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86-464: Phuket / ˌ p uː ˈ k ɛ t / ; Thai : ภูเก็ต , [pʰūː.kèt] , Malay : Bukit or Tongkah is one of the southern provinces ( changwat ) of Thailand . It consists of the island of Phuket, the country's largest island , and another 32 smaller islands off its coast. Phuket lies off the west coast of mainland Thailand in the Andaman Sea . Phuket Island is connected by
172-612: A Portuguese explorer, arrived in Siam in 1545. His travel accounts provide insights into various parts of the country, including a detailed description of ports in the southern part of the Kingdom . Pinto's records are among the earliest European accounts to mention Phuket, which he referred to as Junk Ceylon , a name used by the Portuguese in their maps. This designation appears seven times in his writings. According to Pinto, Junk Ceylon
258-411: A dialect continuum . Thai language is spoken by over 69 million people (2020). Moreover, most Thais in the northern (Lanna) and the northeastern (Isan) parts of the country today are bilingual speakers of Central Thai and their respective regional dialects because Central Thai is the language of television, education, news reporting, and all forms of media. A recent research found that the speakers of
344-565: A second language among the country's minority ethnic groups from the mid-late Ayutthaya period onward. Ethnic minorities today are predominantly bilingual, speaking Thai alongside their native language or dialect. Standard Thai is classified as one of the Chiang Saen languages—others being Northern Thai , Southern Thai and numerous smaller languages, which together with the Northwestern Tai and Lao-Phutai languages, form
430-489: A tropical monsoon climate under the Köppen climate classification , experiences relatively uniform temperatures throughout the year due to its equatorial location. The region typically observes an average annual high temperature around 32 °C (90 °F) and an average annual low around 25 °C (77 °F). The climate of Phuket is divided into two distinct seasons: a dry season extending from December through March, and
516-563: A combination of fewer tourists and an oversupply of hotel rooms. However, despite the decline in tourist numbers, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reported a 3.1% increase in tourism revenues for the same period. Estimates of the total number of hotel rooms in Phuket vary. According to Oxfam, Phuket has approximately 60,000 hotel rooms to cater to its 9.1 million annual visitors. Contrasting figures were presented in reports by
602-647: A distinct part of this Chinese demographic, with historical links to the Peranakans of Penang and Malacca . According to the preliminary results of the 2010 census, Phuket had a population of 525,018, including approximately 115,881 expatriates, accounting for 21.1% of the total population. 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
688-533: A four-way distinction among stops and affricates . The maximal four-way occurred in labials ( /p pʰ b ʔb/ ) and denti-alveolars ( /t tʰ d ʔd/ ); the three-way distinction among velars ( /k kʰ ɡ/ ) and palatals ( /tɕ tɕʰ dʑ/ ), with the glottalized member of each set apparently missing. The major change between old and modern Thai was due to voicing distinction losses and the concomitant tone split . This may have happened between about 1300 and 1600 CE, possibly occurring at different times in different parts of
774-511: A higher actual population. The Thai census of 2015 reported a population of 386,605 for Phuket. During peak tourist seasons, Phuket experiences a significant influx of visitors, with the population increasing to over one million. Tourists, predominantly from Western Europe, China, Russia, and the United States, are drawn to the island around Christmas, contributing to this seasonal population increase. Religion in Phuket (2017) Phuket
860-602: A month-long siege, which ended on 13 March 1785. In recognition of their bravery and ingenuity, King Rama I bestowed the titles Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Si Sunthon upon the two sisters, celebrating them as heroines of Phuket. The official seal of Phuket features a depiction of the Two Heroines Monument, located along Highway 402 in Phuket , in honor of the sisters. Encircled by a traditional Thai kranok pattern , this seal has been in use since 1985. During
946-408: A pivotal role in the economy of Phuket from the 16th century until its decline in the 20th century. In contemporary times, the economy of Phuket is primarily supported by two sectors: rubber tree plantations, contributing significantly to Thailand's status as the world's leading rubber producer, and the tourism industry. The development of Phuket's tourism sector began in earnest in the 1980s, with
