Thailand primed for region gateway role
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told the gathering of World Travel and Tourism Council members in Bangkok last week that the country’s strategy is called “Thailand Plus One”, under which Bangkok is positioned as a gateway for trade, investment and tourism in the region. The focus is on connecting Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand – the so-called CLMVT countries. Given Thailand’s geographical location, the country can serve as the gateway for international tourists wanting to explore mainland Southeast Asia. According to Prayut, Thailand has invested significantly in the upgrade of transport infrastructure to link its borders with CLMV countries by land, air and sea. This will help tap the potential of multiple ASEAN tourist destinations, especially during this year’s 50th anniversary of the founding of Asean, as 2017 is being dubbed the “Visit ASEAN 50 Year”.
