Thailand pushes to promote safari, adventure tourism

BANGKOK, September 2 (TNA) -- Zoological Park Organization of Thailand launches a zoo guidebook to promote adventure tourism and draw more visitors to the zoos nationwide. Benjapol Nakprasert, Director of Zoological Park Organization of Thailand (ZPO) under the Royal Patronage of HM the King, said Thailand is one of the two ASEAN member countries that are granted certification by World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA). More than 5 million tourists visited zoos in Thailand last year, he said. The pocket book “Amazing Zoo”, launched by ZPO, features information of animal at seven zoos in Thailand, including Dusit Zoo in Bangkok, Khao Kheow Open Zoo in eastern Chon Buri Province, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima zoos and Surin Elephant Kingdom Project in the Northeast and Songkhla Zoo in the South. ZPO director said the guide book aims to promote adventure tourism in Thailand through a wide range of activities, such as zipline tours, elephant trekking and other zoo packages. The ZPO, meanwhile, planned to develop and transform Thailand’s zoos into the environment oriented "Green Zoos", in the hopes of becoming a zoo and safari adventures hub in ASEAN in 2016. (TNA)