Bangkok (NNT/VNA) – As Thailand prepares to assume chairmanship ofASEAN next year, it has begun a campaign to boost tourism in lesser-knownprovinces in the southern region.

It is now more convenient than ever before to travel to the three southernborder provinces: Yala, Narathiwat, and Pattani. There is already an airport inNarathiwat while Betong airport in Yala is due to open in early 2020.

Boosting readiness to welcome foreign visitors as Thailand takes up the ASEANchairmanship in 2019, the south has developed more tourist attractions and isnow working with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) under the"Amazing Thailand Go Local Campaign” which aims to bolster domestic travelto 55 secondary tourist destinations nationwide.

Thailand is also developing halal tourism and hospitality in the southernborder provinces, improving links with Muslim countries in the ASEAN region.Out of the ASEAN population of more than 600 million, some 300 million peopleare Muslim.

Taking into consideration this reality, southern border provinces are aware ofthe need to promote foreign language study, which will contribute to themobilization of local economic and social development, apart from offeringvisitors new perspectives on the southernmost reaches of Thailand. – NNT/VNA