Private sector co-invest with Tourism Ministry in toilets project

BANGKOK, April 3 (TNA) -- The Ministry of Tourism and Sports says that it has received commitments from private investors to co-invest in rural toilets project which will be called 'Happy Toilets' at 70 tourist destinations nationwide worth more than 10 million baht. Minister for Tourism and Sports Weerasak Kowsurat on Monday presided over a contract signing ceremony for joint investment in the 'Happy Toilets' project, the first of its kind in the country. A universal design theme will be employed for the project which will allow the new modern toilets to accommodate visitors from all sexes, age groups and the physically handicapped. Seventy tourist locations all over the country have been selected to receive the new toilets. Mr Weerasak stated that toilets were a basic human necessity that must not be overlooked if the country's tourism growth is to be supported. The 'Happy Toilets' project will not only address the existing toilets shortage at many tourist destinations in the country but also raise toilet safety, security, convenience, hygiene and cleanliness levels to match international standards. An initial 10 tourist venues will be selected as pilot projects for this year. The construction on the first of these will begin at the end of April in Chiang Mai and all 70 locations should be completed by the end of year. (TNA)