Thailand to attract sport tourists, jewelry lovers

BANGKOK, March 1 (TNA) - Thailand eyes to draw in more sport tourists and jewelry lovers this year. Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkura told journalists of her ministry's 2017 policy on Wednesday, reasoning that both sport tourists and jewelry lovers normally travel in families, stay longer in the country and have high purchasing power. Kobkarn said her ministry has worked out a sports promotion plan that provides 360-degree experiences on the Thai life styles to international sport tourists under the Local Experience Strategy, along with deploying more tourist police and rescue speed boats to assist tourists in case of any emergency, as well as putting signs and floating buoys on diving spots in order to boost their confidence in security and safety from both land and water accidents. Besides, the Amazing Thai Hosts Programme will be launched, under which the local elderly will be encouraged to create a network to provide security for international visitors. According to the minister, Thailand will be also promoted to become a world jewelry hub to attract international jewelry lovers with a campaign on Thai gems and jewelry as a high quality product not to be missed by them due to its globally-recognised traditionally-delicate and modern designs. The minister expressed her confidence this year's policy would earn the Thai Kingdom more tourism-related revenues and help distribute more income in the country as targeted. Thailand has already attracted more than 6 million international tourist arrivals in the country so far this year, earning the Kingdom about 3.18 million baht, about 7 per cent year-on-year increase. (TNA)