Promising Thai tourist attraction welcomes int'l visitors with new management

BANGKOK, October 26 (TNA) - A promising Thai tourist site, the Phu Thab Boek Mountain in the lower northern region, will welcome international visitors with a new management system. Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul told journalists on Monday that her ministry will work out the new tourism management plan for the Phu Thab Boek Mountain in Phetchabun Province with relevant agencies, covering a possible solution to limit the number of visitors in each period to protect the environment and traditional lifestyles of local hilltribes. Kobkarn said that she plans to discuss the issue with authorities of the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, the Royal Forest Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives and local Hmong hilltribes. Kobkarn noted that local people have served whatever visitors wanted but, from now on, Phu Thab Boek should become a model for a good management model of Thai tourist destinations. The minister stressed that she wants local Hmong people to show off their traditional lifestyles and participate in the new environment management system in accordance with guidelines from His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. According to the minister, she will also discuss with Natural Resources and Environment Minister General Surasak Kanchanarat new management systems of other Thai tourist attractions, including control on the number of visitors to improve or conserve their conditions. The minister urged international visitors to follow rules, namely not to park vehicles in no-parking areas as it causes heavy traffic congestion. (TNA)