Songkhla in Thai South to boost tourism toward AEC

SONGKHLA, THAILAND, August (TNA) - Thailand’s southern Songkhla Province will further develop local tourism, through developing and introducing new tourist destinations and markets, while improving the existing ones, in the lead-up to the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by 2015. Songkhla Governor Thamrong Charoenkul on Monday chaired a meeting with parties concerned, namely provincial authorities and representatives from the local tourism sector, including travel agencies, hotels, tourist guides, tour bus and van operators, to discuss local tourism development plans. As part of the plans, the governor acknowledged, Songkhla will open a new tourism market for Chinese visitors, along with the existing market for Chinese Malaysians and Singaporeans who normally visit Hat Yai, Thailand's southern business hub in Songkhla, every year. The governor said Songkhla also plans to develop and introduce local cultural tourist sites, including the Royal Cemetery of late Sultan Sulaiman in Singha Nakhon District and tourist routes to the Pa Kho Temple in Sating Phra District, where a statue of Luang Pu Thuad, a late most respected Thai monk is situated, as well as other local cultural attractions. According to the governor, chiefs of Songkhla's 16 districts have also been assigned to develop at least a tourist destination in their respective area to attract international visitor. The Songkhla governor stated that existing local tourist attractions, including Samila Beach in Muang District, will also be improved or beautified, urging local tourism-related businesses to also join the provincial move by providing services to international visitors with fairness and honesty to help spur and sustain the provincial tourism in the long run, as part of national preparations for next year's formation of Single Market among member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). (TNA)