Indonesia is to erect its own pavilion at the famous Umbrella Festival in Chiang Mai in hopes of increasing the volume of Thai tourists heading south.
Indonesian Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said on Thursday that he expected the exhibit to encourage tourists from Thailand to travel to Indonesia, the Xinhua news agency reported.
The Indonesian Tourism Ministry projects 163,000 visitors from Thailand this year.
Statistics show the number of Thais taking holidays in Indonesia has been fairly stable over the five-year period ending in 2015. About 18,580 Thai arrivals were recorded that year.
Bali island is the most popular destination for Thais.
The annual Umbrella Festival will be held from Friday to Sunday at Ban Bo Sang in San Kamphaeng district in Chiang Mai.
The event showcases a collection of splendidly handcrafted parasols and other handicrafts made by local residents.
Deputy Indonesian Tourism Minister I Gde Pitana said the Thai festival is a "sister" event of the umbrella festival in Surakarata in Central Java province.
"The idea of the sister festival is expected to have a positive impact on tourism in both countries," Xinhua quoted him as saying.
(Video YouTube/Flipfloppin around the world)