Tourism strategy ready for next Govt

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Tourism strategy ready for next Govt
By Suchat Sritama
The Nation 2011-06-17

The Tourism Council of Thailand will propose a new development strategy for the next government to execute in rebuilding and upgrading the entire industry.

Piyaman Tejabaibul, council president, said yesterday that whoever comes to power after the July 3 election should work closely with the private sector to ensure the country remains competitive.

The council has prepared six guidelines and measures for the new government, covering national tourism strategy and positioning, sustainable tourism, innovative tourism, productivity improvement, integrated planning and implementation, and corporate governance.

"In addition to all of these, industry needs a keen person to lead the sector, as there are many disturbing issues," she said.

Tourism business has been hit by political unrest over the past three-five years, she said.

"We really hope that the new government will help and maintain tourism in the long term as well as anticipate the opening of the Asean Economic Community [AEC]," she said.

The council and the Economic Reporters Association hosted a symposium on "Future Thai Tourism … and New Government" yesterday. The representatives of five political parties - the Democrat Party, Pheu Thai, Chart Thai Pattana, Chart Pattana Puea Pandin and Bhum Jai Thai - shared their tourism platforms with private and public organisations.

Democrat Apirak Kosayodhin said his party has lined up several tourism projects, including creating tourism attractions such as World Heritage Sites and beach resorts in the city and more than 60 provinces. Others are to promote tourism products in communities and improve human resources with more than 3 million jobs at stake to get ready for the AEC.

The Democrats propose to invest in infrastructure such as high-speed trains from Bangkok to major provinces as well as China. It would expand connecting flights at airports in Bangkok. It would focus on emerging markets such as India, China and the Middle East. It would launch new events such as the World Expo.

Plodprasop Suraswadi, a deputy Pheu Thai leader, said his party would like to see Thailand as the world's best destination in beach and religious activities and the best for long stays by foreigners.

It would boost arrivals from 15 million to 30 million tourists a year as well as domestic tourism to 60 million people. Convention centres would be built in the provinces and Pattaya would be turned into a tourism hub.

Thai restaurants overseas would be recruited as agents to promote Thai tourism.

Movie shoots in Thailand would be promoted and big events and contests would be organised all-year round.

The management of the Tourism and Sports Ministry would be reshuffled and Koh Chang would be developed as a quality destination. Diving centres would be increased and a speciality consulting firm would be engaged to help run tourism, he added.

Goanpot Asvinvichit of Chart Pattana Puea Pandin said the party aims to help affected operators and produce tourism specialists who were adept in language skills and multimedia so they could cope with the fast-changing world of tourism.

The party also wants to end internal problems to reclaim and grow tourist arrivals.

The party is considering waiving visa fees for high-potential countries like China. Complimentary hotel shuttle buses are needed in Bangkok and key provinces to serve free individual tourists.

Pradit Phataraprasit from the Chart Thai Pattana Party said the country should have a special institute to help train and groom human resources in order to improve people's abilities.

The party would crack down on tourist scams and illegal tour guides along with improving service at the airport. Relief measures would be in place to assist operators when unexpected circumstances arise.

Sorayut Phettrakul from Bhum Jai Thai said tourism was one of four industries the party would focus on.