AT LEISURE
YVONNE BOHWONGPRASERT
Soft-spoken Chutathip Chareonlarp is making her debut as director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Central Region 6 office with great anticipation - and no small measure of enthusiasm. While based in Ayutthaya, she will also be overseeing the provinces of Saraburi, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi.
"I was pleasantly surprised at being appointed," said the Bangkok-born Chutathip, who's a keen environmentalist. "Over the past 20 years or so I've worked in a string of tourism-development offices set up by TAT."
She's been running the Ayutthaya office for close to a month now, and is slowly learning the ropes. Letting us into a little secret, she reveals that people-management hasn't always been her forte. But with time and patience, this slim 43-year-old is confident she'll eventually prevail. "It's all about getting the right person for a particular job.
"Ayutthaya is a melting pot of cultures and history spanning centuries, but to promote the place in a new light there's an urgent need for an image makeover so that visitors will have a better selection of leisure activities to choose from."
So how do you hope to achieve this?
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| Chutathip Chareonlarp wants us to see the Central Plains in a whole new light. |
To make Ayutthaya into a choice destination I believe we have to operate as a team - and that means everyone involved in the tourism and hospitality industry working together towards the same goal. I need to work closely with officials who oversee the ruins [of the old city], with travel agents and hoteliers. My vision is to make Ayutthaya into a place where visitors will be able to enjoy themselves with their families. It's more than just coming to pray at the temples.
What are your short-term goals?
My plan is to offer night tours of the [old capital] led by local historians and guides. We're only a hop, skip and jump away from Bangkok - given good traffic conditions you can reach Ayutthaya in under two hours - which makes it tempting to visit at any time of the year. Our resort spas are also becoming increasingly popular for traditional Thai massage. I've heard of people driving all the way from Bangkok for a massage and returning home the same day. So I'm hoping to coax them into staying overnight!
What types of accommodation are available?
We pretty much have something to suit every budget. Our high-end and mid-range hotels are all locally owned, and are good value for money. The service and amenities they offer are on a par with hotels in Bangkok.
Are homestays popular?
Yes, indeed! Homestays are one of the biggest reasons that tourists - both domestic and foreign - spend the night here.
So the homestay segment is definitely something you'd like to promote ...
Definitely. Our main target group is overseas guests, so it's important for us to maintain a high standard of service and not become complacent. Homestay enthusiasts are often avid backpackers; they're people with simple needs, content with the basic amenities on offer.
What type of tourists go for homestays?
We get all types, but mostly eco-tourists and people interested in sustainable tourism. We also receive a large chunk of visitors from the educational sector. Their main purpose in choosing a homestay is so that they can learn about the way of life of our people, their customs and traditions.
What's in store for the other five provinces under your care?
I'll continue to promote each province's best features while concurrently exploring ways and means to find additional attractions in these areas. There's always more to a place than meets the eye. I'll step up efforts to promote provinces with high-quality MICE [Meetings/Incentive/Conference/Exhibition] facilities at world travel marts.
Tell us a little about tourist attractions in the provinces under your jurisdiction.
Apart from numerous temples, I'd say that Saraburi has intriguing natural features in the form of Khao Sam Lan National Park which has lots of wild animals and great scenery, not to mention cruises along the Pasak River. Ang Thong also has much more than meets the eye. In fact, its handicraft villages and organic farms are starting to pick up momentum as destinations. As for Suphan Buri ... it's a really ancient town full of culture and historic temples. I'd recommend a visit to Buffalo Village, which offers unique insights into how the water buffalo has contributed to our country.
Pathum Thani has everything from the Muay Thai Institute and the National Science Museum to the well-frequented Talat Thai [market].
Nonthaburi, another spot easily accessible from Bangkok, boasts an anthropology museum and [the island of] Ko Kret, with its large Mon community and traditional potters.
Let's touch now on your own travel habits; are you the adventurous type?
I'm not the real adventurous sort but I do enjoy being in the great outdoors. I normally opt for driving my family by car to the provinces. As we have family and friends all across the country we never have problems finding suitable accommodation.
But despite the fact that I'm the family's main driver, I'm not very good at reading maps, so I often get lost; hard to believe, isn't it!
If you wish to contact the writer, email yvonneb@bangkokpost.co.th
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