Royal projects a tour magnet

CHATRUDEE THEPARAT

The all-year-round Royal Initiative Discovery Project, organised to celebrate His Majesty the King's 80th birthday this year is expected to draw 3.1 billion baht in revenue to Thailand's tourism industry.

Unseen tourism spots and travel routes will be introduced, along with visits to royal projects initiated by His Majesty.

The activities are expected to attract about 100,000 foreign tourists and 800,000 local ones, according to Suchada Yuvadhboon, deputy chairwoman of the Tourism Council of Thailand, which runs the project together with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and 12 travel agencies.

She said tourists would be able to learn about the royal projects, which have been set up to eradicate poverty, promote the sufficiency economy and preserve Thai culture and heritage. ''The project will support the TAT's policy of promoting more quality tourism.''

The target groups among local travellers are students, tambon administrations and general tourists.

The TAT expects the Thai tourism industry to earn 547 billion baht from 14.8 million foreign visitors this year and 377.8 billion baht from 82.5 million local trips.

The Royal Initiative Discovery Project is being introduced at this week's Asean Tourism Forum in Singapore.

Bangkok Post
Wednesday January 31, 2007