PHUKET: Twenty Ambassadors from Europe are visiting Phuket next month but China's Ambassador will be here first, arriving next Wednesday to discuss tourism safety and security.
His Excellency Guan Mu is coming to Phuket to ''complain,'' Phuket Governor Maitree Intrusud told a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City yesterday, using the English word.
The governor said the ambassador wished to discuss jet-skis, tuk-tuks Immigration ''and so on.''
He also said the 20 European Union ambassadors or their senior representatives would be gathering on Phuket on June 14-15.
The same issues are likely to be raised at both meetings. Some issues have come to the fore as Chinese tourists have begun to travel to the Phuket region in numbers.
As they are poorer swimmers than the Europeans and less likely to have used a snorkel, tour operators need to pitch their level of care to suit travellers unused to the water.
Environmental issues have also altered with the arrival of more Chinese tourists.
They are inclined to not yet be aware to leave behind only their footprints, tending to drop cigarette butts in areas of natural beauty and break off pieces of coral as souvenirs.
Both the Europeans and the Chinese remain targets for jet-ski scams and for extortionate tuk-tuk and taxi fares, although only the Chinese charter flights that arrive in the early morning are allegedly being subjected to an illegal ''tax'' at Phuket International Airport's Immigration counters.
Governor Maitree said that Phuket Vice Governor Dr Sommai Preechasin will meet China's Ambassador while he will adress the ''complaints'' of the European ambassadors.
His Excellency Guan Mu is coming to Phuket to ''complain,'' Phuket Governor Maitree Intrusud told a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket City yesterday, using the English word.
The governor said the ambassador wished to discuss jet-skis, tuk-tuks Immigration ''and so on.''
He also said the 20 European Union ambassadors or their senior representatives would be gathering on Phuket on June 14-15.
The same issues are likely to be raised at both meetings. Some issues have come to the fore as Chinese tourists have begun to travel to the Phuket region in numbers.
As they are poorer swimmers than the Europeans and less likely to have used a snorkel, tour operators need to pitch their level of care to suit travellers unused to the water.
Environmental issues have also altered with the arrival of more Chinese tourists.
They are inclined to not yet be aware to leave behind only their footprints, tending to drop cigarette butts in areas of natural beauty and break off pieces of coral as souvenirs.
Both the Europeans and the Chinese remain targets for jet-ski scams and for extortionate tuk-tuk and taxi fares, although only the Chinese charter flights that arrive in the early morning are allegedly being subjected to an illegal ''tax'' at Phuket International Airport's Immigration counters.
Governor Maitree said that Phuket Vice Governor Dr Sommai Preechasin will meet China's Ambassador while he will adress the ''complaints'' of the European ambassadors.
Isn't it very undiplomatic for a Governor not to meet an Ambassador?
Posted by helen on May 24, 2013 12:22