Chinese Consul-General Raises Tourist Safety Concerns With Phuket Governor

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Chinese Consul-General raises tourist safety concerns with Phuket Governor

Phuket Gazette

Chinese Consul-General Xu Mingliang (right) yesterday raised the issue of tourist safety with Governor Maitri Inthusut (center) following a spate of drowning deaths in Phuket earlier this year. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Chinese Consul-General Xu Mingliang yesterday raised the issue of tourist safety with Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut while personally welcoming the recently installed governor to office.

Xu Mingliang, a regular visitor to Phuket, heads the Chinese Consulate in Songkhla, which is also responsible for Chinese nationals in Phuket and the other Andaman provinces.

“Thailand and China have a long history of good relations. Many Chinese tourists come to Phuket year round, and just like tourists from any other nation, Chinese tourists also have problems,” Mr Xu explained.

“Most reported problems involve accidents, especially drownings. We have already posted a notice on the Chinese Consulate Thailand website warning our citizens about these problem. We have also posted travel advisories about Phuket and what Chinese visitors should be prepared for.

“Since we posted these notices, the number of accidents and deaths have fallen, compared with the number in 2011,” Mr Xu said.

Regardless, the Consul-General called for travel portals, hotels and other agencies and businesses that deal with Chinese nationals visiting Phuket to post notices in Chinese, preferably Mandarin, to warn Chinese tourists of the dangers.

“This will also help to reduce the number of problems that tourists may encounter,” he added.

Regarding the ongoing project to establish a Chinese consulate in Phuket, Mr Xu said, “I have already proposed the project to the Chinese government to consider. The number of Chinese tourists who come to Phuket is growing quickly.

China is currently one of the fastest-growing tourist source markets serving the Andaman region.

“We could provide assistance to a lot of Chinese tourists much quicker if we had a consulate here,” he explained.

The visit by Mr Xu follows a spate of deaths and near-misses among Chinese tourists in Phuket.

On August 12, Chinese tourists were rescued from a speedboat that capsized en route back to Phuket from a day trip to Phi Phi Island.

Days earlier, Chinese tourist Ji Xianqions was found drowned off Koh Hei. Police said they believed she drowned after suffering complications brought on by a pre-existing medical condition.

On August 7, Huang Pei Ying, 53, died while on a snorkeling trip to the popular day-trip island Koh Racha Yai, about 25 kilometers south of Phuket.

Chinese tourist Jin Guiping was found floating face down by her husband during a snorkeling tour near Koh Racha Yai on July 7. However, quick action by tour guides and the Royal Thai Navy resulted in a helicopter rescue that saved her life. The rescue of Mr Jin was just days after 19-year-old Chinese tourist Tianqi Li drowned at Patong Beach after going for a night swim with a female friend on June 30.

In February, 57-year-old Xianmei Wang was found floating off of Koh Hei after drowning, and Chinese tourist Wang Fang drowned while snorkeling with friends off the Hong Islands (Koh Lao Bileh) in Krabi.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...rnor-19249.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-10-26

[asiawatcher]

Phuket, like any other seaside tourist destination, will always be a target for crime. And I would think Phuket deserves every bit of that credit. Chinese tourism may increase but safety will not.

[LivinginKata]

Phuket, like any other seaside tourist destination, will always be a target for crime. And I would think Phuket deserves every bit of that credit. Chinese tourism may increase but safety will not.

Mmmm ... true, very true.

[sprq]

I love the elephant tusks the governor is displaying so prominently. Obviously a very modern kind of guy, well up with environmental and wildlife issues.

[Guest]

Somehow related question.

Chinese tourist are more and more important for Phuket. This will give more power for the consular words.

But how does Thais think about tourists and foreigners from different parts of the world? For example are we "farangs" more of an outsiders than Chinese for Thais? Therefore the Chinese consular would be more able to make the difference for safety and other things?

[Lannatyne]

I kind of feel that if the Chinese are expressing their worries, then there's more chance of action than when the western hon. consuls sound off to the governor.

[CantSpell]

But how does Thais think about tourists and foreigners from different parts of the world? For example are we "farangs" more of an outsiders than Chinese for Thais?

You are a "Farang", they are Chinese

China is like the Big Uncle for most Asian country: many families have some Chinese blood.

Considering the mass tourism and the way those tourists travel: big buses, charter flights and charter boats, they have minimal exposure with the locals: they don't rent motorbikes, cars or jet-skis, they just go to Fantasea and Phi Phi so I doubt the ambassador is going to help in solving the main problems in Phuket.

Just to keep the spirit up of ppl who complain about dble pricing, most chinese tourists pay double the farang price for phi phi excursions...

[khaowong1]

I'm betting that the Thai authorities don't want to piss off the Chinese. Watch our lovely PM get involved in this mess to kow tow to their Chinese cousin's.