The delegation visited the cities Chengdu, Guizhou and Xi’an during the visit from Aug 16-20, said an official report of the tour.
Joining the delegation were Phuket Vice Governor Norasak Suksomboon, former Phuket Chamber of Commerce President Thanusak Phungdet and current President Kongsak Koophongsakorn and Phuket Sports Association President Thammawat Wongcharoenyot, among others.
The intent of the tour was to investigate advanced environmental management systems in China that could potentially be implemented in Phuket, said the report.
During the visit, the delegation met with executives from the China Water Environment Group (CWEG), who provided a comprehensive tour of their facilities, including a solar cell project.
Both parties signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore future collaboration in wastewater management.
The group also held discussions with SUS Environment, a company specialising in waste disposal systems, to evaluate the feasibility of adopting similar technologies in Phuket.
The Phuket Provincial Administrative Committee is now considering how local administrative organisations might implement these advanced wastewater and garbage management systems to improve environmental sustainability in the province, the report noted.
Governor Sophon emphasised that these initiatives could have a significant positive impact on environmental management in Phuket, enhancing the island’s reputation as a sustainable tourism destination.
The tour follows Dr Surasee Kittimonthon, Secretary-General of the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR), revealing during an inspection tour of Phuket last year that nearly 55,000 cubic metres of untreated wastewater is released in Phuket each day as the island does not have the capacity to treat it.
Apichart Sirisunthon, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Land, Natural Resources and Environment, arrived in Phuket on a study tour in March to investigate the island’s wastewater woes.
The visit by Mr Apichart followed black wastewater flowing across beaches and into the sea where tourists swim at Patong, Karon (see here and here), Kamala and Bang Tao.