24 Jul 2012
BANGKOK, 24 July 2012: Association of Thai Travel Agents is pressing the government to create a firm plan for infrastructure development, aviation and land transport to improve the country’s competitiveness in the lead up to the ASEAN Economic Community 2015.
ATTA secretary, Charoen Wangananont, urged the government to establish a tourism development plan before a liberalised market kicks in by 2015.
Mr Charoen added: “Although Thailand has a geological advantage as the natural gateway, there are short comings in basic infrastructure. We need more sky train lines and Suvarnabhumi Airport phases two and three must go ahead urgently.”
Charoen Wangananont
ATTA cited poor connections between the North and Northeast regions, which make travel between two potentially important tourism regions difficult and time consuming.
“The government needs to pump in around Bt10,000 million a year to support SMEs and back tourism operators to expand the country’s attractions.”
A services development plan for AEC (2012 to 2017) will be presented to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ Department of Tourism.
They are five proposed strategies in the plan:
• Establish a Tourism Management Centre;
• Enhance SMEs competitiveness to compete with neighbours;
• Develop and encourage tourism personnel skills;
• Raise MOTS’ Department of Tourism human resources competency;
• Increase planning innovation and management of integrated in tourism areas.
Sourced: ttrweekly