Is Phuket Safe?

Tsunamis, Crime, Thailand's Deep South: What to know about safety in Phuket

The island is back to normal after 2004's Boxing Day tsunami.  Rest assured that tsunamis are relatively rare events and the island and Andaman Sea area have an alarm system that has regular tests.

Thailand's Deep South

It is easy to see news reports of problems in the deep south of Thailand in the three provinces that have significant Muslim populations.  There, yes, significant problems exist and you should not travel to that area unless you have good reason and someone who knows the area with you.  But, the truth is that those three provinces are a hard day's drive south of Phuket - and sit right on the border with Malaysia.  What is happening there is not likely to affect Phuket.

Crime in General on Phuket

There is some crime on the island, though most of it seems to be criminal or "mafia" related crime where the bad buys are fighting it out with each other.  There is also some theft and robbery.  Be careful, as you would back home - but don't be overly concerned.

And I would venture to say that most of us who live here, feel that Phuket, and Thailand in general, are safer places to live than the crime infested cities in the West.