TAT reviews ways to boost Andaman tourism
THE TOURISM Authority of Thailand has drawn up development plans for the Andaman Coast that aim to improve facilities and management practices to attract quality tourists to the area.
Kalin Sarasin, chairman of the board of TAT, said the agency had collected plans from tourism operators and related authorities in Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga.
Kalin said the province needed to improve their infrastructure and facilities while enhancing security and safety.
They must also improve community-management systems, especially in relation to wastewater and resources.
Kalin said the plan was to combine the three provinces into one cluster and market it overseas.
The TAT on Friday met with 150 local operators, tourism associations, and related authorities in Phuket to hear about issues the industry is facing there and seek ways to strengthen each province.
Kalin said the authority would propose its final plan to the Tourism and Sports Ministry this month and then pass it to government this quarter.
Kalin said Phuket could be developed even more as a quality destination by promoting existing local strength – the unique community – and creating more value products for tourists.
However, the island needed to improve its water resource management, community budget allocation and management, public transport, law enforcement, city management, beaches management, and ease investor nominee requirements.
He said Krabi should present its strength as a destination of traditional culture.
But the province needed to improve its human skills, wastewater and garbage management, environmental issues, and eliminate tourist scamming.
Phang Nga, meanwhile, could be turned into a natural site, but maybe needs to limit the number of visitors |and improve law enforcement of the environment and to protect its natural resources.
Thawatchai Arunyik, governor of TAT, said the agency wanted to host international annual events in Phuket in the low season to attract tourists.
He said the province also could promote itself as a wedding destination for foreigners and promote Phuket and the Andaman region as a celebrity magnet.
Thawatchai urged tourism operators to avoid lowering prices during the low season to enhance Phuket’s reputation as a quality destination.
He said another plan aimed at increasing big spending tourists centred on working with overseas wholesale companies of targeted groups.
The TAT also plans to join luxury travel get-togethers abroad such as in China and Europe, while invite wedding-planner firms to these areas to get product information before targeting the market.
