(L to R) Mayor
Itthiphol Kunplome, British Consul Michael Hancock and Director of Trade
and Investment Bradley Jones talk about British citizens in Pattaya.
Pratchaya Kerdthong
Representatives from the British embassy called on
top city, law enforcement and immigration officials to gauge how the
government is responding to concerns of the area’s more than 5,000
United Kingdom nationals.
British Consul Michael Hancock and embassy Director
of Trade and Investment Bradley Jones met with Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome
and heads of the Pattaya Tourist Police and Chonburi Immigration Office
during a tour of the area June 3.
Hancock quizzed the mayor on how the city was
protecting British investors and solving problems often cited by
visitors to the embassy, such as ongoing scams with jet ski rentals and
beach erosion. He also gathered information on Pattaya’s push to develop
the city as a more-family-friendly tourist destination.
Itthiphol responded that Pattaya welcomes British
investors, particularly those interested in real estate. As for the jet
ski issue, the city has yet to make any arrests but is still working
toward a solution, he said. The mayor also reviewed beach-erosion
studies done by universities and plans to restore the beach.
The embassy group next called on local police units to gather
information on what efforts are being made to ensure the happiness of
British residents.
