Mongolia’s Honorary Consulate Opens to Boost Phuket Tourism
“Nattapong” opens the Honorary Consulate in Phuket after being appointed as Honorary Consul, immediately focusing on boosting tourism. He reveals that Thai-Mongolian relations have been long-standing, with diplomatic relations established for over 49 years. His goal is to attract tourists to Phuket while also promoting Thai travel to experience Mongolia’s natural beauty.
Phuket, October 7, 2023: Mr. Nattapong Pantakiatpaisarn, Honorary Consul of Mongolia, officially opened the Honorary Consulate on the first floor of The Gig Hotel Patong, Phuket. This follows his royal appointment as Honorary Consul of Mongolia for Phuket Province, with jurisdiction covering Phuket and Phang Nga provinces, dated August 28, 2023.
Mr. Nattapong Pantakiatpaisarn, Honorary Consul of Mongolia for Phuket and Phang Nga provinces, stated that Thailand and Mongolia have maintained good relations and have been friendly nations for a long time, with diplomatic relations established for over 49 years. Throughout this period, there has been continuous cooperation in various fields, including trade, investment, and cultural exchanges at governmental, private sector, and public levels.
“The establishment of this Honorary Consulate in Phuket represents an elevation of diplomatic relations between the two countries to another level. It presents an excellent opportunity to promote and create opportunities for knowledge exchange in various fields between the people of both countries.”
Mr. Nattapong further stated that Mongolia is a captivating and beautiful country with a long and fascinating history. As the Honorary Consul of Mongolia, he hopes to promote tourism between the two countries, encouraging Thai tourists to visit Mongolia to experience its culture and unique natural beauty, as well as attracting Mongolian tourists to Thailand, especially to Phuket and Phang Nga provinces, where tourist numbers have been continuously increasing each year.
The Mongolian government has a policy to seriously support and promote the tourism industry, declaring 2023 and 2024 as “Years To Visit Mongolia.” They aim to increase the number of tourists visiting Mongolia from 250,000 to 1,000,000 by 2024, generating tourism revenue of approximately 1 billion USD, representing 15% of GDP.
Under the “Years To Visit Mongolia” campaign, citizens from 34 countries will receive visa exemptions, bringing the total number of countries with visa exemptions for Mongolia to 61, including Thailand, to facilitate and promote tourism to Mongolia.
Regarding tourism data between Thailand and Mongolia, it shows that Mongolians increasingly appreciate and visit Thailand. In 2019, approximately 6,000 Thai tourists visited Mongolia, while about 16,000 Mongolian tourists came to Thailand. However, the situation was disrupted due to COVID-19. In 2022, numbers began to improve, with 1,118 Thai tourists visiting Mongolia and 5,245 Mongolian tourists coming to Thailand.
In terms of trade and investment between Thailand and Mongolia, there are significant opportunities for developing cooperation. Mongolia has strengths in agriculture, livestock, and various minerals, while Thailand has expertise in technology and skills in adding value to products. Over the past two years, the trade value between Mongolia and Thailand has continuously increased. Thai investors are interested in investing in Mongolia’s mining industry and renewable energy sector. Meanwhile, Mongolian investors such as APU, a leading alcoholic beverage producer in Mongolia, has begun marketing its premium vodka brand Chinggis Khaan in Thailand.
Under the 5-year cooperation plan between Mongolia and Thailand (2022-2027), the goal is to increase trade value between Mongolia and Thailand to a total of 1,500 million USD by 2027. Currently, Thai private sector’s cumulative investment in Mongolia is approximately 1,035 million USD.
Communications Department, Honorary Consulate of Mongolia in Phuket and Phang Nga Provinces
