Thailand hosts trip for young tourism ambassadors from Japan and ASEAN

BANGKOK, January 15 (TNA) - Young tourism ambassadors from Japan and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were on a five-day special trip to Thailand, ending on January 14, to create a tourism network among regional youths and to strengthen ties and cooperation between Japan and the 10-member ASEAN bloc. Thailand sponsored the trip for about 30 young tourism ambassadors from Japan and ASEAN countries, also aimed at promoting their learning exchange and celebrating the 40th anniversary of relations between Japan and ASEAN. From January 11-14, the regional youths visited Thailand’s natural and cultural tourist attractions in the central provinces, including Ayutthaya, a national historic city, a buffalo village in Suphanburi, a crocodile farm in Nakhon Pathom, the Kwai River in Kanchanaburi and the Golden Jubilee Museum of Agriculture Office in Pathum Thani, a learning center for agriculture adopting His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s “Sufficiency Economy” theory. The visiting youths then bid farewell at a party on their cruise on the Chao Phraya River. The trip, with the constructive activities, the first of its kind, was part of regional preparations for the formation of the ASEAN Community (AC) by 2015. Regarding cooperation in tourism among ASEAN member countries, Thailand is a coordinator to promote a common standard for ASEAN hotels and spa services and to promote the 10-member ASEAN as a single tourist destination.(TNA)