Tourism authorities refurbish old klongs as new tourist attractions in Bangkok

Bangkok’s old nickname “Venice of the East” is slowly coming back to life as tourism and local municipal authorities aim to make-over some of the city’s famous klongs (canals) as new tourist attractions.

Khlong Prawet Burirom runs east from the city towards Suvarnabhumi Airport.

In May this year one of the old klongs, the King Lord Klong,was extensively refurbished and has become a busy new hang-out for locals and visitors.

The Khlong Prawet Burirom canal, followed by the Khlong Bang Luang canal next year, are being surveyed to become new tourist zones for the city of Bangkok. The works are being carried out by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Department, under direction from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

An article has been published suggesting that Thailand should promote tourism along some of the 1,825 canals in the country as international tourists are keen on taking boat trips to see the traditional Thai ways of life.

“We are conducting a survey of Khlong Prawet Burirom canal and in 2020, we will turn to the Khlong Bang Luang canal, where many floating markets are located. Tourism routes will be developed in joint efforts between related authorities and the local communities”, according to one of the members of the surveying team.

Meanwhile, the Traffic and Transportation Department and Krungthep Thanakom Company, are organising free boat trips from Bang Wa Pier to Wat Kamphaeng Bang Chak Pier near Khlong Bang Luang Market on weekends and public holidays, from 8am to 6pm.

Free boat trips are also being offered from Bang Wa Pier to piers along the Chao Phraya River: Wat Intharam, Saphan Phut, Rachinee, and Tha Chang; starting from 6am to 9am (every 30 minutes) and from 9am to 7pm (every hour).

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

PHOTO: Part of the refurbished Klong Lord in Bangkok