Dutch diplomacy stresses Phuket tourism woes
PHUKET: The new Dutch Ambassador to Thailand, Joan Boer, met Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha last Monday (Aug 22) to discuss ways to improve the island’s tourism industry.
Wednesday 24 August 2011, 08:15AM
Recently, numerous reports of jet-ski rip-off scams and disagreements with tuk-tuk drivers have not portrayed Phuket in the best light internationally, remarked the Ambassador.
“Tourism is not [just] about making money, it’s more about giving security and responsibility,” he said.
In response, Gov Tri said he understand the problems, but that they must be resolved step-by-step as these are complicated issues that need cooperation from local residents and businesses.
The Dutch Ambassador mentioned countries in Europe, including Spain and Greece, as recent examples of where booming tourism industries have been ruined by the actions of their people.
Last year, an estimated 100,000 tourists visited Thailand from The Netherlands, most of them visiting Phuket during their stay, with numbers on the rise year-on-year.
“We would like to see Phuket as a welcoming and relaxing destination [for our citizens],” remarked Ambassador Boer, “where people can feel secure while they are travelling.”
