PHUKET: A young Chinese tourist drowned today on a day-trip from Phuket, according to a regional rescue centre spokesman.
His death* comes on the eve of a visit to Phuket by the influential Chinese Ambassador to discuss tourism safety.
Details of the tourist's death have yet to emerge.
It's known that he drowned on a snorkelling day trip to Pai island, a small island between Phuket and Phi Phi.
The Director of the Chaofa Krabi Centre Marine Rescue Operation, Nitipat Mongkhonprasit, said the man's body, now at Phi Phi Hospital, was being transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City.
An increasing number of Chinese tourists have drowned on snorkelling day-trips. Chinese travellers are not as familiar with snorkels and masks as European and Australian visitors.
Many are not strong swimmers. Often, boatboys and speedboat ''captains'' do not oversee the activities of tourists at snorkelling destinations.
Chinese Ambassador Guan Mu is visiting Phuket tomorrow for lengthy talks with Phuket officials about the safety and security of Chinese tourists.
Phuketwan telephoned the office of the Chinese Consul in Had Yai, which oversees Phuket. The Deputy Consul said it was the first they had heard of today's drowning.
*The drowning victim was first reported to be a woman but officials from the Chinese Consul's office confirmed it was a man.
His death* comes on the eve of a visit to Phuket by the influential Chinese Ambassador to discuss tourism safety.
Details of the tourist's death have yet to emerge.
It's known that he drowned on a snorkelling day trip to Pai island, a small island between Phuket and Phi Phi.
The Director of the Chaofa Krabi Centre Marine Rescue Operation, Nitipat Mongkhonprasit, said the man's body, now at Phi Phi Hospital, was being transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket City.
An increasing number of Chinese tourists have drowned on snorkelling day-trips. Chinese travellers are not as familiar with snorkels and masks as European and Australian visitors.
Many are not strong swimmers. Often, boatboys and speedboat ''captains'' do not oversee the activities of tourists at snorkelling destinations.
Chinese Ambassador Guan Mu is visiting Phuket tomorrow for lengthy talks with Phuket officials about the safety and security of Chinese tourists.
Phuketwan telephoned the office of the Chinese Consul in Had Yai, which oversees Phuket. The Deputy Consul said it was the first they had heard of today's drowning.
*The drowning victim was first reported to be a woman but officials from the Chinese Consul's office confirmed it was a man.
History repeats itself same thing last month nothing been done to address this issue again,the chinese do not even know the rudimentrys of a mask and snorkle let alone swim or float,the tour guides dont observe them dont ask if they can even dog paddle and likely having a sleep on the boat ,likely we will see the same story with a different deceased name next month,the chinese ambassador will be a brillant & revered statesman if he can get the Thai powers that be to introduce codes of practice for these snorkling tours addressing the very avoidable death toll in this activity.
Posted by slickmelb on May 28, 2013 19:41