Thailand’s TAT sharpens focus on promoting the Northeast
TAT sharpens focus on promoting the Northeast
KHON KAEN: — The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is preparing to declare 2008-2010 as the years of tourism for northeastern Thailand to increase overnight stays by visitors in the region.
According to Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat, the TAT is introducing new tourism routes along the Mekong River, dinosaur fossils and cultural tourism in the Northeast, and Khmer and ancient civilisations of the region as part of the promotion plan.
The TAT also plans to hold tourism fairs in Bangkok and Ubon Ratchathani.
According to a TAT study, average spending by visitors to northeastern provinces increased slightly over the last seven years from 1,497 baht per trip in 2001 baht to 1,546 baht in 2007.
The rates are still far below the national average of 5,000 baht per trip.
Tourist arrivals to northeastern provinces totalled 16.81 million in 2007 compared with 12.7 million in 2001, with revenue rising to 34.51 billion baht from 20.3 billion during the period.
Spending by Thai and foreign visitors in the region was also found to be not very different, in contrast to the spending structure in the South and North.
Foreign visitors to the Northeast spent an average of 1,931 baht per trip, with Thais spending 1,528 baht. In the South, average per capita spending of foreign visitors was 16,225 baht per trip, with Thais spending 4,025 baht.
Foreign visitors to the North spent 7,571 baht per trip and Thais 3,263 baht.
Mr Weerasak said the region itself needed improved facilities and tourism spots in order to attract visitors to take more overnight stays.
Sirirat Denvorapongsasuk, managing director of the Ubon Buri Hotel & Resort, said tourists mostly opted to use the northeastern provinces as the gateway to visit Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia.
She said the government should also help support the meeting, incentive, convention and exhibition (Mice) industry, since the major cities in the region could accommodate meetings of more than 1,000 seats.
Suthat Praesurin, vice-chairman of the Tourism Association of Udon Thai province, said the government should persuade more low-cost airlines to stop over at northeastern airports to serve visitors travelling to and from neighbouring countries.
He said Airports of Thailand Plc should cut airport service fees to support interested airlines.
The budget carriers Tiger Air and Air Asia had earlier planned to operate flights to Udon Thani, but later changed to Vientiane because Thai airport fees were too high.
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