The island's name is derived from the Tamil Manikram, Meaning Crystal Mountain.

In 1518 the Portuguese were granted permission by King Rama Thibodi II of Ayutthaya to set up a tin trading station in Phuket. During King Narai's reign, 1656-1688, French Ambassador Chevalier de Chaumont noted the importance of Phuket tin for the Ayutthaya's Royal exchequer.

Tin mines also opened in neighbouring Takua Pha ("lead forest") in Phang Nga, and in Ranong. The temptation of tin was too much for the warring Burmese. They invaded Phuket four times 1785-1812, prompting a refugee exodus to eastern Phang Nga. When Burma fell to the British in 1824, peaceful trading expanded in the Andaman during the reign of King Rama III, 1824-51.

The boom of tin mines in Phuket encouraged, thousands of impoverished Chinese migrated to Phuket in the mid 19th century.

In 1870 the English observer Dr DB Bradley wrote: "The immigration continues to increase, and now there are about 25,000 Chinese in Phuket. "Gambling predominates much more than in Bangkok, and is the principle cause of so much trouble on the island. By the turn of the century labour intensive tin mining was in decline.

The first offshore dredger arrived in 1906. captained by Australian Edward Thomas Miles. Tin changed the face of the island, and the introduction of the first tin dredges in 1907 by Australian Captain Edward Thomas Miles transformed its coastline. With it, tin mining moved offshore. There are still open mines to be found today, but most have disappeared, swallowed up by the jungle or transformed into farms and plantations. The dredges, however, have left their scars along the eastern coastline.

Backpackers flocked to the island in the early 1970s. The wealthy inhabitants of the island quickly built simple lodging facilities ot accomodated then .Today, budget lodging facilities are still available although high-rises and five -star accommodations have adoled a full rang of hotels star coomodation. Today tourism is the number one industry on the island.

The wealth created by influenced the development of the island. Agricultural increased the wealth of the area. With the introduction of tourism, Phuket boasts the highest per capita income in Thailand. During the daytime the beaches and the outdoors are the attractions. In the evening ,Phuket presents many types of entertainment. All lodging facilities have drinking and dining areas. Finding exciting or exotic eating and drinking establishments on Phuket is very easy.

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