Deputy Minister Of Interior Somchai To Promote Home-stay And Long-stay Tourisms

[Jai Dee]

Deputy Minister of Interior Somchai to Promote Home-Stay and Long-Stay Tourisms

The Deputy Minister of Interior of Thailand, Mr. Somchai Sunthornwat (สมชาย สุนทรวัฒน์), is geared up to promote home-stay and long-stay tourisms, with an aim to increase the locals’ earnings. And in addition, tourists will have more choices in traveling and getting in touch with nature.

Apparently, tourism is one of the main sources of revenue for Thailand, and it also helps create more job opportunities as well as generate more income to the Thai local people. Thus, the Deputy Minister of Interior has coordinated with concerned agencies in developing and pushing forward tourism and OTOP products. He has handed over a policy to the provincial governors and the administration organizations across the kingdom to select model villages in their respective areas, and these villages will then be developed to support home-stay and long-stay tourisms.

Deputy Minister of Interior Somchai said that this March, many tourists from Europe and Asia, particularly from Japan, will experience Thailand’s home-stay and long-stay tourisms.

Well, tourism in the 21st century is not all about relaxing one’s body and mind. However, tourism will be able to provide travelers with distinctive knowledge about nature, and they will also be able to learn and absorb different types of traditions in different communities. And thus, home-stay and long-stay are considered to be other options for tourists who want to truly learn nature and culture at the same time.

Please log on to the TAT’s website at www.tat.or.th, or simply call its hotline service at 1672 for further details.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 Febuary 2006

[Jai Dee]

The Unveiling of Local Villages for Home-Stay and Long-Stay Tourisms

Deputy Minister of Interior Somchai Sunthornwat (สมชาย สุนทรวัฒน์) has expressed his confidence that the project to open up Thailand’s local villages to promote long-stay and home-stay tourisms, to be televised via satellite, will be able to significantly help business operators and stimulate tourism.

The tourism industry has been drawing in a large amount of foreign currencies to Thailand. Hence, it is important for the country to be ready and equipped in promoting important tourist destinations and develop the tourism capability. Public relations in various forms are also essential, especially through television.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has acknowledged this importance and has therefore launched a Thai tourism channel which will be broadcasted via satellite and a project to promote long-stay and home-stay tourisms. This would enable Thailand to effectively promote its tourism to foreigners. At the same time, the administrative units from the district to the provincial levels nationwide will collaborate to promote tourism in their areas.

And in order to further promote Thailand’s tourism, a new TV program entitled “Tourism Talk” has recently been unveiled at the TATV station. In this program, viewers will be able to receive interesting tourism news and events which are or will be taking place in Thailand, and this show will also be broadcasted to other nations via satellite.

For more details on the TATV station or other information on tourism, please check out the TAT’s website at www.tat.or.th, or call its hotline at 1672.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 08 Febuary 2006

[Ricardo]

Good idea !

Especially if it results in more tourist-dollars being spent in the villages, going into poorer peoples' pockets, or bringing foreign-visitors into closer-contact with Thai village life.

In the UK 'Bed & Breakfast' has long been a way of filling empty-rooms, generating a bit of spare cash, and accomodating touring visitors, especially in rural areas. I believe the idea is also popular in parts of the USA, where meeting 'down-home folks' is a big plus ?

How can the product be developed, advertised & promoted, here in Thailand ? Any ideas ??

[Plus]

They might overestimate the desire of Japanese and Western tourists to stay in villages rather than in hotels.

Isn't 3S - sun, sand, and sex, the three pillars of Thai tourism industry?

Accomodations in most villages aren't even upto backpacker standards.

But all in all - good idea, let them try, amateurs that they are: "Apparently, tourism is one of the main sources of revenue for Thailand...", or maybe not.

[Rinrada]

Homestay. .....a flee bitten mountain doss house with a load of punters sitting around in the dark smoking pigs poo and drinking some concoction that you would not use to wash down a scabby goat and everyone going on about getting back to "nature" with real "ETHNIC" people ...reminds me of smelly low life infested council flats in Hackney

....Must be my age but homestay now to me is a good hotel with big bedrooms,full a/c,mini bar,and 50 channel cable TV.

The swimming pool is essential as well a good restaurant with a well stocked cocktail bar and perhaps a local "Phillo" caberat band in the evenings...

Morning newspaper not needed as long as we have a decent IT cafe nearby and a 7/11 for the para /tiffi tablets...

If I want to rough it then a short walk round to C.M Red Lion will be no more than a body should be subjected to......

[sbk]

Its your age, rinrada

Actually, you'd think they'd be encouraging more backpackers as they do stay longer and do put their money into locals pockets far more than your package tourist ever does.

[Ricardo]

.....a flee bitten mountain doss house with a load of punters sitting around in the dark smoking pigs poo and drinking some concoction that you would not use to wash down a scabby goat and everyone going on about getting back to "nature" with real "ETHNIC" people

Hi Rinrada,

I never knew, you had once stayed, at my old youth hostel ?

sbk,

and many backpackers grow up to like, and be able to afford, their creature-comforts, in later life, returning to put money in the pockets of the hoteliers too.

[britmaveric]

niche market - won't amount to much - some might find it cute for a few days, but I seriously doubt anyone would want to live like that for any long period. Sell as an adventure wkd?