New spin on old ideas

BANGKOK  Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports says it will concentrate on developing tourism products and transport connectivity with neighbouring countries to strengthen Thailand’s tourism hub status.
Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said the ministry has identified three projects.
The first one will support the construction of road links with other ASEAN nations, beginning with Myanmar and then Cambodia and Laos. It will also support Laos to extend road links to Vietnam.
“The Tourism Authority of Thailand has been authorised to discuss the project with Myanmar’s tourism organisation during the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Nay Pyi Taw, which will be held later this month.”
inside no 3The second project will promote river and sea cruises with the three Mekong region countries
“The ministry has already discussed the project with Chao Phraya Express Boat Company, which has agreed to offer cruising on the Chao Phraya River that will draw attention to various landmarks in Bangkok.
“Tourists will be able to learn more about the history of the kingdom and the riverside way of life. The project is expected to restore the popularity of water tourism and motivate tourists to stay longer in Thailand,” she said.
The journey will be later extended to cover the historical City of Ayutthaya, where the old Japanese, Dutch, and Portuguese villages are located.
River tourism has been an anchor product of tour operators in Thailand since the 1960s with the Oriental Hotel pioneering daily cruises to Bang Pa-in and East West Tours introducing the first canal sunset tours out of Prakanong.
The third project involves the Ministry of Culture, which will support the creation of night tours that will take tourists to sample street food and view illuminations of important buildings on famous streets around Bangkok.

sourced:ttrweekly.com