The workshop, held at the Pearl Hotel in Phuket Town, was declared underway by Phuket Vice Governor Norasak Suksomboon.
Welcoming the attendees, Ratchadaporn O-in, Director of the Tourism and Sports office in Phuket, underscored the importance of this training for both local and international visitors.
The initiative seeks to enhance service standards and improve the knowledge and skills related to the safety management of tourists among tourism operators, Vice Governor Norasak said.
“The swift implementation of this project is crucial to enhancing the high-value service standards. It focuses on equipping tourism personnel with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes suitable for the service profession, as well as improving safety management skills for tourism operators.
“This will boost confidence in health safety among both Thai and international tourists visiting Phuket, thereby enhancing the tourism potential and safety in Phuket and its connected areas. This, in turn, will create a positive image and increase tourist confidence, leading to income distribution within the community and benefiting local residents," he said.
Ms Ratchadaporn reported that the workshop received budget support from the Office of the Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports for the fiscal year 2024.
The training, aimed at fostering safety confidence among tourists in Phuket, Krabi, and Trang, comprised two main courses: ‘Tour Boat Personnel Training’; and ‘Lifeguard Training’.
The Tour Boat Personnel Training course is conducted in five sessions, each with 50 participants. The first session took place in Trang on June 20, followed by the second in Krabi on June 27. The remaining three sessions are scheduled for Phuket from July 3-5.
The Lifeguard Training is conducted in three sessions, each with 30 participants: in Phuket from June 14-16, in Trang from June 21-23, and in Krabi from June 28-30.
The workshop is supported by various agencies, including the Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT Phuket), the Phuket office of the Marnie Department, and the Life Saving School of Thailand, which provided expert trainers to educate over 50 interested boat personnel in Phuket.