Strong Support for Tourism in the Andaman Sea and OTOP Products

(21/03/2012)

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has expressed strong support for cultural tourism in the Andaman Sea and for southern products under the “One Tambon, One Product (OTOP)” program. The issues were raised during the visit of the Prime Minister in the southern province of Phuket during the third mobile Cabinet meeting under the present administration on 19-20 March 2012. During the visit, the Prime Minister made an inspection of the Police Patrol Boat Tor 813 Tsunami Memorial site in Phang-nga province. She also presided over the opening of an OTOP Fair in Mueang district of Phuket. The Prime Minister called for the development of tourism destinations in the Andaman, which covers six coastal provinces, namely Ranong, Phuket, Krabi, Phang-nga, Trang, and Satun. These provinces were hit by the disastrous tsunami waves that struck many parts of Asia on 26 December 2004. She stated that tourism promotion in this area should be carried out together with the development of local wisdom. The OTOP fair, held between March 19 and 25 in Phuket, also aims to give a major boost to products under the Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques (SUPPORT), established by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. Products from all over the country will be exhibited in 300 booths at the fair. The Prime Minister emphasized that the Government would join forces with various relevant organizations in setting up a counseling service clinic to give advice to OTOP entrepreneurs. She pointed out that OTOP and SUPPORT programs are complementary. OTOP is a major policy of the Government to build up small enterprises in communities by encouraging the people to manufacture local products using their homegrown skills and expertise. It was initiated in 2001, with the Government assisting in the marketing of these goods, in cooperation with the private business sector. SUPPORT was initiated by Her Majesty the Queen, who has taken a particularly deep interest in arts and crafts and has set an example in the preservation of Thai arts and culture. Her awareness of the importance of preserving Thai arts and crafts resulted in the establishment of the SUPPORT Foundation under her patronage in 1976, with the primary objective of setting up women’s groups and providing rural Thai women with equipment, materials, and training in cottage industries. Apart from benefiting craft makers and their families, SUPPORT plays a part in reviving traditional crafts and preserving them. Prime Minister Yingluck urged the people to buy Thai products under the OTOP and SUPPORT programs, which reflect local wisdom and the excellent craftsmanship of the Thai people.