Early History of Phuket and Tourism
The history of Phuket goes back much further than its beaches. For centuries the island was a trading post on the sea route between India and China, then a tin-mining centre that drew settlers from China and the Malay world, and only in recent decades did it become one of Asia’s best-known holiday islands. This guide to Phuket history covers the key chapters, and the places where you can still see them today.
Updated October 2026 by the Phuket Dream Company team (TAT licensed).
Where the name Phuket comes from
The name is usually traced to the Malay word bukit, meaning “hill”, because the island looks like a hill rising from the sea when seen from a distance. For a long time the island was better known by other names:
- Junk Ceylon: the name on old European charts, a corruption of the Malay Tanjung Salang (“Cape Salang”).
- Thalang: the old name of the island and its first main town. Today it is the name of the northern district.
A trading island between India and China
Phuket sat on the Andaman Sea trade route. Its sheltered bays gave sailing ships somewhere safe to wait for the monsoon winds that would carry them on towards India or back towards China. The first people on the island and its coasts were Malay-speaking, and Thai settlement grew as Siam expanded south.
The Chao Leh, or sea nomads, have lived along these coasts for generations, fishing and diving. Their communities can still be found at Rawai, on Koh Sire and on nearby islands, though modern development puts them under pressure.
The tin era
Tin shaped Phuket more than anything else. From around the 16th century, European traders came looking for it: first the Portuguese, then the Dutch, the English and the French. In the 1680s the French briefly held a tin monopoly granted by King Narai of Ayutthaya, but their influence ended after the Siamese revolution of 1688.
In the 19th century, large numbers of Chinese labourers, many of them Hokkien, arrived to work the mines. Many married into local families. The result was the Peranakan or “Baba” culture you still see in Phuket’s food, wedding customs and the colourful Sino-Portuguese shophouses of Phuket Old Town. Under King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), Phuket became the administrative centre for Siam’s tin-producing provinces in the south.
The heroines of Thalang (1785)
Phuket’s most famous story comes from 1785, when a Burmese army attacked the island. The governor had recently died. His widow Chan and her sister Mook organised the defence of Thalang. A well-known part of the story is that they had local women dress as soldiers, which made the town look far better defended than it was. After a siege of about a month, the Burmese withdrew.
King Rama I gave the sisters the titles Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Si Sunthon. Their statue at the Heroines Monument roundabout in Thalang is one of the island’s landmarks, and the victory is still marked every March.
Rubber, then the first tourists
As tin mining slowed in the 20th century, rubber plantations spread across much of the island’s interior and changed its landscape for good. Phuket became a separate province in 1933.
The first backpackers and beach-lovers started arriving in the 1970s, when Patong and the west-coast bays were still quiet villages with a few simple bungalows. Better road links and the growth of Phuket International Airport opened the island to package tourism, and from the 1980s onwards tourism grew into the island’s main industry.
The Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004 hit Phuket’s west-coast beaches hard. The island rebuilt, and today it welcomes millions of visitors every year.
Where to see Phuket’s history today
- Phuket Old Town: walk Thalang Road, Dibuk Road, Krabi Road and Soi Romanee to see the Sino-Portuguese shophouses and old mansions. The Sunday walking street on Thalang Road is the liveliest time to visit.
- Heroines Monument and Thalang National Museum: learn about the 1785 siege and the island’s early history.
- Peranakan heritage: try Phuket-style dishes such as moo hong and Hokkien noodles, and look out for Baba wedding costumes in local museums.
- Chinese shrines: the shrines in and around the Old Town are at the heart of the annual Vegetarian Festival.
- Chao Leh villages: visit respectfully, and support local businesses rather than just taking photos.
Phuket history tours
The easiest way to see these places in one day is with a private driver. Our team can arrange a private car or city tour that combines Phuket Old Town and Thalang with viewpoints such as the Big Buddha. For example, see our half-day city tour with the pearl farm and Big Buddha, or browse all our tours.
Frequently asked questions
What is Phuket famous for historically?
Tin mining and sea trade. Tin brought European traders and later many Chinese settlers, whose Peranakan culture still shapes the island.
What was Phuket called before?
European charts called it Junk Ceylon. Locally it was long known as Thalang.
Who were the heroines of Thalang?
Two sisters, Chan and Mook, who led the defence of Thalang against a Burmese attack in 1785. They were honoured as Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Si Sunthon.
When did tourism start in Phuket?
Travellers began arriving in the 1970s, and tourism grew quickly from the 1980s as air links improved.
What does “Phuket” mean? (apa itu Phuket?)
Phuket is Thailand’s largest island, in the Andaman Sea. The name is usually linked to the Malay word bukit, meaning “hill”.
Is Phuket Old Town worth visiting?
Yes. It is the best place on the island to see Phuket’s history in its streets, food and buildings.