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#17327662931521032-524: A prevalent mode in Phuket. These songthaews, reportedly larger than those in other regions of Thailand, provide an economical means of transport between towns and various beaches. Phuket also offers conventional bus services and motorbike taxis, the latter being especially numerous in the main town and Patong Beach area. Traditional tuk-tuks have largely been replaced by small vans, predominantly red, with some in yellow or green. Taxi services in Phuket, generally operating with fixed rates, are considered to be on
1118-536: A retirement location is attributed to various factors, including its climate, lifestyle, and amenities. The year 2017 marked a significant influx of tourists to Phuket, with the island welcoming approximately 10 million visitors, predominantly from overseas. China was noted as the primary source of these foreign tourists. The tourism sector in Phuket played a crucial role in Thailand's economy, generating about 385 billion baht in revenue, which constituted nearly 14% of
1204-530: A syllable that formerly began with a voiceless consonant (including glottalized stops). An additional complication is that formerly voiceless unaspirated stops/affricates (original /p t k tɕ ʔb ʔd/ ) also caused original tone 1 to lower, but had no such effect on original tones 2 or 3. The above consonant mergers and tone splits account for the complex relationship between spelling and sound in modern Thai. Modern "low"-class consonants were voiced in Old Thai, and
1290-415: A wet season that spans the remaining eight months of the year. Notably, even during the dry season, Phuket is subject to occasional rainfall. On average, the city receives approximately 2,200 millimetres (87 in) of rainfall annually. In Thailand, Buddhism is the predominant religion, with a notable presence in Phuket. Approximately 20% of Phuket's population adheres to Islam , primarily descendants of
1376-443: Is a tonal and analytic language . Thai has a complex orthography and system of relational markers . Spoken Thai, depending on standard sociolinguistic factors such as age, gender, class, spatial proximity, and the urban/rural divide, is partly mutually intelligible with Lao , Isan , and some fellow Thai topolects . These languages are written with slightly different scripts, but are linguistically similar and effectively form
1462-537: Is designed to extend from Takua Thung District in Phang Nga province to Chalong in Phuket. The initial phase of the project plans to connect Phuket International Airport with Chalong, covering a distance of around 40 km (25 mi), with a projected completion timeline of three years. Additionally, Phuket maintains regular ferry services to neighboring islands, such as Phi Phi and Koh Lanta . These ferries operate daily from Rassada Pier and Tonsai Pier, with
1548-637: Is divided into three districts ( amphoe ), which are further divided into 17 subdistricts ( tambon ), and 103 villages ( muban ). As of 26 November 2019 there are: one Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation ( ongkan borihan suan changwat ) and 12 municipal ( thesaban ) areas in the province. Phuket has city ( thesaban nakhon ) status. Kathu and Patong have town ( thesaban mueang ) status. Further 9 subdistrict municipalities ( thesaban tambon ). The non-municipal areas are administered by 6 Subdistrict Administrative Organisations - SAO ( ongkan borihan suan tambon ). Tin mining historically played
1634-451: Is noted for its expansive and modern infrastructure. It offers connections to various local transport options, including tuk-tuks, metered taxis, motorcycle taxis, songthaews, and local buses, facilitating access to the island's numerous beaches and resorts. The station accommodates daily scheduled bus services operated by both private companies and government entities, originating from Bangkok's Mo Chit and Southern Terminal stations. In 2018,
1720-424: Is the provincial aquatic animal. Phuket Island (Ko Phuket), the largest island in Thailand, is situated in the southern part of the country, within the Andaman Sea . The island is characterized by its mountainous terrain, with a mountain range extending from the north to the south along its western side. This range is part of the larger Phuket mountain range , which spans approximately 440 km (270 mi) from
