4 Gulf of Thailand provinces joining hands to promote tourism

A new tourism promotion effort is being launched under the cooperation of provinces located along the Gulf of Thailand. Director of the Surat Thani Province Office of Tourism and Sports Promchote Traivate said that 4 southern provinces along the Gulf of Thailand, including Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Chumphon and Phatthalung, have recently joined in an integrated tourism marketing collaboration. Mr. Promchote stated that the initiative was intended to connect the tourism industry of all 4 provinces while promoting key and quality products from each locality to visitors. The project kicks off with the 7-million-baht project, titled “Zest of the South”, scheduled during August 15th and 19th at Queen Sirikit Convention Center in Bangkok. According to the Surat Thani Province Office of Tourism and Sports, around 3.5 million tourists have visited all the 4 provinces each year, 55 % of whom are Thais and the remainder are foreigners, generating about 35 billion baht in tourism revenue. In 2012, the tourism income in the four provinces is expected to increase from last year’s record to about 40 billion baht, said Mr. Promchote.