Ukraine consul frets over tourist safety in Phuket

PHUKET: Ukrainian Honorary Consul to Thailand Alexander Zub yesterday formally expressed his concern about the increasing number of road accidents in Phuket, and to discuss the safety of Ukrainian tourists who visit the island.

“Ukrainian tourists in Phuket tend to rent motorbikes or cars rather than opting [sic] for public transport, which could increase the risk of them being involved in an accident,” Mr Zub told Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut at their meeting at Provincial Hall.

“Also, a lot of Ukrainians do not speak English well, which makes it difficult for them to communicate what they need while they are here.”

Mr Zub said that he is especially concerned because he expects more and more Ukrainians to visit popular tourist spots in Thailand in the future.

“Ukrainian people enjoy travelling to Pattaya and Phuket because of the warm beaches and welcoming people, and the number of tourists from those countries is increasing year by year,” he said.

Governor Maitri assured Mr Zub that tourists were a top priority for officers in Phuket, and that there were measures in place to prevent accidents and help foster communication between tourists and locals.

“We constantly work to prevent road accidents by setting up checkpoints throughout the island,” Gov Maitri explained.

“At these checkpoints officers make sure that drivers wear their helmets and drive with licences, and they also test for drugs. All of these measures are in place to ensure that drivers on the road are safe.”

“Also, we have foreign police volunteers from dozens of countries patrolling the most popular tourist destinations on the island, such as Patong, who are available to help tourists at all times.”

— Kritsada Mueanhawong