that blow year round. It is therefore always warm and
humid. There are two distinct seasons, rainy and dry.
The rainy season begins in May and lasts till October,
during which the monsoon blows from the southwest.
The dry season is from November through April, when the
monsoon comes from the northeast. Highest average
temperatures, at 33.4 degree Celsius, prevail during
March. Lowest averages occur in January, when nightly lows
dip to 22 degree Celsius.
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History |
Phuket Island has a long recorderd history, and remains
dating back to A.D. 1025 indicate that the island's
present day name derives in meaning from the Tamil
manikram, or crystal mountain.
For most of
history, however, it was known as Junk Ceylon, which, with
variations, is the name found on old maps. The name is
thought to have its roots in Ptolemy's Geographia, written
by the Alexandrian geographer in the Third Century A.D. He
mentioned that in making a trip from Souwannapum to the
Malay Peninsula it was neccesary to pass the cape of Jang
Si Lang.
Phuket was
a way station on the route between India and China where
seafarers stopped to shelter. The island appears to have
been part of the Shivite empire (called in Thai the Tam
Porn Ling) that established itself on the Malay Peninsula
during the first Millenium A.D. Later, as Muang
Takua-Talang, it was part of the Srivichai and Siri Tahm
empires. Governed as the eleventh in a constellation of
twelve cities, Phuket's emblem, by which it was known to
others in those largely pre-literate times, was the dog.
During the
Sukothai Period Phuket was associated with Takua Pa in
what is now Phang-nga Province, another area with vast tin
reserves. The Dutch established a trading post during the
Ayutthaya Period in the 16th Cent. The island's northern
and central regions then were governed by the Thais, and
the southern and western parts were given over to the tin
trade, a concession in the hands of foreigners.
 After
Ayutthaya was sacked by the Burmese in 1767 there was a
short interregnum in Thailand, ended by King Taksin, who
drove out the Burmese and re-unified the country. The
Burmese, however, were anxious to return to the offensive.
They outfitted a fleet to raid the southern provinces, and
carry off the populations to slavery in Burma.
This led to
Phuket's most memorable hitoric event. A passing sea
captain, Francis Light, sent word that the Burmese were en
route to attack. Forces in Phuket were assembled led by
the two heroines, Kunying Jan, wife of Phuket's recently
deceased governer, and her sister Mook, After a month's
siege the Burmese were forced to depart on 13 March, 1785.
Kunying Jan and her sister were credited with the
successful defense.
In
recognition King Rama I bestowed upon Kunying Jan the
honorific Thao Thep Kasatri, a title of nobility usually
reserved for royalty, by which she is known today. Her
sister became Thao Sri Sunthon.
During the
Nineteenth Century Chinese immigrants arrived in such
numbers to work for the tin mines that the ethnic
character of the island's interior became predominantly
Chinese, while the coastal settlements remained populated
chiefly by Muslim fishermen.
In Rama V's
reign, Phuket became the administrative center of a group
of tin mining provinces called Monton Phuket, and in
1933, with the change in government from absolute monarchy
to a parliamentary system, the island was established as a
province by itself.
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Radio,
Television and Communications |
Phuket is served by the full complement of
Thai television channels and has seven radio
stations. Several of these have English
language broadcasts.
The Late Show
11:00p.m.-2:00a.m. |
Nightly
on FM 89. Local news, information, and
an electric mix of jazz, rock, and
classical music.
Tel. (076) 213513, 213532. |
FMX
10:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m. |
Nightly on FM 96.75.
Nationwide phone-in, soft rock and
pop, out of Bangkok.
Tel. (076) 217449. |
Tourist Time
6:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. |
Sundays on FM 90.5.
Interviews with local newsmakers and
music.
Tel. (076) 215604. |
The
Public Telecommunications Office of Phuket is on
Phang-nga Rd., in Phuket Town. Operated by the
Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT), direct
dial and operator assisted calls can be made from
there, and collect or reverse change calls when the
need arises. Tel. (076) 216861.
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