Thailand's gems & jewelry routes to become new tourist attractions

BANGKOK, June 21 (TNA) - The Thai Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand (GIT) plans to work together with the state-run Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to develop local gems and jewelry routes to become the country's new tourist attractions. Chairman of GIT's Board of Executive Directors Rachane Potjanasuntorn told journalists of the plan on June 20, aimed to not only attract international visitors to local producing sources of Thai gems and jewelry products, but also boost income of producers from the grassroots. "GIT now has an initiative on promoting locally-produced gems and jewelry as a popular gift international tourist arrivals in Thailand want to buy back home for their beloved ones or members of their families, like those who visit France love to buy perfume items and those who visit Italy love to buy leather products as their take-home gifts", Rachane said. Besides, GIT is exploring potential online sale platforms for Thai gems and jewelry producers and dealers through its gems and jewelry fairs organized domestically and internationally. The GIT board chairman noted that the plan is related to an updated policy he recently briefed to GIT staff members on intensifying the development of the local gems and jewelry industry's potential in provincial areas to enhance the capacity of the entire Thai gems and jewelry industry and to create more income for local producers, especially those whose products have their outstanding community identity like the golden jewelry products of Sukhothai Province, the Lanna silver jewelry products of Chiang Mai Province and the indigenous silver jewelry products of Nan Province, and to boost the national economy from the grassroots level. According to GIT statistics, the Thai gems and jewelry industry normally earns the Thai Kingdom about a total of one trillion baht annually, about half of which from exports. The GIT board chairman acknowledged that the GIT's "Buy With Confidence" (BWC) campaign, under which the quality of local gems and jewelry products are now assured by GIT certificates, has also boosted confidence among consumers and domestic sale volumes. (TNA)