Plans to establish a new tourism gateway together with provincial airport expansion in Phuket and Krabi are set to be tabled for consideration by the national tourism policy committee by early next month.
Deputy Prime Minister Gen Tanasak Patimapragorn, who oversees the Tourism and Sports Ministry, said the projects were initiated and proposed by the Pracha Rat (People's State) steering committee on tourism and the private sector, aiming to upgrade Thailand as a quality destination and increase tourists' spending per head as well as redistribute income to communities.
The steering committee proposed setting up Go2Thailand.com as the new tourism gateway for Thai operators, offering tourism information and online booking.
The first phase of the new tourism website is expected to kick off by late this year.
Gen Tanasak said the new tourism gateway will boost the efficiency and competitiveness of tourism entrepreneurs.
The platform will offer tourism-related information and online bookings for accommodation, restaurants, air tickets, hospitals and logistics services.
Currently online booking services are mainly operated by major foreign operators, meaning Thai entrepreneurs and the government gain little benefit from online transactions.
Kalin Sarasin, chairman of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, together with Charoen Wangananont, president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, also proposed yesterday the government upgrade and expand airports and facilities in Phuket and Krabi.
The private sector suggested Phuket airport be expanded to handle 12.5 million passengers a year from the current 6.5 million, while Krabi airport be expanded to handle 3.6 million passengers, up from 3 million at present.
They also proposed the construction of an airport in Phangnga to facilitate air travel in the three provinces, and offering services for quality visitors to Khao Lak in Phangnga.
Gen Tanasak said the steering committee on tourism also proposed building a cruise terminal at Sattahip near the navy-operated U-tapao airport to link the tourism routes in the eastern region and the planned high-speed rail network between Bangkok and Rayong, as well as constructing a tunnel via highway No.12 linking Tak and Mae Sot.