The new consulate will be located at the Royal Place condominium in Samkong, opposite Tesco Lotus. The only other Chinese consulate in southern Thailand is located in Songkla province.
The future Director of the Phuket Consular Office, Mrs Wang Hui Juan, met with Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong on Monday (Oct 13) to discuss the upcoming opening of the new consulate.
As well as providing assistance to the approximately one million Chinese tourists visiting Phuket annually – about one fifth of the total number of foreign visitors to the island each year – consular services will include processing of visa applications for study and travel.
“For a long time, Thailand and China have had close relations. I am glad to have met Mrs Wang Hui Juan to continue our relationship and discuss our roles to work together,” Gov Nisit said.
As well as assisting Chinese tourists in different capacities, the consulate will also issue visas for locals so they won’t have to make trips to Bangkok or Songkla.
Gov Nisit also confirmed that discussions touched on the sister city status between Phuket and Xiamen – a city in southeastern China with an urban population of over 1.8 million people – which is still being discussed.
Other topics of discussion centred-around the problems experienced by Chinese tourists in Phuket, such as vehicular accidents and last-minute flight cancellations.”
“I have informed them to coordinate with Chinese national airlines,” he added.
“These [talks] can make our roles [in Chinese tourism] clear in order to support each other in the hopes that we will improve in order to make tourists satisfied.” he concluded.