Ubon shapes up as travel destination
Ubon Ratchathani, which shares a long border with Laos, is positioning itself as a tourism gateway for the Indochina region.
The Northeastern province is embarking on many infrastructure and logistics projects such as a Bt1.8-billion vehicular bridge across the Mekong River.
The new four-lane highway could link Ubon to Laos and Vietnam within one day, so that should help channel more visitors to those countries, Governor Surapon Saipan said yesterday.
The province is hyping up Ubon Ratchathani International Airport as a regional aviation hub, as it can accommodate Airbus A380 superjumbos.
The private sector is cooperating by building small hotels, guest houses and long-stay facilities.
Airlines are considering operating direct flights from Ubon to Chiang Mai and neighbouring countries.
Carriers are also planning to increase frequencies between Bangkok and Ubon.
Thai Airways, Nok Air and Thai AirAsia currently serve Ubon with seven daily flights from the capital.
The province has potential to become a springboard to Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, as it could offer tourists a choice of transport modes. An office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand will help develop the province as a new destination for international tourists as well as locals.
The province also has the qualifications to become a key meeting place for domestic businesses and public organisations. Akapol Sorasuchart, president of the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, said the agency would continue to campaign for Ubon as a MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) city.
The TCEB will ask the government to encourage official bodies and the private sector to host more meetings and events in Ubon, he said.
