Elderly hired to host tourists

BANGKOK, June 15 (TNA) – The Ministry of Tourism and Sports launched a pilot project to hire the elderly to work as hosts at tourist destinations in their hometowns. The “Amazing Thai Host” initiative was pioneered in northern provinces such as Chiang Rai, Phayao, Phrae and Nan last month. More than 150 elderly people were selected to station at tourist destinations as volunteers to take care and assist visitors. Pongpanu Svettarundra, permanent secretary for tourism today attended the launch of the campaign in Chiang Rai. The project provides jobs for the elderly and distributes income to local communities in line with the government’s policies as Thailand will become an aging society in a decade. Retired and elderly people, who want to earn some income, can apply to be volunteers to host tourists. This model is successfully applied in about 20 countries such as Japan, South Korea and Canada. (TNA)