Thai south holds elaborate ASEAN Sand Sculptures Festival

CHUMPHON, March 16 (TNA) -- The Thai southern province of Chumphon is inviting the public to visit the Chumphon Marine Festival 2016, set to start on March 25, where the visitors would be taken away by the breath taking sand sculptures from the 10 ASEAN countries, as shop for diving package tours at low prices. Chumphon Governor Somdee Kachayangyuen said the 26th Chumphon Marine Festival is scheduled to be held between March 25-29, at the Paknam Chumphon Beach in Paknam subdistrict, in the provincial seat. He noted that Chumphon has also been named by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) as one of the twelve cities that should not be missed, where visitors would be able to enjoy the beautiful beach and activities, such as sand sculptures of the identity of the 10 ASEAN member states which would be constructed along the beach and decorated with colourful lights. The governor said the building of the sculptures are now 80 per cent completed. He said tourists would also be able to join in with various other activities both on land and underwater, including shopping for low prices diving and tour packages around the 40 islands of the province. He added that the first of Chumphon Marine Festival kicked off in 1990 under the resolution of the Cabinet under the former prime minister Gen Chatichai Choonhavan, with an aim to stimulate the economy and restore livelihood after the country as devastated by Typhoon Gay. The festival has been held annually in March since then, as Chumphon represents a gateway into the southern region, which possess high potential in tourism with abundance natural tourism environment. (TNA)