Linking overland routes with China

20 Jul 2015  2037 | World Travel News

BANGKOK Thailand has to improve transport, especially high-speed rail links and establish infrastructure that will ensure tourism prospers in a quality environment.
Addressing a seminar on the topic Moving Thailand’s Tourism Forward, Deputy Prime Minister, Pridiyathorn Devakula, said fast high quality rail services would encourage travellers to explore the country overland from China’s Yunnan province.
There are plans for a rail service that would link Kunming the capital of Yunnan province to Nong Khai in Northeast Thailand. Thailand would need to upgrade its rail system all the way to the border with Malaysia. Ultimately the long-term goal is to establish a high-speed rail line to Singapore.
“A Thailand-China railway will help encourage our tourism industry to grow and attract travellers from the southern part of China …line construction at Kunming is well on the way, while the construction in Thailand is expected to begin this November from Nong Khai to Bangkok.”
inside no 1 Pridiyathorn Devakula
Pridiyathorn Devakula
The system is part of Kunming–Singapore Railway project, a network that will consist of three main routes from Kunming, China to Bangkok, Thailand.
The routes are: Eastern Route via Vietnam and Cambodia; the Central Route via Laos, and the Western Route running through Laos and into Thailand at Chiang Rai province. The southern half of network from Bangkok to Singapore has long been operational, but it will need to be upgraded to a high-speed line.
He added: “Tourism operators need to create strong regional tourism packages to attract arrivals from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.”
In fact, the tour packages are already in place and are selling in overseas markets using a combination of bus and airline travel.
“More importantly, we need to focus and strengthen safety and security measures to build tourist confidence Thailand,” he noted. “Safety is a key issue that the government has to pay attention to…quality of tourism products, services, accommodation, human resources and hygiene need to excel, but a safe travel environment is also part of a destination’s quality content .”
He was particularly scathing on the quality of tourism statistics warning the audience that to move forward the country needed t oensure access to accurate tourism statistics, data and information to ensure the correct marketing strategy could be adopted.
“Tourism helps to boost the country economy that has been sluggish this year as well as balancing the shortfall in exports…now tourism accounts for 12% of gross domestic product.”
According to Ministry of Tourism and Sports data, January to May this year, the country attracted 12,448,641 international visits, an increase of 24.72% from 9,981,581 visits during the same period last year.
“The country’s tourism products should expand from selling on sea, sun and sand concept to historical and cultural products which the “Discover of Thainess” theme and “12 Don’t Miss Cities” or hidden gem destinations campaign can assist to change perceptions”

sourced:ttrweekly.com 

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