Thailand is boosting its tourism by designing and launching new tourism packages and promotions throughout 2015, especially during festivals and long holidays.

Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul said that the ministry has already eyed the development of three projects for the purpose. The first one is to construct roads connecting Thailand with other ASEAN nations, including Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

The second one is to promote cruising tourism in major waterways. The ministry has already discussed the project with Chao Phraya Express Boat Co.,Ltd., which agreed to offer cruising in the Chao Phraya. Tourists will be able to learn the history of the kingdom and ways of life along the way.

The project is expected to recover the popularity of water tourism and encourage tourists to stay longer in Thailand.

The journey will be later extended to cover the historical City of Ayutthaya, where the old Japanese, Dutch, and Portuguese villages are located.

The third project, which is supported by the Culture Ministry, involves night tours that will take tourists to taste street food and experience illuminations of important buildings on famous streets in Bangkok.-VNA