Before formally taking office, Thailand’s next prime minister Srettha Thavisin flew to Phuket province today (Friday), accompanied by Pheu Thai party staff in charge of tourism promotion, to meet with business people and residents of the province.

Srettha and his staff, which included Dr. Prommin Lertsuridej, chief of the party’s policy committee on tourism, and Chakrapong Saengmanee of the tourism working committee, met with Kirati Kitmanawat, head of the Airports of Thailand Public Company, for a briefing on problems at Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

Accompanying Srettha to Phuket included Pheu Thai party list MP Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, who is tipped to be Tourism and Sports minister.

The prime minister-elect will spend today and tomorrow in Phuket and neighbouring Phang-nga, both popular tourist destinations. Today, he is scheduled to meet with tourism operators at the Ramada Plaza Chao Fah Hotel, for discussion of the new government’s tourism strategy and development in Phuket. At night, they will tour the old part of Phuket town and the famous Bang La beach road along Pa Tong beach to meet with business operators and tourists.

On Saturday, he will travel to Phang-nga province to meet tourism operators at the Moracea by Khao Lak Resort, to discuss wellness tourism, before flying back to Bangkok in the afternoon.