The opening ceremony, held yesterday (Apr 23), was attended by Phuket Vice Governor Samawit Suphanphai and Deputy Ambassador Sarah Gasquard from the Belgian Embassy in Thailand, who welcomed guests and dignitaries.
Mr Bhummikitti’s appointment covers consular responsibilities for the provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi. The Vice Governor congratulated Mr Bhummikitti on his new role, highlighting the importance of the consulate in fostering closer ties between Belgium and the region.
The consulate will play a key role in supporting Belgian nationals and promoting cooperation in tourism, trade, and investment. It will also help enhance safety and services for Belgian visitors to the Andaman region, said an official report of the event.
The Belgium Embassy notes that “Honorary consul Mr Bhummikitti Ruktaengam is competent for consular assistance to Belgians in need, issuance of temporary passports and signature of life certificates.”
For all other matters, Belgium nationals were asked to email consular.bangkok@diplobel.fed.be.
“Honorary consuls are volunteers who exercise their mandate free of charge,” the embassy also noted.
The Belgium Honorary Consulate in Phuket is located at 63 Phuket Rd, Talad Yai, Muang, Phuket 83000. Tel: 076-211932. Email: contact@belgiumconsulatephuket.com
The Honorary Consulate is open “Monday to Friday (upon appointment)”.
OUTSTANDING CREDENTIALS
Mr Bhummikitti served as the President of the Phuket Tourist Association from 2020-2022. He was replaced by Thaneth Tantipiriyakij.
While seeing Phuket through the onslaught of COVID-19 restriction policies, which ground Phuket’s tourism revenues to a halt, Mr Bhummikitti openly criticised the government for its lack of support of tourism businesses suffering on the island.
In response, he piloted and promoted the highly successful ‘Phuket Sandbox’ campaign, which finally brought tourists back to Phuket.
The ‘Sandbox’ concept was so successful national figures still use the concept today to promote later initiatives, including the now ongoing ‘Green Hotel Plus Phuket Sandbox’ to have hotels on the island certified for their environmental status.
Mr Bhummikitti in recent years has focussed more on environmental concerns, and is currently Chairman of the Sustainable Tourism Development Foundation (มูลนิธิพัฒนาการท่องเที่ยวยั่งยืน).
As an Advisor to Phuket Chamber of Commerce, Mr Bhummikitti in 2023 met with then Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew and a host of leading local government figures to discuss a new ‘zero food waste’ project underway and the ambitious goal of making Phuket a ‘Low Carbon Destination City’.
Late last year, Mr Bhummikitti led a team presentation of the ‘Phuket Old Town Carbon Neutrality Project’ at the 25th International Island Tourism Forum (ITOP), held at the Pullman Karon Beach Phuket Resort. The forum attracted over 150 leaders and policymakers from island destinations worldwide.
Mr Bhummikitti was also a key figure involved in the official launch of the ‘Phuket Old Town Carbon Neutrality 2030’ project, aiming to position the historic area as an international model for sustainable tourism. the official launch was inaugurated by Minister of Tourism and Sports Sorawong Thienthong in Phuket in November.
Mr Bhummikitti’s efforts, and achievements, in supporting Phuket’s push to a more sustainable model led to Prime Minister Paetongtarn coming to Phuket to officially open Thailand’s first ‘Sustainable Tourism Conference’, held in Mai Khao late last month.