PHUKET, Thailand – Phuket province recently welcomed a delegation from the Ministry of Tourism of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for talks on expanding tourism cooperation and exploring opportunities in the Middle East market. Phuket Governor Chotinrin Kerdsom presided over the meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall during the delegation’s study visit to Thailand from July 6 to 12. The delegation included Jiraporn Jirampaikul, ambassador of Thailand to Amman; Samerjit Limlikit, counselor at the Royal Thai Embassy in Amman; Emad Rawahneh, director of Tourism for Amman; and accompanying officials. Also attending were Somchai Semmanee, Phuket Provincial Tourism and Sports officer; Siriwan Singharaj, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket Office; Kanita Sapspaisan, head of the Phuket Temporary Passport Office; and Wimon Nukaew, Phuket Public Relations officer.
The discussions focused on tourism cooperation between Thailand and Jordan, with Phuket showcasing its Peranakan cultural heritage, community-based tourism, and multicultural society. The province also proposed cooperation on walking-street management, the development of Arabic-speaking tour guides, halal tourism standards, and promotional activities to attract more visitors from Jordan and the wider Middle East. Governor Chotinrin also made clear Phuket’s readiness to serve as an international medical hub, supported by internationally accredited hospitals and high-quality international schools. He shared the province’s experience in reviving its economy and tourism industry following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the COVID-19 pandemic, making this southern town one of the world’s leading tourism destinations. The Jordanian delegation expressed appreciation for Phuket’s hospitality and the opportunity to exchange knowledge on tourism development. Members of the delegation said the experience and best practices shared during the visit would be adapted to support the continued development of Jordan’s tourism sector. (PRD)
