Phuket, Chiang Mai launch “exchange tourism’

PHUKET: A 100-strong party of Chiang Mai businessmen, entrepreneurs and government officials will arrive on Phuket on July 4 for a three-day inspection visit with the aim of promoting tourist travel between Phuket and Chiang Mai, and to foster better relations between the tourism businesses of the two holiday destinations. The exchange tourism project was announced yesterday at a meeting between Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce President Jumpol Chutima, the Chamber’s Vice-President, Saowaluck Shimada, and Phuket Provincial Administration Organization President Dr Prasit Koeysiripong. K. Saowaluck said that the Chiang Mai team will visit cultural and historical tourist attractions in Phuket and meet with local businesspeople so that they will be better able to promote the island to people in Chiang Mai. In turn, on July 5, the visitors will stage an exhibition of northern culture, including traditional northern dancing by students and a display of northern products, at the Thainaan restaurant, at the intersection of the bypass road and Wichit Songkram Rd in Phuket Town.