1806-749: The 1660 Compagnie de Chine , the Compagnie d'Orient and Compagnie de Madagascar. The first Director General for the Company was François de la Faye , who was adjoined by two Directors belonging to the two most successful trading organizations at that time: François Caron , who had spent 30 years working for the Dutch East India Company , including more than 20 years in Japan , and Marcara Avanchintz , an Armenian trader from Isfahan , Persia . In 1604, King Henry IV of France authorized
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#17327662931521892-859: The British . As a result of constant wars in Europe, notably the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years' War the British were able to exert control over French territories in India. With the Treaty of Paris in 1763, the territories were returned to France. The company was not able to maintain itself financially, and it was abolished in 1769. King Louis XV issued a 1769 edict that required
1978-542: The Central Thai , Mon , Lao Wiang , Phuan people in Central Thailand and the vast majority of Thai Chinese enclaves throughout the country. It is the sole official language of Thailand . Thai is the most spoken of over 60 languages of Thailand by both number of native and overall speakers. Over half of its vocabulary is derived from or borrowed from Pali , Sanskrit , Mon and Old Khmer . It
2064-631: The Indian Ocean , are located approximately 1,000 km (620 mi) offshore, positioned between Thailand and Sri Lanka . In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic reached Phuket. 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. While these measures were relatively effective in controlling
2150-537: The Kra Isthmus . 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. However, there are reports 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. As per the 2000 census, Phuket's population was 249,446, which increased to 525,709 by
2236-489: 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,
2322-466: The Northern Thai language (also known as Phasa Mueang or Kham Mueang) have become so few, as most people in northern Thailand now invariably speak Standard Thai, so that they are now using mostly Central Thai words and only seasoning their speech with the "Kham Mueang" accent. Standard Thai is based on the register of the educated classes by Central Thai and ethnic minorities in the area along
2408-633: The Rattanakosin Kingdom . Phuket was formerly known as Thalang ( ถลาง Tha-Laang ), which is also derived from the old Malay Telong ( Jawi : تلوڠ ) which means "cape". The northern district of the province, which was the location of the old capital, still uses this name. In Western sources and navigation charts, it was known as Junk Ceylon (a corruption of the Malay Tanjung Salang ; Jawi : تنجوڠ سالڠ ; i.e., "Cape Salang"). Fernão Mendes Pinto ,
2494-522: The Sarasin Bridge to Phang Nga province to the north. The next nearest province is Krabi , to the east across Phang Nga Bay. Phuket province, encompassing an area of 576 km (222 sq mi), ranks as the second-smallest province in Thailand. Its size is about two-thirds the size of Singapore . Historically, Phuket Island was situated on a major trading route between India and China. This strategic location led to its frequent mention in
2580-588: The Sirinat National Park on the northwest coast, established in 1981, encompasses an area of 90 km (35 sq mi), including 68 km (26 sq mi) of marine area. This park is significant for encompassing the Nai Yang Beach, a nesting site for sea turtles . The total forested area of Phuket is approximately 113 km (44 sq mi), accounting for 20.6 percent of the province's total area. Phuket, characterized by
2666-570: The Southwestern branch of Tai languages . The Tai languages are a branch of the Kra–Dai language family , which encompasses a large number of indigenous languages spoken in an arc from Hainan and Guangxi south through Laos and Northern Vietnam to the Cambodian border. Standard Thai is the principal language of education and government and spoken throughout Thailand. The standard is based on
Phuket province - Misplaced Pages Continue
2752-549: The logs of foreign ships, including those from Portugal, France, the Netherlands, and England. Despite this attention from various European powers, Phuket was never colonized by any European nation. Economically, the province's wealth was initially derived from tin and rubber production. In more recent times, Phuket has transitioned to tourism as its primary source of income. More than 100,000 foreigners are estimated to have settled in Phuket. The name "Phuket" (of which
2838-457: The 1680s, the company went insolvent and they had little choice but to rent out its monopoly to a group of merchants. The Indian trade remained under the company for approximately thirty years. In 1716, Scottish financier John Law arrived at the French royal court. The French court were in deep misery and were impotent to cover their debts caused due to War of Spanish Succession . Law approached
