Roaming the road to Kunming

TTR Weekly joined a survey of what is called by tourism technocrats the Quadrangle Economic Cooperation (Thailand-Lao PDR-Myanmar-China), which is part of the Mekong Region. Organised by the Association of Thai Tourism Marketing, here is the trip outline and assessment.
Bangkok- Chiang Khong- Xishuangbanna Prefecture-Kunming (six days)
Day 1

Ban Tha Khan Thong Homestay Village.
0730 Depart to Chiang Rai on Nok Air
0900 Arrive at Chiang Rai Airport and travel by bus from the airport to Ban Tha Khan Thong Homestay in Ban Saeo district.
Ban Tha Khan Thong Homestay Village, located in Chiang Saen about 60 km from Chiang Rai town, is a model cutural village that attempts to preserve local culture having won a sufficiency economy village competition.
It has successfully established itself as a learning centre for various traditional skills and occupations that are of interest to travellers from all over Thailand. This role, has helped the village add more value to just offering homestay accommodation, Having met the Thai Homestay Standard since 2009, the village, 169 households with mainly residents who migrated from Northeast Thailand (Isan). Since they concentrated on homestay options the villagers received a Thailand Tourism Award.
Day 2
0700: Depart to Laos via Chiang Khong which is near the newest bridge spanning the Mekong River. The town faces Huay Xai on the Lao side of the Mekong River. Opening the bridge has relieved the streets of this small riverside town of the lines of container trucks that previously waited for the ferry to carry them across the river to Laos. The bridge, which is 7 km south of the town’s centre, links to the main road known as R3A, part of the so-called North-South Economic Corridor linking Thailand with Laos and Xishuangbanna Prefecture in Yunnan province, southern China.
Covering some 2,000 km, Route R3A starts at the border with Chiang Rai province (Chiang Khong district) and links Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Boten in Laos, and Bohan, Jinghong, and Kunming in Yunnan, southern China.
We cross the river and board the bus for the next leg of our tour that takes us to Luang Namtha in Lao PDR.
1310:Arrive at Luang Namtha’s Krau Thai restaurant, the only decent restaurant on the road north. It has taken us just slightly more than five hours to get to this point from Chiang Rai, including the river transfer and immigration checks at both sides of the international border bridge.
1350: Depart Luang Namtha for Mohan-Boten border checkpoint to China. It takes one hour and 10 minutes to transfer.
1500: Arrive the border and depart for China’s Muang La.
1800: Arrive Jinghong, the political and economic centre of Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, in the far south of Yunnan province, China. This was once the capital of the former Tai kingdom of Sipsongpanna.
Accommodation is at the town’s Hotel Green Tree Eastern
Day 3

Wat Luang Muang Lue Sipsongpanna
0720: We visit a tropical rainforest garden to see hundred of peacocks that live in nearby hills and visit the gardens in response to a whistle. The visit’s highlight is the cultural performance of the Tai Lu and Akha ethnic tribes.
1230: Visit Wat Luang Muang Lue Sipsongpanna, a temple that features thousands of Buddha images. The temple has exquisite, but modern architectual style and from the courtyard of the temple, tourists can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire city of Jinghong.
1435: Arrive at Nine Tower & Twelve Wall where we are introduced to Xishuangbanna Prefecture’s local agents for a networking session.
The city is often called ‘Gem of the Golden Triangle’ due to its location on the river and its two traditional gates, nine pagodas and 12 villages. The cultures are varied here, but the prominent one is Tai Lue inspired by traditions that are very close to the Thai way of life and influence of the Mekong River.
Day 4
0700: After breakfast we journey for most of the day to reach Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province. We arrive at 1700 after having lunch along the way.
1730: After arriving in Kunming we depart almost immediately to see the Guandu old town, which is an old district as far as Yunnan is concerned. However, It has hardly any old architecture to boast about due to the encroachment of real estate developers and everywhere we can see “new” architectural styles dominating the scene.
Actually, Guandu’s appeal is not its oldness, but its lifestyle and trading profile that differs from the rest of Kunming, and other tourist towns in the province.
Day 5

Jiuxiang Cave
0700: After breakfast we transfer by bus to Jiuxiang Cave. It takes two hours.
The cave is known as the “museum of karst caves”, due to their impressive size and number (there are about 100 karst caves) and over the years they have inspired artists to depict their beauty on canvas.
There are four cave systems: Sanjiao Cave; Dashang Cave; Diehong Cave; and Dasha Dam Cave. Sixty six caves in the area can be explored, but the main attractions is the fact there are so many in the area of the Yunnan-Guizhou plateau.
1345: We visit the Minor Stone Forest approximately 80 km from downtown Kunming. The area covers 400 sqm and is designated by various organisations as a natural treasure. The citations include one as the state 5A-level scenic attraction, a national geo park, world geo park, national key scenic area as well as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2007. The Stone Forest is famous for its Karst formations and the ethnic culture of the Sani People (a branch of the Yi ethnic minority).
1645: We enjoy dinner and watch a Yunnan People’s performance and stay overnight in the Enjoying Intl Hotel.
Day 6
The business side of the trip begins in the morning with meetings between Bangkok’s travel agents and Kunming’s tour operators, which includes a workshop and presentations by Kunming Industry Council. Once the meeting is over we head for Kunming’s airport for the flight to Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport, arriving at 1540.
Q&A: Tourism Authority of Thailand Kunming Office director, Pinnat Charoenphol.
Q: What are your observations on Chinese tourist behaviour?
A: There is a new generation of travellers who are meticulous about their travel plans. They travel independently of groups. Before they travel they research on the internet, which is the main information channel. They are using mobile smartphones to keep up with the latest travel information rather than traditional media such as magazines.
Q: What are the travel trends in the market?
A: Prices for tour programme are more expensive since a new policy to end zero dollar tourism was launched last year. So, China’s tourism market and tour programmes have more quality than before.
Q: How is TAT Kunming selling quality tour programmes?
A: There is a policy to focus on quality tourists to offer them a valuable experience during their holidays. The experience could be learning a new skill or gaining insights into Thainess. Also, we try to spread travel to secondary destinations to reduce congestion at the main destinations. TAT also focuses on golf, weddings and honeymoon, and self-drive tours.
Q: And what are your long-term marketing goals?
A: Focus on quality tourists, expand niche markets and increase the number of FIT are our priority plan.
Q: Any new projects for this year?
A: We aim to promote a “Tourism Caravan Driving on the R3A” route. It is our project to connect Kunming with Xishuangbanna Prefecture-Laos-Thailand which will be our highlight programme.

Sourced: ttrweekly