Mr. Jatoopong Kaewsai is a government officer who has been working in Phuket province, Thailand since 2004, and served as the Director of Phuket Foreign Affairs for five years. He has various experiences in international affairs and planning and strategy analysis methods towards the tourism industry, which is the main product for boosting up Phuket's economy. Moreover, he is also a part-time lecturer in Phuket Rajabhat University and Prince of Songkla University, Phuket campus in the area of hotel and tourism.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have been far-reaching and unprecedented. The Coronavirus quickly entered Phuket and wreaked havoc on public health and its tourism-fuelled economy. Phuket island underwent a more serious lockdown than other areas since the island had the highest number of Coronavirus infections per capita in Thailand. Thus, all sectors including governments and businesses had to temporarily halt operations. Mr. Jatoopong Kaewsai plays his important roles in the Phuket government sector to develop strategies and plans guided by the Command Center for COVID-19 of Thailand as well as organizes to respond to emerging and unexpected COVID-19 situations. He always works closely with numerous bureaus in Phuket and across Thailand to balance any sensitive challenges between the pandemic and the economy development. Mr. Jatoopong Kaewsai graduated with a Bachelor's degree with good second class honor in Education from Srinakharinwirot University in Bangkok, finished a Master's degree in International Affairs from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, and completed the Doctor of Philosophy program from Ashworth University in the United States of America in 2004.