Bangkok--Apr 26--TAT
Bangkok, Thailand, April 26, 2000--The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is planing to open a new tourist centre at the Bangkok Noi Railway Station in June 2000 as part of the ongoing efforts to improve the city’s tourist facilities and help visitors enjoy a better quality of experience. The 16.5 million baht project will include the establishment of a tourist service centre, exhibition hall, souvenir corner and two transit piers for cross-river and canal ferries at one of Thailand's oldest railway stations, which also has easy access to major landmarks around Rattanakosin Island. The Bangkok Noi Railway Station is located on the Thon Buri side of the Chao Phraya River, opposite Rattanakosin Island where thousands of Thai and foreign tourists visit the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and other important royal and religious sites daily. The project is expected to help alleviate traffic congestion around Rattanakosin Island; two piers to be built there will allow tour operators to drop off and transfer tourists from their coaches to both long-tailed boats and river ferries for Rattanakosin Island and Thon Buri khlongs (canals) tours, Chao Phraya River cruises or other nearby tourist destinations. The Minister to the Prime Minister's office and Chairperson of TAT, Mrs Pavena Hongsakula accompanied by the TAT Governor, Mr Pradech Phayakvichien, and other top executives from related organisations recently visited the project to check on its progress. Space for the project was generously donated by the State Railways of Thailand while TAT provided financial support. TAT also collaborated with the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and related private organisations and tour operators to ensure the success of this project. TAT Governor Pradech Phayakvichien commented, “Establishing this new centre is very much in line with our objectives to upgrade service standards for travel in Bangkok, to ensure maximum safety of water transport and to attract more foreign visitors and boost the city’s average length of stay.”
Before the Central Railway Station at Hua Lumpong was developed, the Bangkok Noi Railway Station was once the centre of Thailand's railway transportation linking the capital city with the western and southern parts of the country.
Contract Pataraporn Sithivanich Foreign News Section Patsri Permvongsenee Tel: 694-1222 ext. 1540-3 Ruengsang Sripaoraya Fax: 694-1325 E-mail: [email protected] End
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