The Tourism Authority of Thailand and Ministry of Tourism and Sports are being instructed to look for distinguishing features of the northeastern provinces of Nong Bua Lamphu, Bung Kan, Loei, Nong Khai and Udon Thani, that can be used in promoting tourism.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced the move after the mobile cabinet meeting in Nong Bua Lamphu on Monday.
Mr Srettha said these second-tier provinces have many tourist attractions, including distinguished cultures and culinary delights.
He said Nong Bua Lamphu was selected for the first mobile meeting of his cabinet because it is the province with the lowest per capita income.
The governors of the five provinces had briefed him on problems regarding drugs, farming, land ownership, poverty and various measures to increase people's incomes.
The prime minister said one-tambon-one-product (Otop) goods displayed at the cabinet meeting venue were quality products and their sale should be promoted.
The transport ministry had said space could be allocated at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station (Bang Sue central station in Bangkok) for shops to sell Otop products, he said.
To promote sales of these products online, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society and Ministry of Commerce would jointly create a platform giving people wider access of them, Mr Srettha said.
He wanted to see more online trade in Otop products from the five provinces.
While in Nong Bua Lamphu, the cabinet agreed to fund construction of 92 weirs to help overcome water shortages in the province. The Department of Fisheries is also being ordered to release fish into natural waterways. People with Sor Por Kor land rights documents (agricultural reform land) can convert them into land title deeds, so they can own the land and make a living, the prime minister said.
More roads would also be built connecting Nong Bua Lamphu with other provinces, he added.
