(07/01/2012)
 The
Department of Tourism will launch a project to develop tourism for
people with disabilities and older persons by removing barriers that
prevent them from enjoying travel.The Director-General of the Department of Tourism, Mr. Supol Sripan, said that the project seeks to make the physical environment favorable to barrier-free tourism for not only people with disabilities but also the elderly, families with young children, pregnant women, and sick people. Mr. Supol said that the market for this group of tourists has great potential for further growth in the future. According to a research study, the number of travelers with disabilities and older persons in Europe is between 134 and 268 million. If Thailand can capture 2 percent of the market share of this group of tourists, its earnings from tourism income are likely to increase by 78.2 billion baht annually. He revealed that the Department of Tourism had sought cooperation from the Disabled Peoples’ International Asia-Pacific, the Thailand Association of the Blind, and the Professional Tourist Guide Association of Thailand in encouraging hotel, restaurant, and souvenir shop operators to pay greater attention to this group of tourists. In the initial stage, the project will be carried out in four pilot provinces, namely Bangkok, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. These provinces have been rated among the most popular destinations in Thailand, in the eyes of international visitors. They are unique in their own ways. Dubbed a multi-faceted “City of Asia,” Bangkok was voted one of the world’s best cites by the US-based Travel and Leisure magazine. It was ranked first among the top ten popular cities in 2011, according to a survey conducted by Thailand’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports. One out of every ten Thais lives in Bangkok, which presents itself as a city of culture. So it is interesting to visit Bangkok to understand modern urban culture in Thailand. Chon Buri is popular for the city of Pattaya, which is recognized as a beach resort for all seasons and a sun-and-fun center. Pattaya offers a wealth of attractions and meeting, entertainment, and water sport facilities. Chiang Mai, one of Thailand’s creative cities, is famous for numerous handicrafts, especially community products. Recognized as a center of Thailand’s northern culture and traditions, the city has architecture, food, dialects, and customs that set it apart from the rest of the country. Often dubbed the pearl of the Andaman Sea, Phuket is internationally renowned for its beautiful beaches and excellent sea food. The island has already been put on the world map as a desirable recreational center famous for its natural beauty. Under the project to develop tourism for people with disabilities and older persons, training will be arranged to equip tourism personnel with proper knowledge about providing facilities and services for disabled persons and the elderly, making tourism accessible to this group of people from around the world. This group of tourists, in fact, represents a huge untapped market for the travel industry. |
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น
หมายเหตุ: มีเพียงสมาชิกของบล็อกนี้เท่านั้นที่สามารถแสดงความคิดเห็น