Thai chamber calls for infrastructure development in secondary tourism provinces

A call to accelerate public infrastructure development in 10 secondary tourism provinces has been issued by the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC). The move is hoped to push tourism revenue and transform these areas into main tourist attractions.

The TCC, on Saturday, shared its development blueprint, which also aims to address social inequality within the 10 provinces currently under consideration. This plan is a segment of the five-dimensional economic overhaul proposition presented to the government by the TCC’s chairman, Sanan Angubolkul, during the TCC’s 41st annual seminar’s inauguration on Saturday.

The seminar, themed Connect-Competitive-Sustainable, is taking place at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC). The three-day event has attracted at least 1,000 attendees, comprising representatives from nationwide chambers of commerce and business owners, reported Bangkok Post.

Sanan lamented the country’s long-standing entrapment in a lower-income status despite its past successes.

“Despite welcoming over 40 million foreign visitors prior to the pandemic, the figure plummeted to a mere 400,000 amidst the initial phase of Covid restrictions relaxation.”

He emphasised the necessity of long-term reform for Thailand, asserting the country cannot continue depending on the dated economic blueprints.

In reference to the TCC’s five-dimensional recommendations, one of which is the sustainable development for business sectors, Sanan believes this can reduce social inequality while aiding income distribution. Part of this includes the developmental scheme for the 10 secondary provinces, where the government and public sectors are both expected to contribute to infrastructure and provide guidance for economic growth.

The TCC also recommended additional free-trade area designations, such as in the European Union, United Arab Emirates, and countries in the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council, in addition to more foreign investment.

Subsequently, a special lecture on a new era of commerce, which leverages private sector assistance to expedite goal achievement, was delivered by Commerce Minister Phumtham Wechayachai. He added that the ministry also plans to consolidate trade and investment reports into a single big data set, aiding investors in making more informed decisions.