Buri Ram scores in sports tourism

BURI RAM : Tourism Authority of Thailand expects new manmade attractions in Buri Ram will boost tourism to the province and encourage travellers to go beyond to explore other provinces in Lower Isan.
TAT directors were introducing the province, last week, to travel agents and media as part of an out-of-town Association of Thai Travel Agents meeting hosted in Buri Ram.
TAT Northeast region director, Somradee Chanchai, said the I- mobile stadium, and Play La Ploen Boutique Resort and Adventure Camp are new products that visitors can enjoy.
“Football stadiums of famous teams are now a tourist attraction — Liverpool’s Anfield, Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, and Old Trafford’s Manchester United – and in Buri Ram we have our I-Mobile Stadium.”
New I-Mobile Stadium is the home of 2011 Thailand’s treble champions, Buri Ram United.
With a capacity of 32,600, New I-mobile Stadium is the largest football stadium in Thailand nicknamed Thunder Castle, by visiting teams and fans.
New I-Mobile Stadium is located in Buri Ram town and is fast becoming a tourist attraction with domestic travellers and expatriate residents who follow the sport in Thailand. There are tours of the stadium and opportunities for fans to buy shirts and other items promoting the team.
Another attraction is Play la Ploen Boutique Resort and Adventure Camp which is an outdoor learning centre for children.
The adventure camp features model replicas of some of the modern day wonders of the world. Each station has a team building activity for visitors to engage in such as abseiling off the Leaning Tower of Pisa and climbing up The Great Wall of China.
A Kids Zone offers younger children the thrill of climbing aboard a London Bus replica and a locomotive train.
Farm Tour provides tourists with an agricultural experience and an opportunity to learn about how farms are adopting new technology in Thailand.
Due to its popularity, the owners established a Floral Project to develop knowledge about plants, arts, culture and global targeting children and the general public.
THE FLORA @ Play La Ploen is new floral exhibition set up to educate local communities and tourists about exotic plants and flowers. The displays are shown in six different greenhouses: seasonal plants; old forest concept; colour of nature featuring colourful Bromeliads and carnivorous plants; Kinnaree exhibition; desert plants set against the Great Pyramid; and arts of Southeast Asia.
The site also offers 20 rooms for guests that reflect country designs from Thailand, Japan, South Korea and Europe (London, Paris, and Rome).
Covering 200 rais, Play la Ploen Boutique Resort and Adventure Camp is located at 252 Moo 7 Nhong Kaman sub-district, Kumuang district, about 32 km from the provincial town.
See http://www.playlaploen.com/?lang=en.
The TAT director added: “The sport and adventure venues will help tour operators add variety to their tour programmes besides culture, art, and ecotourism attractions.”
TAT Surin office director, Chookiet Potito, said the new manmade attractions in Buri Ram will offer more choice for travellers.
He expects the sport and adventure camp venues could boost Buri Ram tourism by 10% from around 1.2 million trips a year (90% Thais and 10% foreigners).
Association of Thai Travel Agents secretary, Charoen Wangananont, said the attractions will help the province to sell more products besides Phanom Rung Historical Park and Prasat Mueang Tam.
“However, the province should develop accommodation, transport and improve human resources… there are not enough three and four-star hotels in the province.”
Joining the fam trip, Unique Travel Service managing director Auranit Jirarayapong commented: “To spotlight the attractions, the government should also raise awareness and promote the sites continually…sport tourism could help to add value for existing attractions.”
However, the province lacks airline service as only Nok Air operates three weekly flights on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, she noted.
“If the province aims to be a tourism hub, it should build a meetings and convention centre to attract tourists and business visitors.”
Buri Ram is a province famous for its ancient Khmer culture illustrated in ancient ruins. It is situated in the lower part of the Northeast, about 410 km from Bangkok.

Sourced: ttrweekly