Prachuap Khiri Khan governor Sitthichai Sawatsaen has outlined his administration’s achievements ahead of retirement, highlighting more than 26 billion baht in tourism revenue during the first six months of 2026.
Speaking at Provincial Hall on Tuesday, 22 September, he joined senior officials and government agency heads to report on work undertaken since his appointment by royal command on 26 December 2024.
The briefing reviewed progress under his “Next Move Prachuap” policy, which sets out 10 development priorities covering areas including the economy, tourism, agriculture, education, water management and the environment.
Tourism and trade
The province welcomed more than 5.7 million visitors between January and June, ranking sixth nationally for visitor numbers and ninth for tourism revenue, according to figures presented at the briefing.
Officials outlined work to strengthen cultural, sporting, wellness and food tourism, alongside the meetings, incentive travel, conferences and exhibitions sector, known as MICE.
Plans include developing Hua Hin and Cha-am as a MICE City Cluster and supporting festivals, sporting events and arts activities to increase visitor spending and bring more income into local communities.
The province also reported providing skills training for 1,035 people in food and beverages, languages, agriculture, tourism, digital technology and artificial intelligence.
On trade, officials said efforts were continuing to secure permanent border checkpoint status for Singkhon. Discussions with Myanmar and the city of Myeik have focused on trade, transport and logistics, including connections between the checkpoint, Bang Saphan Port and Chinese markets.
Talks with Leshan in China have covered tourism, education and technology, culture, business matching and healthcare.
Support for farmers
Provincial officials reported that measures to manage agricultural prices had helped raise the average pineapple price from 6.10 baht to 7.25 baht per kilogram.
Other work has included helping farmers meet Good Agricultural Practices standards, developing digital marketing skills and creating products from local ingredients, including coconut ice cream, coconut oil scrubs and pineapple cereal tarts.
Provincial Commercial Affairs Officer Siriwan Khanason also provided an update on a purchasing programme intended to support coconut farmers affected by falling prices.
The scheme received more than 27 million baht in funding, with 4,635 farmers and 155 coconut buying and collection businesses registered to participate.
Purchases have reached 5.6 million mature coconuts and more than 170 tonnes of copra, or dried coconut flesh, against targets of 5.9 million coconuts and 295 tonnes respectively.
The programme has target prices of 10 baht per coconut and 20 baht per kilogram of copra, with additional support towards produce handling and marketing costs.
Health, education and environmental projects
Officials reported progress on a Wellness Sandbox initiative covering nine subdistricts across all eight districts, alongside the development of local health charters and lifestyle medicine clinics in hospitals.
The province’s “10 Classrooms” programme supports learning for people of all ages in subjects including science, technology, AI, languages, arts, sport and vocational skills.
Other work has included improvements to public services, assistance for vulnerable groups and housing repairs for residents facing hardship.
Water management projects have focused on addressing flooding and drought through the development of water sources and floodwater retention areas, monitoring systems and the restoration of water bodies alongside railway lines.
Environmental projects include 550 artificial reef units around Koh Talu in Bang Saphan Noi district, tree planting intended to help reduce PM2.5 pollution, and working groups on low-carbon development and net-zero emissions.
Police report enforcement results
Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Athon Chinthong reported arrests in 6,960 of 7,148 criminal cases recorded in the overall figures presented at the briefing.
Separately, drug enforcement figures for 1 October 2025 to 20 September 2026 included 2,487 cases involving serious offences such as production, trafficking and export, and 892 involving drug use or possession for personal use.
Police also reported seizing assets worth more than 102.4 million baht from drug networks and pursuing two money laundering cases.
The briefing also noted awards received by the Prachuap Khiri Khan governor during his tenure. These include the 2026 Outstanding TO BE NUMBER ONE Provincial Governor award, presented by Princess Ubolratana, and the Thai Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Golden Sampan Governor award for cooperation with the private sector and support for provincial economic development.