China to set up consular office in Phuket

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China to set up consular office in Phuket


Chinese tourists wait at Suvarnabhumi airport for a flight to Phuket. Photo: Kalleboo

PHUKET: -- The Chinese government plans to open a consular office in Phuket to cope with problems encountered among the rising number of Chinese holidaymakers coming to the island.

At present consular services for Phuket are provided from the Chinese Consulate in Songkhla, almost 500 kilometres away.

Malaysian news agency Bernama on Tuesday (November 12) quoted Harn Himathongkam, deputy government spokesman, as saying that the Thai Cabinet had approved the establishment of the consular office.

Qin Jian, Songkhla-based Chinese Vice-Consul, confirmed to The Phuket News that there is a plan to set up a Phuket office to help Chinese tourists who are injured, lose their passports or have other problems while on the island.

However, he said it was too early to say how many staff there would be or at what level. Nor has any date yet been set for opening the new office, he said, adding, “We hope it will be sometime next year.”

Four million-plus Chinese tourists are expected to visit Thailand in the coming year, with a large proportion visiting Phuket.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/china-to-set-up-consular-office-in-phuket-42834.php


-- Phuket News 2013-11-14

[eezergood]

Holy sh!t, this will be one busy office!

I would love to watch this office for a day, with the lack of ability to queue the Chinese have & the sense of VIPness there should be some interesting times for the poor sods that will work here

[upena]

Feel sorry for the guy that is going to run this office as he will be seeing hundreds of ticked off tourists daily.

[marell]

With some muscle behind them, maybe the Chinese tourists will actually be able to rent jet skis.

[Loles]

Yes, Yes. They have to set up a pathology also cause they die a lot in PKT, and have to set up many many sittoon too for the daily using. Then they will feel themselves at home more.

[hansgruber]

Hope they put a spit bucket in the foyer. Chinese seem to like spitting on the floor wherever they go.

[KarenBravo]

We might actually get an honorary consul to speak plainly to replace Mr. Cunningham.