The Public Health Ministry plans to promote Koh Yao district in Phangnga as a wellness destination by elevating medical and long-stay services for tourists.
Kohyaochaipat Hospital is the only hospital on Koh Yao Noi, Public Health Minister Cholnan Srikaew said on Wednesday. At present, the hospital offers services to over 12,000 people living on the island and also to tourists who need medical treatment from time to time.
The hospital is now being developed into a "smart hospital" as per the policy of the ministry to boost the efficiency of medical services.
Areas in Koh Yao district have the potential to be developed for the tourism sector. The government will support the policy to promote tourism spending and create more jobs for locals, Mr Cholnan said.
The island is known among tourists as a green tourism destination where communities join hands to introduce tour programmes and focus on promoting their way of life including fishing, farming coconuts, growing rice and local food, he added.
The communities offer homestays as well as package tours to let visitors learn more about their lives and the island in a sustainable way.
The ministry will target long-stay tourists who prefer the slow pace of life on the island, he said, while also promoting Ranong province as a health and wellness destination.
The southern province is known for its natural hot springs, he said, adding that bathing in the springs is good for health.
Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsupakitkosol previously said the ministry would like to promote Thailand as a spa destination, following the success of some European countries and also Japan in this field.
The ministry plans to develop seven tourist routes to connect hot springs for health tourism, and issue hot spring development guidelines to conform with modern standards.
According to the Department of Mineral Resources and the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, there are natural hot springs in many parts of the country: 71 spots in the North, 32 in the South, 12 in the Central region and two in the East.