Phuket Vice Governor Adul Chuthong received Tokushima Governor Masazumi Gotoda and his delegation at Phuket Provincial Hall. The visit focused on expanding collaboration in the service industry, innovation, trade and investment between the two provinces.
Vice Governor Adul noted that Phuket and Tokushima formalised their sister-province relationship on May 13, 2025, establishing a framework for cooperation across tourism, the economy, culture and disaster prevention.
The visit follows a Phuket delegation trip to Tokushima from May 12-16, during which Phuket officials toured a prototype waste-management project and explored initiatives related to zero-waste development, smart-city planning, disaster management, pharmaceutical technology and Tokushima’s famed 400-year-old Awa Odori performing arts tradition.
“These experiences offer valuable lessons that can support Phuket’s ongoing development,” Vice Governor Adul said.
He highlighted Phuket’s position as a world-class tourist destination with a rapidly growing population. Despite a registered population of 423,599, the actual number of residents and workers on the island now exceeds 1.2 million, said an official report of the meeting.
The more realistic number now being estimated by leading figures, including Phuket MP Chalermpong Saengdee, is that the island’s resident population is nearing 2 million.
Regardless, the report continued, noting that Phuket’s service and tourism sectors remain the backbone of the local economy, accounting for 92.9% of Phuket’s income.
In 2024, Phuket recorded more than B497.523 billion in tourism revenue, supported by 103,672 flights and 13.1 million tourist arrivals – a 7.64% increase from the previous year.
During the meeting yesterday, representatives from government agencies and the private sector were introduced, followed by a presentation video about Phuket and briefings from the Phuket Provincial Commerce Office and the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), Upper Southern Branch, outlining innovation-driven service industry strategies and business cooperation opportunities.
The official report said the talks marked another step toward deepening ties with Tokushima, with both sides expressing hope that the partnership will continue to grow into long-term, mutually beneficial cooperation.