Communities in Thailand promoted as tourist attraction

Bangkok March 6 (IANS) A couple of small-sized communities in the neighbourhood of Pattaya in Thailand are being promoted as one-day tourist spots besides the world-famous beach resort an official said on Monday.

Thaweepong Wichaidit deputy director of the Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA) said the agency has launched a campaign to promote Chak Ngaeo and Takhian Tia community both located in Pattaya as the new tourist attraction especially for day trippers.

While Pattaya has tropical sea sand and ritzy nighttime entertainment venues to draw the tourists Chak Ngaeo and Takhian Tia display the traditional way of life of local villagers and their indigenous goods for sales Xinhua news agency quoted the official as saying.

Tourists may visit the communities in the day and need not spend the night especially on Saturdays when a pedestrian street is open to visitors for indigenous goods shopping Thaweepong said.

He said an estimated 3 000 tourists are expected to visit Chak Ngaeo and Takhian Tia daily and each visitor is tipped to spend as much as 1 000 baht ($28.57) on shopping at the communities.

--IANS
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