2924-432: The 2010 census. This marked the highest growth rate of all provinces in Thailand, averaging 7.4 percent annually. The current population of Phuket is estimated to be around 600,000, comprising a diverse mix of migrants, international expatriates, Thais registered in other provinces, and local inhabitants. However, the official registered population, which counts only those included in a thabian ban or house registration book,
3010-522: The Bangkok Post in September 2019. One report indicated that Phuket has around 600 hotels comprising 40,000 rooms. A separate report from three weeks earlier estimated 93,941 available hotel rooms, excluding villas and hostels, with an expectation of an additional 15,000 rooms by 2024. These varying figures highlight the difficulty in accurately quantifying the total number of hotel accommodations in
3096-516: The Burmese to believe that Phuket could be easily conquered. However, Than Phu Ying Chan , the widow of the deceased governor, along with her sister Mook (คุณมุก), devised a strategic defense. They instructed the women of the island to dress as soldiers and position themselves along the walls of Thalang city. This ruse led the Burmese to overestimate the strength of the island's defenses, prompting them to abort their attack and eventually retreat after
3182-516: The Crown with a scheme to construct a national bank and introduce paper currency, which would facilitate France's shift to credit economy. The company failed to found a successful colony on Madagascar , but was able to establish ports on the nearby islands of Bourbon and Île-de-France (today's Réunion and Mauritius ). By 1719, it had established itself in India , but the firm was near bankruptcy . In
3268-704: The East Indies. They were influenced by the successful business ventures of the Dutch East India Company . Between the 1630s and early 1660s, French efforts were smaller in scale, but they enjoyed some success. French merchant ships traversed the Persian Gulf , Red Sea, and the northwestern coast of the Indian subcontinent . These accomplishments paled France in comparison with England and Dutch Republic . France's Atlantic ports pursued to compete and amalgamate with each other. The commercial and capital expertise
3354-515: The French ambassador, the Chevalier de Chaumont . Subsequently, Sieur de Billy, previously the maître d'hôtel for Chaumont, was appointed as the governor of the island. However, following the Siamese revolution in 1688, the French presence in Siam was significantly reduced. On 10 April 1689, Desfarges led a military expedition to recapture Thalang in an attempt to re-establish French control in
3440-555: The Khmer system first before the Thai borrowed. Old Thai had a three-way tone distinction on "live syllables" (those not ending in a stop), with no possible distinction on "dead syllables" (those ending in a stop, i.e. either /p/, /t/, /k/ or the glottal stop that automatically closes syllables otherwise ending in a short vowel). There was a two-way voiced vs. voiceless distinction among all fricative and sonorant consonants, and up to
3526-537: The South. Golden beaches. Two heroines. Virtue of Luang Pho Chaem." The provincial seal and flag shows the monument of the heroine sisters Thao Thep Krasattri and Thao Si Sunthon . The provincial tree is Pterocarpus indicus , and the provincial flower is Bougainvillea sp. Phuket is an important pearl cultivation area, and is also nicknamed Pearl of the Andaman, on the ground, the pearl oyster Pinctada maxima
Phuket province - Misplaced Pages Continue
3612-491: The Thai-speaking area. All voiced–voiceless pairs of consonants lost the voicing distinction: However, in the process of these mergers, the former distinction of voice was transferred into a new set of tonal distinctions. In essence, every tone in Old Thai split into two new tones, with a lower-pitched tone corresponding to a syllable that formerly began with a voiced consonant, and a higher-pitched tone corresponding to
3698-537: The company a concession in perpetuity for the island of Madagascar, as well as any other territories it could conquer. The company possessed greater resources and better political banking than France's previous ventures in the Indian Ocean . Colbert's obsession with VOC led to series of early letdowns. One of France's main aims was to establish a French entrepôt in Madagascar to rival the Dutch colony of Batavia. By
