Southern border city woos tourists in bid to shake off impact of conflict

[webfact]

Southern border city woos tourists in bid to shake off impact of conflict
By Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation
Yala

 

A woman buys vegetables from a street-side vendor in the market district of Betong. --Nation / Pratch Rujivanarom

 

YALA: -- MUCH is riding on plans to revive the economic fortunes of the far South, and that spells opportunity for Betong district in Yala province.

 

Hidden by mountains at the southernmost point of the country is Betong city, whose charms are unknown to most Thais, especially with the shadow cast by the long-running southern insurgency. But that will change if its designation as one of three “model cities” results in its development as a centre for sustainable development on the back of tourism and agriculture.

 

The ambience of the city, set amid the mountain scenery, reflects its heritage of Chinese settlement.

 

Under a Cabinet resolution of October 4, 2016, the government declared that it would resume the economic development of the three southernmost provinces, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. The resolution envisaged the revival of Betong as one of the model cities.

 

Betong Sheriff Damrong Deesakul said the district had great natural advantages, with beautiful surroundings and pristine nature, adding to the charms of the border city. It could be easily developed as a new tourism magnet for the far South, he said.

 

In an effort to meet the government’s goals, Damrong said the local authorities were developing the infrastructure required to support the tourism push.

 

“Betong has what it takes to be developed as a tourist city,” he said. “We have very beautiful nature and a distinct Chinese culture, and this helped to attract more than 700,000 tourists last year. However, most of our tourists come from Malaysia, and we are still an unknown town to many Thais.”

 

In an effort to raise the profile of the city and make it more attractive to domestic and international tourists, infrastructure work is being undertaken, he said, and this will result in new tourism spots being developed and, in turn, boost investment in the sector.

 

He said the district’s infrastructure development plan included expansion of Highway 410, which links Betong with other parts of Yala; the construction of an airport for Betong; and the enlargement of the border checkpoint, which is aimed at making the crossing easier and increasing the flow of visitors.

 

According to the Internal Security Operations Command, the government has allocated Bt50 million for the improvements to Highway 410 and a road connection to the Anyorweng “sea of mist” tourism viewing point, with Bt91 million to be spent on developing facilities at this scenic attraction.

 

However, some point to obstacles in the way of the rapid tourism development of the district.

 

 Betong Mayor Somyot Lertlamyong said adjustments to the city plan were needed before the city could welcome the envisaged influx of tourists.

 

“Right now, Betong has a problem with the city plan, which bars the construction of facilities to receive more tourists, so if we want to welcome more tourists in the years to come, we must consider the adjustment of the city plan as soon as possible,” Somyot said.

 

He also said the city faced a problem of waste management if visitor numbers swelled. There is only one landfill site and the city will keep out any waste-to-energy plants in order to safeguard the environment, he said.

 

However, on security, Damrong said there had been only one attack in the town, in 2014. He added that it was much safer than other parts of the insurgency-racked deep South.

 

“We are pretty safe here and it is our priority to keep the city safe,” he said. “There is only one access route to our town, so it is easy for us to provide security here. We can firmly reassure tourists that they will be safe on vacation in Betong.” 

 

At the community level, resident Bang Ma said he was pleased with the government’s plans to boost the local economy.

 

“I love to see my home town grow, but we also want to keep the charm of our town as well, so it would be good if the authorities acted to develop tourism but at the same time kept our culture and heritage intact,” he said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/business/EconomyAndTourism/30318612

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-06-21

[Thaiwrath]

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

adding to the charms of the border city. It could be easily developed as a new tourism magnet for the far South,

I bet this publicity stunt goes like a bomb !

[Bluespunk]

27 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

However, some point to obstacles in the way of the rapid tourism development of the district.

Such as the residents of this area wishing to maintain their own way of life...

[ezzra]

Aha,,, there's nothing like the stanch of a gun powder in the morning and

a bomb shrapnel flying in the air to start your day at this lovely city,

and if you happened to get shot or blown up, we guarantee to pick up

what ever left of you and post it back to your folks, free, postage on us....

