The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is using its “2015 Discover Thainess” campaign to lure foreign tourists to hidden gems — 12 provinces most people miss on their trips here.
The provinces are Lampang, Nan, Phetchabun, Buri Ram, Loei, Samut Songkhram, Ratchaburi, Trat, Chanthaburi, Trang, Chumphon and Nakhon Si Thammarat.
The Bangkok Post has already looked at the tourism potential of five provinces. Our sixth hidden gem is Trang, a province in the South, 1,020 kilometres
from Bangkok.
Famous food
If you mention roast pork, traditional cakes, underwater wedding ceremonies and beautiful islands, Trang immediately comes to mind. There is no doubt why the province, named a “Gastronome Extravaganza” destination, was selected one of the 12 hidden gems.
Trang is famous for its food, with more than 300 Chinese dim sum eateries and coffee shops as well as more than 100 bakeries.
There are also 300 Chinese banquet organisers there, says Jantima Muneekul, chief executive of Seefar Lifestyle Food Restaurant in Trang.
Many old families in Trang migrated from Penang, a small state in northwest Malaysia. Menus in the province reflect Penang’s food culture.
“Penang’s Chinese food will never let you down,” she says.
Promoting Trang as a foodie paradise can help it draw tourists all year round.
Ms Jantima says dining out is typical for Trang locals because most restaurants and food stalls serve delicious dishes at reasonable prices.
The banquet business is booming because locals like big banquets for wedding ceremonies, funerals and new house blessings.
The province has some 50 restaurants that are more than 50 years old, many passing down secret recipes from generation to generation, she says.
Wiriya Kaenkaew, assistant director of TAT’s Trang office, says food is a core tourism product there, particularly for Thais who love eating and sharing food pictures via social media.
During the high season, many people come for the beautiful islands and beaches. Hat Chao Mai National Park, which covers Koh Mook, Morakot Cave, Koh Chueak, Koh Kradan and Koh Waen, makes the province an unforgettable honeymoon destination.
Mu Ko Phetra National Park covers Koh Phetra, Koh Khao Yai, Koh Lao Liang, Koh Bulon and Rawai beach.
A couple of provinces away is Khao Sok National Park, where tourists can see the rafflesia, the largest flower in the world, during November to March by hiking four to five hours into the park.
Around Koh Talibong and Koh Mook are important seagrass beds covering 20,000 square kilometres, providing a home for some 150 dugongs, or sea cows, in the area.
During the monsoon season, the national marine areas are closed to allow nature to recover and to prevent tourist accidents.
TAT projects tourist arrivals to Trang will grow by 15% to 1.51 million this year thanks to the 12 Hidden Gems project and capacity expansion at Trang airport, says Ms Wiriya.
In the first four months this year, TAT reported arrivals to Trang increased by 22% to 385,113, with tourism income rising 22% to 2.17 billion baht.
Preparations
The Trang provincial authorities plan to expand Pak Meng port, the province’s main facility serving sea trips to islands and marine attractions. The port is congested during the high season because it can serve only two boats at a time. The improvement will cost 200 million baht.
The port expansion will facilitate transport to other islands in the Andaman Sea including Langkawi and Lipe, said Nikkorn Sooksai, Trang’s deputy governor.
He says authorities plan to add direction signs in urban areas and introduce bicycle lanes at the Peninsula Botanic Garden (Thung Khai) to welcome visitors who want to pedal around.
Trang will also increase its halal restaurants to welcome more Muslim tourists, in line with the TAT’s strategy to promote Thailand as a Muslim-friendly destination.
Suggestions and Problems
Trang’s airport services three flights a day from Bangkok in the high season and two a day in the low season by Nok Air and Thai AirAsia.
Tourism in Trang has grown slower than its potential because of conflicts among local politicians and disagreement between the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) and local residents, says the TAT. These limit sales of tour packages to the high season.
The main tourist attractions in Trang are Hat Chao Mai and Mu Koh Phetra national parks. The province’s plans to promote tourism have run counter to the DNP’s conservation efforts, says Ms Wiriya.
The development of infrastructure and other facilities depends on local organisations, but many of them lack tourism knowledge and are influenced by political benefits rather than sincere support for tourism, she says.
Most local operators are small, meaning there are few marketing campaigns for Trang, so most of the promotion is dependent on the government, says Ms Wiriya.
The TAT wants Trang to be a more recognised tourist destination, on the level of a Phuket or Krabi, but locals seem to be sceptical. Although Trang has the potential to welcome 2 million visitors a year, most local operators believe the province cannot compete with Krabi and Phuket, where all related parties are actively promoting tourism, says Banjong Naruepornmethee, president of the Trang Tourism and Hotel Association.
Tourism operators in Trang believe better tourism zoning and understanding among the locals and tourism operators would reduce conflicts, leading to sustainable tourism development.
Mr Banjong says the zoning should determine locations for strict environmental conservation and those where the protection of natural resources could be compromised to facilitate tourism.
“Local operators are ready to support conservation, but some have sought permission for tourism development to generate income,” he says.
Mr Banjong has proposed Pak Meng port as one location for development as it is a main gateway linking the mainland to tourist attractions, but building there is blocked because most of the area is within the compound of the national park.
Koh Sukorn could be developed as a tourist destination because there are land ownership rights with some 3,000 residents on the island, but transport is a major obstacle. Visitors to the island must board a boat at Ta Se port, 60 km from downtown Trang, followed by a long boat trip. A new shortcut could help promote Koh Sukorn.
Investors have tried to promote Sikao Bay because most of it is outside the national park boundary and it has more land ownership rights than the Pak Meng area.
“We are not afraid of the arrival of outside developers. If they study Trang well, they will realise that doing business here is not easy. It still needs a lot of development. It will take at least a decade to catch up with Krabi,” says Mr Banjong.
Tourists should try a Trang breakfast, which features a variety of small dim sum dishes.