3784-610: The company again started trading and settling in India. The reorganized corporation resumed its operating independence in 1723. The company's interest in the Mughal Empire was to prove no easier. The French arrived at the Indian subcontinent decades after the English, Portuguese and Dutch in establishing trade in India. On 4 September 1666, the French secured a royal mandate from Emperor Aurangzeb that granted them to trade on
3870-469: The company to carry out its own liquidation, rather than be supervised by the government. When this became known the following year, the resulting scandal led to the execution of key Montagnard deputies like Fabre d'Églantine and Joseph Delaunay , among others. The infighting sparked by the episode also brought down Georges Danton and can be said to have led to the downfall of the Montagnards as
3956-458: The company to transfer to the state all its properties, assets and rights, which were valued at 30 million livres. The King agreed to pay all of the company's debts and obligations, though holders of company stock and notes received only an estimated 15 percent of the face value of their investments by the end of corporate liquidation in 1790. The company was reconstituted in 1785 and issued 40,000 shares of stock, priced at 1,000 livres apiece. It
4042-657: The company's ships. With the decline of the Mughal Empire, the French decided to intervene in Indian political affairs to protect their interests, notably by forging alliances with local rulers in south India. From 1741 the French under Joseph François Dupleix pursued an aggressive policy against both the Indians and the British until they ultimately were defeated by Robert Clive . Several Indian trading ports, including Pondichéry and Chandernagore , remained under French control until 1954. France's main rivalry came from
4128-545: The dialect of the central Thai people, and it is written in the Thai script . Hlai languages Kam-Sui languages Kra languages Be language Northern Tai languages Central Tai languages Khamti language Tai Lue language Shan language others Northern Thai language Thai language Southern Thai language Tai Yo language Phuthai language Lao language (PDR Lao, Isan language ) Thai has undergone various historical sound changes. Some of
4214-679: 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. With its geographical location in the Malay Peninsula , Phuket was historically inhabited by the Austronesian Malays , before it was settled by the Thais due to southward expansions of Siamese kingdoms, most recently
4300-588: The establishment of the Compagnie des Indes Orientales ( East India Company ), granting the new firm a 15-year monopoly on French trade with the East Indies . This company was a precursor to a firm of the same name founded Jean-Baptiste Colbert , though the first business was not a joint-stock company , and was funded by the French Crown. The seventeenth century saw several French efforts to trade with
4386-544: The expensive side. For travel from the airport to Phuket Town and major beaches, privately operated buses are available. Additionally, the ride-share service Grab is frequently recommended by locals as a convenient transportation option. Phuket's primary hub for long-distance bus arrivals, Bus Station 2 BKS Terminal, serves as a critical link for transportation to and from Bangkok, as well as other major cities and provinces in Thailand. Situated approximately four kilometers north of Phuket's town center and port area, this facility
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#17327662931524472-580: The first 10 years were to be charged. The initial stock offering quickly sold out, as courtiers of Louis XIV recognized that it was in their interests to support the King's overseas initiative. The Compagnie des Indes Orientales was granted a 50-year monopoly on French trade in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, a region stretching from the Cape of Good Hope to the Straits of Magellan . The French monarch also granted
4558-639: The frequency and scope of services expanding annually. Ticket prices for these ferry services vary, with one-way fares typically ranging from 300 THB to 1500 THB. 6 hospitals exist in Phuket. The main hospital in Phuket operated by the Ministry of Public Health is Vachira Phuket Hospital , with smaller hospitals at Thalang and Patong. 3 Private hospitals exist which are Phuket International Hospital , Bangkok Hospital Phuket , and Mission Hospital Phuket . Since 2003, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand has tracked progress on human development at
4644-555: The island and departed with a cargo full of tin . 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. Charbonneau held this position until 1685. King Narai, in 1685, granted the French a tin monopoly in Phuket, formalized through an agreement with
