Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) is planning to introduce tourism development zones in five groups of provinces and is to review the national tourism policy, Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul has said.

He revealed that the ministry will hold talks with the National Tourism Policy Committee to establish the tourism strategic plan.

This plan will develop tourism in five groups of provinces. The first group is the Lanna Civilisation tourism in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, and Lampang provinces while the second one is the active beach tourism in Chonburi, Rayong, Chanthaburi, and Trat provinces.

The third group is the Southern-Isan Civilisation tourism in Nakhon Ratchasima, Buriram, Surin, Sisaket, and Ubon Ratchathani provinces; the fourth is the Royal Coast tourism in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, and Ranong provinces; and the last is the Andaman sea tourism in Krabi, Phang Nga, Phuket, Trang, and Satun provinces.

The ministry will consider the existing tourism roadmap to decide whether it requires an edit or a complete rewrite, he said, adding that the MOTS will work with other related ministries when working on the roadmap.

The minister also said that his ministry has decided to establish an accurate and reliable tourist information centre, which will coordinate with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Department of Tourism. This project is currently under discussion and is expected to start next year.-VNA