[yellowboat]

Wanted to go there from Malaysia once.  The only problem was that to go to Betong then on to Hat Yai, you needed to travel through Malaysia again.  For those with visa exempt status, that would use up your two times per year border crossing allotment.  Also their is no airport.  At the time, it was not very accessible.  Visiting Thailand's border towns is better done when leaving Thailand, not entering.  Betong does sound fantastic though

[jenifer d]

3 hours ago, ezzra said:

Aha,,, there's nothing like thehere stanch of a gun powder in the morning and

a bomb shrapnel flying in the air to start your day at this lovely city,

and if you happened to get shot or blown up, we guarantee to pick up

what ever left of you and post it back to your folks, free, postage on us....

there's only been one incident ever there (ironically, just a few weeks after my first visit 2 years ago)

Betong is a beautiful and peaceful place, was just there again end of April

[baboon]

Wouldn't any insurance be invalidated down there due to travel advisory warnings?

[Slotman]

a couple of areas that I don't go on my jollies in SE Asia....... Southern Philippines & Southern Thailand.

[mtls2005]

9 minutes ago, baboon said:

Wouldn't any insurance be invalidated down there due to travel advisory warnings?

 

Yes. I believe Martial Law is still in effect in the four "restive" southern provinces. Most insurance is voided by Martial Law; that's one reason why the Junta has to do away with it so quickly after each coup.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

12 minutes ago, Slotman said:

a couple of areas that I don't go on my jollies in SE Asia....... Southern Philippines & Southern Thailand.

The main road from Su-ngai Kolok to Hatyai is OK to drive day time the boss of immigration told me and been driving it 3 times last year, made one mistake last year and took the 4056 Rd from Su-ngai Kolok north and had to turn back, a group of soldiers stopped me and told me that there was an unexploded bomb next to the road a couple of hundred meters ahead. Hatyai to Sadao is also "quite" safe to drive (there's been a couple of bomb attacks against night clubs in Danok  a couple of years ago but nothing along the main road). I will not travel to Yala until there is peace in the area.

Edited June 21, 2017 by HiSoLowSoNoSo

[jenifer d]

2 hours ago, yellowboat said:

Wanted to go there from Malaysia once.  The only problem was that to go to Betong then on to Hat Yai, you needed to travel through Malaysia again.  For those with visa exempt status, that would use up your two times per year border crossing allotment.  Also their is no airport.  At the time, it was not very accessible.  Visiting Thailand's border towns is better done when leaving Thailand, not entering.  Betong does sound fantastic though

somebody told you wrong- going from Betong to Hat Yai, is a  5-hr ride through first the mountains of Yala then along the sea in Pattani, in a minivan that can't drive exceedingly fast because of the mountain roads and (unfortunate) constant military checkpoints 

 

Betong is a beautiful and peaceful place, get there if  you can- i've been there twice, both times as guest of one of the mayor's

right hand staff (met him, nice guy), most recently the end of April for 8 days 

 

Betong is justifiably proud of its flowers, its beautiful downtown and post office, its hot springs, and its chickens

(see recent TV article about Betong's chickens); they even erected chicken statues...

nearby is beautiful Halabala, with its large lake and wild jungle, where a 2-km trek will take you to a hidden 50-meter tall waterfall

 

pix from top to bottom:

-the tunnel under a large hill in the downtown (that leads to the chickens and elsewhere)

 -the famous post office, Lanna-style (even though Lanna was 2,000 km to north) recent trip, met granddaughter of architect

-hidden pool & waterfall, Halabala jungle

 -the famous Betong chickens  (note me in comparison to guage size)

-the beautiful center of downtown

 -eating wih friends, at the hot springs

-the Betong hot springs, people come from miles around

 -several more hot springs  pix

[Redline]

Easy~call in TAT busters

[HerbalEd]

14 hours ago, ezzra said:

Aha,,, there's nothing like the stanch of a gun powder in the morning and

a bomb shrapnel flying in the air to start your day at this lovely city,

and if you happened to get shot or blown up, we guarantee to pick up

what ever left of you and post it back to your folks, free, postage on us....

Do get the facts and some perspective. 

 

According to the article there has been only one bombing in Betong -- ever. How many have there been in BKK is the past five years? Do you never visit or stay in BKK?

Edited June 21, 2017 by HerbalEd

[drgoon]

Well the mayor seems on to it and wants infrastructure development before visitors arrive and not the other way round 

[quadperfect]

Sure lets get tourists there so they can kill em.nothing like the lamb to the slaughter house

Great idea. 

 

Edited June 22, 2017 by quadperfect

[madmitch]

One problem is that when beautiful places start to attract mass tourism, that beauty starts to disappear under a mass of food stalls, litter, souvenir vendors and of course tourists. It's should be  a difficult dilemma but the scent of cash wins in Thailand very time.