The couple received a warm welcome on landing at Phuket International Airport at 11:40am. Present to greet Governor Sophon was Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan, heads of local government agencies and private business leaders.
The couple moved to the Phuket City Pillar Shrine in Thepkrasattri to pay homage to the monument at 12:15pm, before paying their respects at the Heroines Monument, to honour Phuket’s revered sister-heroines Thao Thao Thep Krasattri and Thao Sri Soonthorn at 1:40pm.
The couple travelled south to Wat Chalong (Wat Chaiyathararam) to pay their respects there, before engaging with the media and then moving on to the Governor’s Residence on the north side of Phuket Town.
"In the past I used to come to Phuket for tourism and study tours, but today I come as a Phuket resident, and as the Governor of Phuket,” Governor Sophon said.
“Thank you to every sector today… We came here to be happy and work with all sectors to become a Phuket family in order for Phuket Province to progress,” Governor Sophon added.
“There is love and unity because Phuket is a world-class tourist city. It is the duty of all of us to help create events in Phuket.
“The Prime Minister has come to Phuket twice already. You can see that he places great importance on the development of Phuket Province. Therefore, as the Governor of Phuket Province, I will drive the work according to government policy together with all Phuket brothers and sisters,” Governor Sophon concluded.