Thailand aims to strengthen tourism ties with China

A Thai delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak will visit China next week to discuss bilateral tourism and trade cooperation while the Tourism Authority of Thailand is to sign memorandum of understanding with the authority of three major cities, Kunming- Sichuan- and Beijing.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Juthamas Siriwan said the visit between June 15-20 will further strengthen tourism cooperation between the two countries, especially in terms of market development after the SARS crisis.

Thailand and China have enjoyed close tourism relations during the past 10 years. Early this year, the two countries had for the first time launched a two-country one-destination tour program at the ITB in Berlin.

Mrs Juthamas said the visit this time will see a closer cooperation with the TAT signing a MOU with three major provinces of China and the Thai private sector, the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), will sign an agreement with Chinese travel agents.

In addition, TAT will discuss how to ensure the legitimacy and quality of tours in each respective countries. TAT's proposal will be for both sides to introduce a set of quality tour programs to be offered to tourists by selected travel agents that will be certified by a special quality symbol.