Phuket Summary

Tin and Rubber

Phuket is a major source of tin in the sixteenth century during the Ayutthaya period. It was also during this period that the first Europeans arrived on Phuket. Due to Phuket’s abundant supply of tin and its importance as a trading port, the economy continued to prosper. The British secured a tin mining concession and nearly claimed Phuket as part of the British Empire. The rubber trees was brought in by the governor of Phuket; Praya Rassada Pradit.

Prehistory

The first people to live in Phuket were the Chao Lay or the Sea Gypsies and the original muslim people.

Burmese Attack

The Burmese attacked Phuket in 1785. They had been repelled a year earlier but returned in a large fleet, which was spotted by Francis Light, a British East India Company captain, was passing by the island and warned the local administration that the Burmese were preparing to attack. The island’s governor had just passed away so his wife organized the defence. She and her sister, Mook assembled all the forces they had, and according to legend, disguised local women as male soldiers, making their army look much larger. When the Burmese saw the Thai army, they lost heart and fled. King Rama 1 then awarded Khun Ying Chan with the title “Thao Thep Kasattri”. Now Phuket has a momnument which stand statues of Khun Ying Chan and Thao Sri Suntorn (Mook’s Title).

Tsunami

On 26 December 2004, Phuket and other nearby areas were heavily damaged by the Boxing Day tsunami, caused by the 2004 Indian earthquake. 250 people were killed in Phuket, 3500 people killed nationwide, and tens of thousands more in the Asian region. Nearly all of the major beaches were heavily damaged, especially Kamala, Patong, Karon and Kata.

Tourism

Most of the income Phuket derives is from tourism. It became a tourist industryin early 1970 when they stopped tin mining. Thai culture attracts a lot of tourists.