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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 Suwannapum to the
Malay Peninsula it was necessary 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 Millennium A.D. Later, as Muang
Takua-Thalang, 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
Sukhothai 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 historic 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.
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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.
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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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