Swedish consulate inaugurated in Phuket, Thailand
The vibrant island of Phuket witnessed an auspicious occasion on November 20, as the newly appointed Swedish Consulate was officially inaugurated. Gracing the ceremony with her presence was Anna Hammargren, the Swedish Ambassador to Thailand.
The ambassador, along with her entourage from the Swedish embassy in Bangkok, had embarked on a two-day tour to Phuket, which wrapped up yesterday, November 21. The agenda of their visit was not just limited to the inauguration of the consulate.
Before the event, Hammargren met with leading provincial officials, including Phuket Vice Governor, Amnuay Pinsuwan. The subject matter of their discussion revolved around issues concerning Swedish nationals living in Phuket.
The meeting was attended by an array of delegates, including representatives from the Temporary Passport Office, Phuket Province, Phuket Immigration, the Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Phuket Chamber of Commerce and the President of the Phuket Tourist Association.
The Vice Governor highlighted that Thailand has been a crowd-puller for Swedish tourists, with 110,000 visitors from January to September this year. A significant portion of these tourists chose Phuket as their preferred destination, and he expressed hope for more arrivals in the last quarter, reported The Phuket News.
Somboon Chirayus was welcomed for his new role as the Swedish Honorary Consul for Phuket. Vice Governor Amnuay emphasised the significance of this role, stating it can foster trade, investment, and tourism between Sweden and Phuket, whilst assisting Swedish nationals in the region.
He also shed light on the regular meetings between the Phuket governor, leading provincial officials and the diplomatic corps. The vice governor explained these meetings aimed to ensure seamless communication and timely response to various issues.
Phuket, the vice governor noted, is a favourite among Swedish nationals planning to settle for a long duration. He mentioned that 411 Swedish nationals are living in Phuket on long-term visas, and assured that both public and private agencies in Phuket are equipped to cater to their needs.
The Swedish Honorary Consulate in Phuket is located at 25-50 Mae Luan Road, Tambon Talad Nuea, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000. It is open for operations from Monday to Friday, between 9am and midday.
