Phuket is Southeast Asian jewel developed into one of Asia's premier tropical Island destinations with an excellent infrastructure, friendly people, fine cosmopolitan cuisine and International standard schools and hospitals. Phuket Island with its incomparable coastal beauty and international lifestyle is hard to beat and is now seeing worldwide demand for luxury ocean view property and investors are cashing in at all levels with land prices doubling, on average, every three years. Due to direct air link with Phuket International Airport Phuket Island has been successful in attracting a cosmopolitan blend of Asian and Internationally based investors which has led to incredible stability in Phuket property prices at times when other areas in Asia have been suffering economic slowdowns.

The most beautiful beaches are found on the West coast, separated by rocky coves and headlands. The east coast comprises limestone shoals with only a few sandy beaches while spectacular limestone islands adorn the horizon. Coral gardens full of exotic marine life dot the emerald waters surrounding the island.

Phuket is Southeast Asian jewel developed into one of Asia's premier tropical Island destinations with an excellent infrastructure, friendly people, fine cosmopolitan cuisine and International standard schools and hospitals. It is an island in the Andaman Sea along Thailand's Southern and Western coast and is connected by bridges to southern Thailand's mainland.

Phuket Island can be located on a map between the Northern latitudes of 7' 45" and 8' 15" and between 98' 15" and 98' 40" West Longitude, The Andaman Sea being part of the Indian Ocean.

As Thailand's largest island, Phuket is surrounded by 32 smaller islands which part of the same administration.  Phuket Island has a total land area of 570 square kilometers, about the same as the island of Singapore.  Measured at its widest point, Phuket is 21.3 kilometers; at its longest, 48.5 kilometers. 

With its incomparable coastal beauty and international lifestyle is hard to beat and is now seeing worldwide demand for luxury ocean view property and investors are cashing in at all levels with land prices doubling, on average, every three years. Due to direct air link with Phuket International Airport Phuket Island has been successful in attracting a cosmopolitan blend of Asian and Internationally based investors which has led to incredible stability in Phuket property prices at times when other areas in Asia have been suffering economic slowdowns

 Geography

About 70% of Phuket is mountainous a western range runs from north to south from which smaller branches derive. The highest peak is Mai Tao Sip Song, or Twelve Canes, at 529 meters, which lies within the boundaries of Tambon Patong, Kathu District. It has recently been capped by a radar station which has a beautiful public access road to within meters of the station. The remaining 30% of the island, mainly in the center and south, consists of low plains. There are numerous streams including the Klong Bang Yai, Klong Ta Jin, Klong Ta Rua, and Klong Bang Rohng, none of which are large.

 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 degrees Celsius, prevail during March.Lowest averages occur in January, when nightly lows dip to 22 degrees Celsius.

 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-important 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, Pineapples, Prawn farming has largely taken over the east and south coasts. Pearl farming is also important. Phuket's fishing port is at all times filled and processing of marine products, mainly fish, and makes a significant contribution to the economy.

With so many healthy industries supplying income, construction has become a major factor in employment. This ranges 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.

 Population

Official population as of December 31, 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, though it is never less than figure given above.

 Government

The island is divided into three districts, Talang 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 Amper, 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.