EEC/Bang Kla community tourism

Chatrudee Theparat

The Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) joined forces with the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), and the public and private sectors of Chachoengsao province, to launch tourism routes of community tourism in Bang Khla, Chachoengsao, aimed at boosting community income.

Chula Sukmanop

Chula Sukmanop, secretary-general of the Eastern Economic Corridor Office (EECO) together with Chatpraon Niyom, deputy governor of Chachoengsao province, Chamnan Sriswasdi, chairman of the TCT, Sirichai Paobanchong, mayor of Bang Khla subdistrict, recently opened such tourism routes in Bangkhla district.

The project is implemented under the concept of “Shop for good products, visit a famous temple, Bang Khla, Chachoengsao”. The program is an attempt of the EEC and related parties to connect and distribute benefits from investment in the EEC to community tourism in the area.

“The project is aimed to promote identity and distinctiveness of products from local wisdom through cultural tourism and conveying historical stories through the Bang Pakong River.” Mr Chula said.

This project is a cooperation among Chachoengsao province, and related parties in the area in a bid to support community enterprises. The agencies and community provide community products to be sold in the floating market, as well as a design of tourism routes with a purpose to create opportunities to generate income from the investment sector to communities in the surrounding areas.

Mr Chula said the agency launched the pilot project of a tourism route in Bang Kla area, Chachoengsao because the province has variety of tourism products that are different from the other two provinces in the EEC, Chonburi and Rayong, Chachoengsao has natural sites, cultural tourism and well-known local products.

He said there will be additional investment of 30 projects with 1,500 new human workforces in the areas. They may introduce projects to support communities on the requirement of EEC’s new privileges programme.

The agency expects that those investors and workforces will be a new target to boost community tourism in Bangkhla and surrounding areas.

The agency projected that there will be a large increase in population in the EEC. They can travel in the areas for the holiday or weekdays which can create an opportunity for the community to generate income to the villagers.

Mr Sirichai said the tourism route so called “ Shop for good products, visit a famous temple Bang Kla, Chachoengsao " are a variety of activities, including visiting the Bang Khla floating market, which is well-known among tourists.

The visitors can enjoy quality products and good products from Chachoengsao such as spring rolls mango, fresh coconut, good quality mango, shrimp and jasmine rice from Ratchasan district which is the origin of Jasmine Rice 105.

Bangkhla also has many cultural tourism spots for the visitors to pay homage to the sacred things of the Bang Pakong River basin such as the three-legged Thao Wessuwan( God of wealth) on a treasure chest of Wat Chaeng Bang Kla, to take a boat trip to see Phra Ubosot Ngern Phuttha Phromyan Temple, on Koh Lad.

The visitors can visit and worship Lord Ganesha at Ganesha Khlong Khuean Park, the largest standing bronze Ganesha in the world. It is famous for praying for success in one's career. It is respected and believed by the people in Chachoengsao.

Later, EECO will design other tourism routes in the three provinces of EEC.