THE DRIVER of a Phuket tour jeep that crashed, killing an Australian tourist, was not experienced at driving that kind of vehicle, a meeting about tourist safety was told today.

The man, who usually drove small tour buses, was a last minute replacement for the regular experienced four-wheel vehicle driver, who had called in sick.

Details about the fatal crash emerged today when Governor Wichai Praisa-ngob met with officials and tour company representatives to discuss how tourists can be better protected.

Honeymooner Michael Malonzo, 26, was killed on Friday when the tour jeep plunged off the Big Buddha road in southern Phuket.

The couple had the left and right seats on side benches directly behind the driver's cabin, the only two seats fitted with seatbelts.

Mr Malonzo and his wife Aimee were wearing the belts, today's meeting heard. One official speculated that the couple may have been hit by the force of the other eight passengers.

Mrs Malonzo, also 26, hopes to be on a flight back home to Australia from Phuket on Thursday or Friday.

Lack of seats on flights back to Australia from the popular island may mean though that the body of husband Michael may return on a separate flight.

Michael's father Isaac and sister Katrina may go back with his casket while Aimee flies with her parents, Allan and Cheryl Dykstra.

Mr Dykstra was keep today to pass on the thanks of all the family for their treatment since the tragedy.

''We wanted to say thanks to everybody for their kindness and consideration,'' Mr Dykstra told Phuketwan today.

''From the director of Bangkok Hospital Phuket to the doctors and nurses, everyone has been generous and extremely helpful.

''We appreciate the way Thai people especially have understood and shared our feelings.''

Governor Wichai was among the first to sympathise, visiting Aimee and the other eight injured Australian victims with a delegation from the Red Cross.

Other visitors have followed, with flowers and fruit, from the Tourist Police and the Transport Department.

An Australian Embassy officer from Bangkok and honorary consul Larry Cunningham have been helping to organise insurance and the flights back to Sydney, where the family lives.

It is believed that the driver of the vehicle involved in the fatal crash was keen to visit and offer his condolences.

Police are continuing their investigations. The four-wheel drive on the vehicle had not been engaged, investigators have revealed. It was last checked for mechanical faults on January 12.

The tour company, Siam Safari, was represented at the talks with the governor today about safety on the Big Buddha road.