4730-582: The island is marked by Laem Phromthep ( Thai : แหลมพรหมเทพ "Brahma's Cape"), known for being a popular viewpoint. In the northern, more mountainous part of the island, the Khao Phra Thaeo No-Hunting Area spans over 20 km (7.7 sq mi), dedicated to preserving rainforest ecosystems. This reserve's three highest peaks include Khao Prathiu (384 metres (1,260 ft)), Khao Bang Pae (388 metres (1,273 ft)), and Khao Phara (422 metres (1,385 ft)). Additionally,
4816-410: The island's original Austronesian inhabitants . This Muslim community includes a substantial number of individuals of Malay descent. 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. The Peranakan community, locally referred to as "Phuket Babas", forms
4902-540: 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. In response to the tsunami disaster, Thailand initiated the installation of a series of tsunami-detection buoys in December 2006. These buoys, part of a regional warning system in
4988-528: The local patois as pronounced in Guangdong Ayutthaya , the old capital of Thailand from 1351 - 1767 A.D., was from the beginning a bilingual society, speaking Thai and Khmer . Bilingualism must have been strengthened and maintained for some time by the great number of Khmer-speaking captives the Thais took from Angkor Thom after their victories in 1369, 1388 and 1431. Gradually toward the end of
5074-551: The most significant changes occurred during the evolution from Old Thai to modern Thai. The Thai writing system has an eight-century history and many of these changes, especially in consonants and tones, are evidenced in the modern orthography . According to a Chinese source, during the Ming dynasty , Yingya Shenglan (1405–1433), Ma Huan reported on the language of the Xiānluó (暹羅) or Ayutthaya Kingdom, saying that it somewhat resembled
5160-420: The nation's total earnings of 2.77 trillion baht in that year. In the first half of 2019, Phuket experienced a decrease in tourist arrivals, which impacted the local hospitality industry. This trend was marked by reduced hotel occupancy rates and intensified price competition among accommodations. Consequently, there was a noted decrease in revenue per available room ( RevPAR ). Analysts attribute this downturn to
5246-415: The period, a language shift took place. Khmer fell out of use. Both Thai and Khmer descendants whose great-grand parents or earlier ancestors were bilingual came to use only Thai. In the process of language shift, an abundance of Khmer elements were transferred into Thai and permeated all aspects of the language. Consequently, the Thai of the late Ayutthaya Period which later became Ratanakosin or Bangkok Thai,
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#17327662931525332-530: The port of Surat . By 1683, the French had directed their attention toward the prominent site of Pondicherry, however the shift did little to offset the company's chronic shortage of capital. By 1738, the company owned 1,432 slaves, 630 of whom resided in the French colony of Isle de France . Many slaves in the colony were imported by the company from the West African region of Senegambia ; these included laptots , African slaves who forcibly served onboard
5418-412: The pressures of Western expansionism during this period, King Chulalongkorn’s leadership is credited with maintaining Siam's sovereignty, averting colonization. In 1876, there was a significant uprising among Chinese laborers working in the tin mines of Phuket and its neighboring provinces. The unrest was reportedly influenced by the declining prices of tin and the government's stringent fiscal policies at
5504-538: The region. In 2023, Phuket experienced a 15% increase in property prices with demand driven by an influx of Russian and Ukrainian nationals. The number of luxury villas launched in Phuket during the first six months of 2023 surged 12 times to 541 units worth a total 29.6 billion baht, from 45 units valued at 886 million baht the previous year. 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). This expansion, which
5590-624: The region. This occupation was short-lived, with Desfarges returning to Puducherry in January 1690. Before the Burmese assault on Thalang in 1785 , during what is known as the "Nine Armies' Wars", Francis Light , a captain with the British East India Company , alerted the authorities in Phuket of the impending Burmese attack. Light's warning came at a time when the island's military governor had recently passed away, leading
