PM outlines tourism strategy

 Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, late last week, to adopt four key strategies to build the country’s tourism industry.

She told officials it was imperative to reach the government’s target of Bt2 trillion in tourism revenue by 2015. To achieve the goal the ministry was told to adopt the follow policies:

• Increase tourist length of stay;

• Raise tourism quality to improve daily spend by 20% to 30%;

• Organise tourist attractions into market clusters,

• Join with neighbouring countries to build tourism package regionally.

“All authorities need to integrate to encourage tourism, while Tourism Authority of Thailand has to be more active,” she stressed. “TAT should play an increasing role investing in new projects to attract tourists.”

However, she accepted that Suvarnabhumi , Don Mueang and Phuket airports do not have the capacity to handle a big increase in arrivals.

“The country’s main gateway Suvarnabhumi Airport will not be able to handle the expansion in tourism based on current trends,” she added. “Even though airports have expansion plans, they will not be able to cope with demand.”

The PM asked THAI Airways International to study secondary air travel routes to spread tourism beyond the main gateways.

She believes THAI has a role  to play in building routes that will encourage other airlines to see the potential, but the national airline is reducing its role domestically relying more on its subsidiary Thai Smile, so  it can concentrate on lucrative international trunk routes that fit its fleet mix.

The idea of creating tourist attraction clusters would focus first on Chiang Mai making it a cultural and traditional destination that connects with neighbouring provinces such as Lumphun and Lampang.

Ministry of Tourism and Sports permanent secretary, Suwat Sidthilaw, said the PM also suggested land transport links with neighbouring countries to help to boot tourism.

Mr Suwat said: “At present the country plans to attract more up-scale foreign tourists. The number of foreign tourists should be capped at around 25 to 26 million per year. High-end foreign tourists should be about 30% and mass tourists about 70%. Currently, the ratio is 20:80.”

Sourced: ttrweekly