Mark Kent, the British Ambassador to Thailand, was in Phuket yesterday (November 1) and met with Phuket British Honorary Consul Martin Carpenter and Phuket Governor Maitree Intusut to discuss the four new proposals.
Mr Kent said the British Embassy would introduce a new programme to give "intensive English" lessons for mid to high-ranking Government officers working on the island.
The aim would be to enhance their English language skills and teach them more about British culture and the comparisons with Thai culture.
Mr Kent also spoke about a child helmet campaign introduced in Bangkok, where children are taught safety awareness and are given child-size helmets. Mr Kent hoped this programme would be taught country-wide, and Phuket would be next on the list.
A "Coastal Waters Safety Summit" will be held early next year to help train lifeguards, raise environmental awareness and how to preserve marine and coastal life around Phuket. The summit will be discussed more in November, but it will be a four day course.
British tourists to Phuket were now being given brochures of "Dos and don'ts" upon their arrival at Phuket International Airport, Mr Kent said.
Meanwhile, recent changes which were introduced yesterday (November 1) now mean British Honorary Consuls in Phuket (Martin Carpenter) and Koh Samui will no longer offer notarial and documentary services.
Earlier this month, an Embassy spokesperson said that currently, 70 per cent of all requests for notarial and documentary services provided by Honorary Consuls in Phuket and Koh Samui are for pension letters required by the Thai authorities, which did not require attendance by the person and the application could be submitted by post.
“This will allow us to concentrate on front-line consular work, providing more support to our most vulnerable customers including, for example, minors, the elderly, people with mental health problems, and victims of serious crime abroad.”
When asked about the changes yesterday, Mr Kent said the idea was to centralise the way the Embassy was run.
"Most of the documents can be sorted via post anyway, but for something like an affirmation of marriage, it will mean the applicants have to go to Bangkok.
"This will help Martin [Carpenter]'s workload, and we are very grateful to have him.
"Phuket is a popular place for British visitors, and I would like this to remain so.
"With care and co-operation from us as a host, it will help Phuket remain as a favourite holiday destination."