Ease rules for foreigners, Gov urges Bangkok

PHUKET: Phuket Governor Udomsak Usawarangura told Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop yesterday that the government will need to make life easier for foreigners if Phuket is ever to develop into the “international city” envisioned by the government.

“Yesterday I met with the DPM Suwat to discuss preparations for the arrival of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra next week,” he told the Gazette today.

“I told him that if the government really wants Phuket to attract international investment, then it will have to make it easier for foreigners to get visas, work permits and extensions of stay.”

The Governor, who recently returned from a trip to the US, said Immigration, the Labor Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would all need to upgrade their procedures and services to international standard in order to enable Phuket to do the same.

“The government departments that deal with foreigners are all still using the same old systems. When investors arrive, they first have to go to Immigration, then to another agency for a work permit. It’s too complicated,” he said.

Gov Udomsak said that DPM Suwat made no commitment, but said he would discuss the matter with the departments concerned.