Thai Tourism Min to promote 16 lesser known travel routes

[webfact]

Min of Tourism to promote 16 lesser known travel routes



BANGKOK, 27 April 2016 (NNT) – The Minister of Tourism and Sports has announced the promotion of 16 lesser known travel routes.

Minister of Tourism and Sports Kobkarn Wattanvrangkul has made known that up to April 23 of this year 11 million visitors traveled to Thailand, up by 13.84 percent from the same period of last year, generating revenue of 563.275 million baht, an increase of 17.81 percent.

She stated her ministry is still working on developing cluster tourism under a program titled “Ultimate Routes of Thailand”. The project has asked different districts to highlight their strengths in the realms of nature, culture, art, lifestyle and local wisdom to add value to them as a tourism destination. So far, 16 routes have been chosen for development and promotion.

On the matter of so-called “0 baht tours” and nominee foreign businesses, the minister said her office is working with the Region 4 Army, Department of Business Development and other relevant agencies to crack down on such activity.


-- NNT 2016-04-27

[Oziex1]

0 Baht tours, in Thailand doubt it some one is making many many Baht from these so called 0 Baht tours.

Just who is raking it in, we can only guess.

[ovenman]

Quote from OP: On the matter of so-called “0 baht tours” and nominee foreign businesses, the minister said her office is working with the Region 4 Army, Department of Business Development and other relevant agencies to crack down on such activity.

Crack down on what precisely? Although perhaps less than desirable, these zero-baht tours are hardly illegal. Is the Region 4 Army going to force tourists to buy trinkets at OTOP shops?

[Myran]

0 Baht tours, in Thailand doubt it some one is making many many Baht from these so called 0 Baht tours.

Just who is raking it in, we can only guess.

Uh, yeah... that's sort of the whole point of 0 baht tours.

[madmitch]

You know the income figures are made up when they can estimate to the nearest 1000 baht! Why not just say 560 million?

And why don't they leave lesser known travel routes as just that: lesser known travel routes? People that want to find these places will find them, until the tour buses start to arrive then the adventurous tourist will disappear to find somewhere else off the beaten track.

[laolover88]

You never know what jokes these people will come up with next. I have a few ideas about "lesser known" travel routes; but most of them involve red roads.

[Artisi]

Can you just imagine the increase of fatal bus crashes from "brake failure" due to the inexperienced drivers travelling these lesser known routes.

[taony]

Or maybe a new tour route - "Fatal bus crash sites of 2015"

[Nicolas32]

Silly woman couldn't flog a dog horse really looking forward to this economic crisis similar to 1997/98 and i wonder what they will come out with then ?

[Somtamnication]

There is only one route: the road to Perdition.

[bobbymack]

"cracking down on foreign nominee businesses" thought they wanted to increase more investment? Foot in mouth syndrome again and with one junta department at odds with another and saying the opposite. With foreign direct investment down 80% from last year, the Thais are really struggling. Of course they have the stupid comment form the Moran tourist woman that they can rely on domestic tourism.

The Thais actually need foreigners to run their tours, as foreigners are more aware of what tourists want and beside they speak better English. As always, the Thais think they know best and don't like to take advice from anyone. Let them wallow in the mess of their own making.

[Strangebrew]

What's with the Chinese sex tourism promo?

[arithai12]

Is it too much to ask which are the 16 routes?

[chowny77]

Jesus wept. The main roads at the moment have enough accidents, now they want the tour bus driving monkeys going down countryside roads that most likely have not been serviced since they were put in 30 yrs ago. I see Songkran did not fulfill it's cull numbers so they need to find a new way to lower the population. Go for it, why the F$&k not!

[torpedo1970]

You cant make this f@#$%^ shit up....

would be interesting to see how the army is going to spin that....

The guy with a machine gun forcing the tourist to buy souvenirs at the local Thai owned shop.....

[jaidam]

This is the official way of saying "ooops maybe getting rid of backpackers in favor of zero baht Chinese tourists was not the brightest idea"

Backpackers welcome again?

[phoenixdoglover]

1. Soi dog encounter ( 3k fun run)

2. Death Curves Tour (Bus, 3 days or less)

3. Siam Paragon to MBK (Walking Trek, 2 days)

4. Rural Isaan - Paddies, Food Stalls, Pharmacies, and Bathrooms (7 to 10 days)

5. Lady Boy Field Spotting (Evening walk, helmets required)

Edited April 28, 2016 by phoenixdoglover

[wabothai]

hey lady, which 16 routes? Say something of interest for a change.

[kimamey]

Jesus wept. The main roads at the moment have enough accidents, now they want the tour bus driving monkeys going down countryside roads that most likely have not been serviced since they were put in 30 yrs ago. I see Songkran did not fulfill it's cull numbers so they need to find a new way to lower the population. Go for it, why the F$&k not!

As far as I'm aware a road in Thailand that's not been serviced for 30 years is a dirt track. In our village the main road through was rebuilt less than 2 years ago. New sewer pipes were put down the middle as well. 2 of the drain covers have broken up leaving holes about 700 cm square and there's a large dip appearing next to another one. All this within about 2 bus lengths.

This link should show the road in question and the first of the drain covers that no longer exist.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Waeng+Nang,+Mueang+Maha+Sarakham+District,+Maha+Sarakham+44000,+Thailand/@16.142113,103.33779,3a,66.8y,41.35h,68.06t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sH1W32OxNnskS3eX7wUeGQw!2e0!4m2!3m1!1s0x3122a79dce31c20d:0x402b54113615bf0

[poohy]

There's an exciting backstreet walk in Hua Hin im told