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Phuket's natural resources and key location have given the island a long and diverse history. The island came under Thai control in the 13th century and was an important economic addition due to its ivory, pearls and spices. It was a popular stopover with the Malay, Arab, Tamil, Chinese and Portuguese explorers, but in the 16 th century it was the Dutch who first established a trading port.
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The French and English both showed interest, with the English sending Captain Francis Light to survey the island. Although the British chose Penang as their base instead, Captain Light remained in Phuket and was of great assistance during an attempted invasion from the Burmese.
The 19th century saw a development in Phuket's tin industry and an influx of Chinese settlers to the island to work the mines. This culminated in riotous conditions that eventually saw the Chinese bow to peace due to the persuasions of local monks. Today, the tin industry is the second largest in Phuket after tourism, with rubber and cashews following third and fourth respectively. |
The population continued to grow throughout the 20 th century and when the constitutional monarchy began as the governing system in 1933, Phuket Island became a separate province of Thailand. As the tourism industry steadily grew, word of the beautiful beaches and stunning surroundings became popular knowledge. Construction of the bridge linking Phuket to the mainland, along with the construction of an International Airport, ensured that by the 1980's, Phuket was on the world map as a must-see destination.
Today, Phuket sees over three million visitors a year, supports a lucrative property market and provides world-class hospitality. It is still possible to see the architectural influences of the Chinese and Portuguese in Phuket Old Town, but most of the island's development caters to the modern traveller.
Known locally as the Pearl of the South, Phuket is the largest island in Thailand. At 48km long it is roughly the same size as Singapore, has a population of 1.6 million people, and is twinned with Las Vegas in the USA. Famous for its illustrious beaches, tropical rainforests and vibrant nightlife, Phuket is also a very mountainous island with up to 70 % of its area taken up by rolling peaks. The best beaches are found on the West side of the island with those on the East side having a tendency to be more muddy than sandy.
The island is linked to the mainland via road bridge roughly 860 Kms South of Bangkok, and it’s diverse geography means that whether you enjoy world-class diving, jungle treks to tropical waterfalls, island hopping by speedboat, serene cruises through diverse nature or lying back and relaxing on white sandy beaches lined with palm trees, Phuket has something to suit!
From Phuket City you can catch a ferry to the outlying smaller islands around Phuket, the Similan Islands to the northwest or the Koh Phi Phi Islands to the southeast.
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