Ministry to spend on restoration

CHIANG MAI, 28 August 2012: Ministry of Tourism and Sports’ Chiang Mai Provincial Office has allocated Bt10 million to 10 districts to support tourism attractions.

The ministry’s office director, Churirat Preawprai, told TTR Weekly that the budget will help districts to improve attractions and gain more tourists.

The districts are: Doi Tao; Samoeng; Mae On; Chai Prakan; Fang; Mae Taeng; Chiang Dao; Chom Thong; Mae Chaem; and Galyani Vadhana.

Churirat Preawprai

“The objective is to set up a tourist service centre, improve signs to attractions, and build more restrooms at sites.”

In addition, this year the office plans to restore what it calls three deteriorated attractions — Doi Suthep, the Night Bazaar and San Kamphaeng Hot Springs.

“We are studying ways to assist the three damaged attractions and the office also discussed with other provincial tourism offices how to maintain quality.”

The office proposed a rehabilitation plan to the ministry, 10 August, which will need approval.

“The office asked for Bt30 million to add more road signs covering 25 districts and Bt120 million for rehabilitation at the three sites that need restoration. Budget approval will take until November.”

Besides Thai and English language signs, the office plans to add Chinese to meet the expected influx of Chinese speaking visitors after the ASEAN Economic Community becomes a reality in 2015.

In addition, the office will open a tourist service centre at Chiang Mai’s airport possibly by next month.

“The centre at the airport will has 11 staff who who will be recruited for their language abilities in Thai, English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and French.”

Another tourist centre will opened in the Chiang Mai Governors House particularly to assist tourists who claim they have been cheated by scammers.

Besides developing tourist attractions, the office plans to build tourism personnel skills through training and seminar programmes that will prepare travel staff for the arrival of the ASEAN Economic Community.

“This year, for example, elephant camps are a subjects for training and seminars to teach tour guides what is available and what explanations should be given to tourists.”

TTR Weekly’s reporter visited Chiang Mai to conduct a series of interviews and report on  issues and challenges the northern destination faces.

Sourced: ttrweekly