Phuket is an island on the southwest side of Thailand in the Andaman Sea (which is in the Indian Ocean) lying between 7' 45" and 8' 15" north latitude and from 98' 15" to 98' 40" west longitude. 32 smaller islands that form part of the same administration with a total area of 570 square kilometers surround Thailand's largest island, Phuket. Phuket measures 21.3 kilometers at its widest point and 48.7 kilometers at its longest. It is bounded thus:

Since the early 1980's the tourist business has been Phuket's chief source of income. Hotels,
restaurants, tour companies, and souvenir shops are much in evidence on the west coast. However, while the once all-important tin mining has ceased, tourism is by no means the island's only activity. Agriculture remains important to a large number of people and covers by far the largest portion of the island. Principal crops are rubber, coconuts, cashews, and pineapples. Prawn farming has largely taken over the east and south coasts. Pearl farming is also important. Phuket's fishing port is at all times filled. Processing of marine products, mainly fish, makes a significant contribution to the economy.

With so many healthy industries supplying income, construction has become a major factor in employment. This ranges from massive public works projects, large office buildings, hotels and housing estates with hundreds of units down to single family homes, apartments and room additions.