Tourism/ upper northern provinces

Chatrudee Theparat

The government plans to boost tourism industry in upper northern provinces.

Under the promotion, the government approved a 300 million baht budget to boost tourism in upper northern provinces of Phayao, Phrae, Nan and Chiang Rai.

Prime Minister Sreetha Thavisin said the cabinet approved in principle of 13 tourism projects worth 300 million baht for four provinces in northern provinces of Phayao, Phrae, Nan and Chiang Rai.

They include nine projects proposed by the public sector worth 155 million baht and four projects worth 145 million baht proposed by the private sector.

The significant projects are upgrading potential of food gastronomy with 20 million baht; 15 million baht for cup of village to promote tea innovation; upgrading wellness worth 15 million baht; two projects in Nan including 21 million baht for upgrading high quality tourism and upgrading quality of coffee worth 15 million baht.

The cabinet also authorized the Transport Ministry to conduct a feasibility study of a construction of Phayao airport.

Mr Sreetha said his cabinet also approved a new office opening of the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Phayao within the fourth quarter of this year in a bid to promote tourism in the provinces, especially as a shorter route to Laos’ Luang Phra Bang.

Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol said the new TAT’s office in Phayao will help to strengthen Thailand’s tourism industry, especially the connectivity to Laos with the shorten route of 297 kilometer from Ban Huak checkpoint to Luang Phra Bang.

The Thai government may need to negotiate with the Laos government to upgrade the checkpoint in Laos to become an international checkpoint in order to facilitate immigration procedures for foreign visitors.

The Highway Department is required to expand the road to Ban Huak checkpoint.

Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said the cabinet approved in principle to bar an import of maize which grows in neighboring countries in a bid to prevent PM 2.5, which has affected the health and tourism industry.

The Commerce ministry is required to invoke regulation to ban import maize from neighboring countries, which grow maize with land clearance by burning.

He said the cabinet raised concerns that such baring import may violate the rule of the World Trade Organisation, therefore the government will implement this policy when parliament passes the Clean Air Act, which is expected to take effect by this year.

Currently, Thailand imports around annual 1.6 million tons of maize from neighboring countries.