5676-422: The reign of King Chulalongkorn , also known as Rama V, from 1 October 1868 to 23 October 1910, Phuket was designated as the administrative center for the tin-producing southern provinces of Siam (now Thailand). 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
5762-519: The ring surrounding the Metropolis . In addition to Central Thai, Thailand is home to other related Tai languages . Although most linguists classify these dialects as related but distinct languages, native speakers often identify them as regional variants or dialects of the "same" Thai language, or as "different kinds of Thai". As a dominant language in all aspects of society in Thailand, Thai initially saw gradual and later widespread adoption as
5848-492: The royal vocabulary according to their immediate environment. Thai and Pali, the latter from Theravada Buddhism, were added to the vocabulary. An investigation of the Ayutthaya Rajasap reveals that three languages, Thai, Khmer and Khmero-Indic were at work closely both in formulaic expressions and in normal discourse. In fact, Khmero-Indic may be classified in the same category as Khmer because Indic had been adapted to
5934-470: The same year the Compagnie des Indes Orientales was merged under Law's direction with other French trading companies to form the Compagnie Perpétuelle des Indes . This merger resulted in the company being involved in importing slaves to Louisiana , as the colony operated on a plantation economy . The French economy crashed drastically in 1721 due to Law's reforms. Following this event,
6020-437: The second largest, covering 8.8 square kilometres (3.4 sq mi). The island measures 48 kilometres (30 mi) in length from north to south, and its width extends to 21 kilometres (13 mi). Around 60 percent of Phuket Island is covered with forests, rubber, and palm oil plantations. Its west coast is adorned with several sandy beaches, while the east coast features predominantly muddy beaches. The southernmost tip of
6106-458: The spread of the virus, they had a significant impact on Phuket's tourism-dependent economy. By 2022, Thailand transitioned towards the post-pandemic phase , marking the end of the country's intensive COVID-19 response measures. The murder of Nicole Sauvain-Weisskopf , a Swiss national on holiday, occurred in Phuket in August 2021. The provincial slogan is "Pearl of the Andaman. Heavenly City of
6192-476: The sub-national level using the Human Achievement Index (HAI), a composite index covering all the eight key areas of human development. The National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) has taken over this task since 2017. Thai language Thai , or Central Thai (historically Siamese ; Thai: ภาษาไทย ), is a Tai language of the Kra–Dai language family spoken by
6278-535: The terminology "low" reflects the lower tone variants that resulted. Modern "mid"-class consonants were voiceless unaspirated stops or affricates in Old Thai—precisely the class that triggered lowering in original tone 1 but not tones 2 or 3. Modern "high"-class consonants were the remaining voiceless consonants in Old Thai (voiceless fricatives, voiceless sonorants, voiceless aspirated stops). The three most common tone "marks" (the lack of any tone mark, as well as
6364-512: The three tones of Old Thai were split have since merged into five in standard Thai, with the lower variant of former tone 2 merging with the higher variant of former tone 3, becoming the modern "falling" tone. หม ม หน น, ณ หญ ญ หง ง ป ผ พ, ภ บ ฏ, ต ฐ, ถ ท, ธ ฎ, ด จ ฉ ช French East India Company The French East India Company ( French : Compagnie française pour le commerce des Indes orientales )
6450-544: The time, such as Patani and Ligor, the latter being the present-day Nakhon Si Thammarat. During the 17th century, Junk Ceylon (now known as Phuket) was a focal point of international trade, particularly for its tin resources. The Dutch and English , and later the French after the 1680s, competed for trading opportunities on the island. In September 1680, the French East India Company 's ship arrived at
6536-853: The time. Phuket underwent another administrative change in 1933 when Monthon Phuket (มณฑลภูเก็ต) was dissolved, leading to Phuket’s establishment as a separate province. On 26 December 2004, Phuket, along with other areas on Thailand's west coast, experienced significant devastation due to a tsunami triggered by an earthquake off the coast of Sumatra , Indonesia . 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. In Phuket, around 250 individuals, including foreign tourists, were reported deceased. Major beaches on Phuket’s west coast, including Kamala, Patong , Karon, and Kata, suffered substantial damage, as did some resorts and communities along
