Monday, April 16, 2007 Visayas tourist spots lure Thais
INSTEAD of viewing each other as competitors, Cebu and Phuket, Thailand can work together in luring more international tourists to the Asean region, a Thai official said.
“Cebu and Phuket are not competitors, because the market of global tourists is too big. We can help each other by developing our respective tourism industries and invite more visitors,” said Thai Ambassador to the Philippines Asha Dvitiyananda.
Phuket, like Cebu’s Mactan Island, is known for its pristine white beaches and is a popular tourist destination in Thailand.
But despite the similarities, she said tourism stakeholders in Cebu and Phuket need to extensively develop their marketing and advertising efforts and address the changing preferences of tourists.
Dvitiyananda said that through bilateral meetings, the Philippines and Thailand are working on strengthening their relationships in the areas of tourism, security, trade and energy.
“The trade relations between the two countries are growing each year,” she said.
Dvitiyananda added that electrical equipment and car spare parts are among the local products commonly exported to Thailand.
In the same manner, Thailand exports the same products to the Philippines, she added.
Meanwhile, Dvitiyananda said the growth in Central Visayas’ tourism industry makes the province a popular destination among Thais.
“My personal favorite is Bohol,” she revealed, adding that hotels and resorts in Mactan Island, are also common vacation spots of Thais.
Growth
Data from the Department of Tourism 7 said the number of tourists from Thailand who visited Cebu was up by 51.42 percent or from 1,060 in 2006 to 1,605 in the year previous.
According to Dvitiyananda, Cebu’s successful hosting of the 12th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit also proved the province’s capacity to hold international meetings and conventions.
“The Asean summit has very well promoted Cebu,” she said.
Dvitiyananda recently visited the province to celebrate the Songkran Festival at the Krua Thai, a Thai restaurant in the Cebu.
Songkran is the Thervada Buddhists’ New Year celebration. It is held in cities, towns and villages all over Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Southwest China. (MMM)
