Thai Cabinet grants 300 million baht for northern provinces

A significant financial boost of 300 million baht (US$8.3 million) has been granted by the Thai Cabinet for the development of 13 projects aimed at tourism growth across four northern provinces; Phayao, Chiang Rai, Phrae, and Nan. The decision was made during a mobile meeting in Phayao, overseen by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin during his two-day visit to the region.

On his tour, he also took time to survey the prospective location for a new airport in Phayao. During this visit, the Cabinet green-lit a proposal to establish a new Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) office in Phayao by the end of this year. This move falls in line with the broader plan to transform Phayao into the north’s primary tourism hotspot.

Out of the 13 projects given the go-ahead, nine were put forth by local government administrative bodies, and the remaining four were the brainchild of the private sector in the upper north, as stated by Danucha Pichayanan, secretary-general of the National Economic and Social Development Council. The nine projects, ranging from gastronomy tourism and health promotion product upgrades to infrastructural development, collectively amount to 155 million baht (US$ 4.3 million). Meanwhile, the remaining four projects, proposed by the private sector, are worth a total of 145.88 million baht (US$ 4 million).

Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the governor of the TAT, revealed that the value of these projects varies from 5 to 26 million baht (US$ 140,000 to 720,000) each, reported Bangkok Post.

The private sector’s plans include the development of a section of Highway No.1202 in the Pa Daet district of Chiang Rai, enhancing tourist safety in Chiang Rai, road development in Phayao, and battling PM2.5 dust pollution in the upper north, costing 50 million baht (US$ 1.4 million), 50 million baht (US$ 1.4 million), 25.88 million baht (US$ 720,000), and 20 million baht (US$ 555,000) respectively.

In related news, Prime Minister Srettha recently underscored the significance of tourism collaboration to elevate Thailand’s travel industry. The announcement comes on the heels of Maya Bay in Krabi province being named the third-best beach in the world by Lonely Planet, a testament to the country’s natural beauty.