6622-423: The two marks termed mai ek and mai tho ) represent the three tones of Old Thai, and the complex relationship between tone mark and actual tone is due to the various tonal changes since then. Since the tone split, the tones have changed in actual representation to the point that the former relationship between lower and higher tonal variants has been completely obscured. Furthermore, the six tones that resulted after
6708-448: The west coast beaches, notably Patong, Karon, and Kata, emerging as key tourist destinations. Following the 2004 tsunami , efforts were made to restore all affected buildings and attractions. The island has since undergone extensive development, evidenced by the construction of new hotels, apartments, and houses. In a 2005 report by Fortune Magazine, Phuket was listed among the top five global retirement destinations. The island's appeal as
6794-588: Was a joint-stock company founded in France on 1 September 1664 to engage in trade in India and other Asian lands. As such, it competed with the English (later British) and Dutch trading companies in the East Indies . Planned by Jean-Baptiste Colbert , it was chartered by King Louis XIV for the purpose of trading in the Eastern Hemisphere . It resulted from the fusion of three earlier companies,
6880-451: Was a significant port of call for trading vessels , where they often stopped for supplies and provisions. However, Pinto noted that during the mid-16th century, the island's prominence was in decline. This downturn was attributed to the presence of pirates and the challenging sea conditions, which made the area less favorable for merchant vessels. In addition to Phuket, Pinto's accounts also include references to other important port cities of
6966-453: Was a thorough mixture of Thai and Khmer. There were more Khmer words in use than Tai cognates. Khmer grammatical rules were used actively to coin new disyllabic and polysyllabic words and phrases. Khmer expressions, sayings, and proverbs were expressed in Thai through transference. Thais borrowed both the Royal vocabulary and rules to enlarge the vocabulary from Khmer. The Thais later developed
7052-464: Was disbursed around the coastal regions of Brittany and Normandy . Like other nationally-chartered trading companies of the time, the Company was based on a mercantilist model of trade, and complemented a colonialist foreign policy. The initial capital of the revamped Compagnie des Indes Orientales was 15 million livres, divided into shares of 1000 livres apiece. Louis XIV funded the first 3 million livres of investment, against which losses in
7138-503: Was finally liquidated in 1794. Even as the company was headed consciously toward extinction, it became embroiled in its most infamous scandal. The Committee of Public Safety had banned all joint-stock companies on 24 August 1793, and specifically seized the assets and papers of the East India Company. While its liquidation proceedings were being set up, directors of the company bribed various senior state officials to allow
7224-607: Was given monopoly on all trade with countries beyond the Cape of Good Hope for an agreed period of seven years. The agreement, however, did not anticipate the French Revolution , and on 3 April 1790 the monopoly was abolished by an act of the new French Assembly which enthusiastically declared that the lucrative Far Eastern trade would henceforth be "thrown open to all Frenchmen". The company, accustomed neither to competition nor official disfavor, fell into steady decline and
7310-743: Was reported as 360,905 at the end of 2012. It's important to note that this figure does not encompass all residents, as many are not registered in the house registration system. Phuket Island, situated approximately 863 kilometres (536 mi) south of Bangkok , spans an area of 543 square kilometres (210 sq mi), not accounting for its smaller islets. It is accompanied by several other islands including Ko Lone (4.77 square kilometres (1.84 sq mi)), Ko Maprao (3.7 square kilometres (1.4 sq mi)), Ko Naka Yai (2.08 square kilometres (0.80 sq mi)), Ko Racha Noi (3.06 square kilometres (1.18 sq mi)), Ko Racha Yai (4.5 square kilometres (1.7 sq mi)), and Ko Sire ,
7396-515: Was scheduled for completion by 14 February 2016, aimed to increase the airport's annual passenger handling capacity from 6.5 million to 12.5 million and included the construction of a new international terminal. As of the latest information, Phuket does not have a direct rail line. The nearest train stations are in Surat Thani and Khiri Rat Nikhom , approximately 230 km (140 mi) away. In terms of local transportation, songthaews are
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