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PHUKET: US Ambassador Kristie Kenney mentioned tourist scams on Phuket - including jet-skis - in talks today with Phuket Governor Maitree Intrusud.
She said the meeting had been aimed at ''continuing to keep Phuket a safe place as more tourists come.'' She added that there were ''always areas where things can improve.''
Questioned about the recent shuttle bus stopwork during the visit of the aircrafi carrier USS Nimitz and warship USS Princeton, Ambassador Kenney said that she was sure that US Navy personnel would continue to visit Phuket.
''They love coming to Phuket to enjoy the scenery, the beaches, and of course the amazing Thai food,'' she said.
Later, Governor Maitree told the media that Ambassador Kenney had said that the US Navy visitors spent 400 million baht on Phuket during their short visit.
He was speaking after meeting with the ambassador and Vice Governor Dr Sommai Preechasin in private talks at Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City.
The ambassador also met earlier in the day with Phuket Police Commander Chote Chawanwiwat. Representatives from the Department of Special Investigations and Immigration were scheduled to join those talks.
Ambassador Kenney said she thanked the governor, the vice governor and the commander for taking good care of Americans on Phuket but revealed few details about either of the Phuket meetings.
Officials had been ''extremely helpful whenever we have had difficulties or problems,'' she said.
Ambasador Kenney told the media that she had been to Phuket as a tourist several times and enjoyed her visits.
Regular flights from Bangkok and Singapore made Phuket easy to reach for a holiday, she said.
One one break, she said, as she used her Thai language skills, the taxi driver had asked if she was an English teacher.
''I am amazed that this island gets so many millions of tourists and still retains its beauty,'' she said.
The ambassador was to have lunch with Americans on the island before visiting Satree Phuket School and an island museum before flying back to Bangkok.
She said the meeting had been aimed at ''continuing to keep Phuket a safe place as more tourists come.'' She added that there were ''always areas where things can improve.''
Questioned about the recent shuttle bus stopwork during the visit of the aircrafi carrier USS Nimitz and warship USS Princeton, Ambassador Kenney said that she was sure that US Navy personnel would continue to visit Phuket.
''They love coming to Phuket to enjoy the scenery, the beaches, and of course the amazing Thai food,'' she said.
Later, Governor Maitree told the media that Ambassador Kenney had said that the US Navy visitors spent 400 million baht on Phuket during their short visit.
He was speaking after meeting with the ambassador and Vice Governor Dr Sommai Preechasin in private talks at Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City.
The ambassador also met earlier in the day with Phuket Police Commander Chote Chawanwiwat. Representatives from the Department of Special Investigations and Immigration were scheduled to join those talks.
Ambassador Kenney said she thanked the governor, the vice governor and the commander for taking good care of Americans on Phuket but revealed few details about either of the Phuket meetings.
Officials had been ''extremely helpful whenever we have had difficulties or problems,'' she said.
Ambasador Kenney told the media that she had been to Phuket as a tourist several times and enjoyed her visits.
Regular flights from Bangkok and Singapore made Phuket easy to reach for a holiday, she said.
One one break, she said, as she used her Thai language skills, the taxi driver had asked if she was an English teacher.
''I am amazed that this island gets so many millions of tourists and still retains its beauty,'' she said.
The ambassador was to have lunch with Americans on the island before visiting Satree Phuket School and an island museum before flying back to Bangkok.
So a fairly pointless visit then?
Posted by stu on June 12, 2013 18:58
Editor Comment:
No on what we think was said behind closed doors.