Thailand's Phuket, Chiang Mai to become "Smart Cities"

BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA, March 22 (TNA) - The Thai government, in cooperation with South Korea, plans to turn the southern resort Phuket Province and the northern resort Chiang Mai Province into "Smart Cities" in the future. Visiting Thai Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, who oversees economic affairs, witnessed the signing of a Letter of Intent between Busan’s Mayor Suh Byung-soo and Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada in Busan for the cooperation plan on March 21. Busan is the largest port city in South Korea and the world’s fifth busiest seaport by cargo tonnage. Further economic development is being mapped out for Phuket by 2020, especially in Internet linkage, or the so-called Internet Of Things (IOT), environmental conservation, an attractive place for international investment and safe resort for global tourists. Meanwhile, Thai Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Minister Uttama Savanayana said about 200 million baht would be initially invested in turning Phuket to become a “Smart City”. In the future, the minister noted, several facilities would be seen in Phuket, namely the distribution of SIM cards to foreign tourists to track down their journeys while travelling on the renowned southern Thai resort island, aimed at providing safety for them. (TNA)