DRBangkok: The Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+)Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion, opening this year at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Pattaya from June 13 to 15, is perfectly timed to support the Thai government’s ambitious Eastern Fruit Corridor (EFC) Project.
Yuthasak Supasorn,TAT Governor, said, “The hosting of the TTM+ 2018 in Pattaya couldn’t come at a more opportune time, as it corresponds with the Thai Government’s recent announcements on supporting the EFC. This is the perfect position for Pattaya as the gateway to Thailand’s Eastern Fruit Corridor and that makes it a good fit for gastronomy tourism. The timing of the TTM+ 2018 is very auspicious, as it allows TAT to focus our Amazing Thailand’s ‘Open to the New Shades’ campaign on Thailand’s fast growing tropical fruit segment.
“Fruit plays a pivotal role in inspiring tourists who want to visit Thailand’s Eastern Region, and we are delighted to help the government’s project during TTM+ 2018 in Pattaya.” Yuthasak also mentioned that the ‘fruit buffet tours’ offered at orchards in the three Eastern provinces of Rayong, Chanthaburi and Trat are increasingly popular because of their satisfying ‘all-you-can-eat’ concept.
This year, there are a total of 31 orchards in Rayong, 25 in Chanthaburi and seven in Trat that are offering fruit buffet tours during the ‘green season’ months from April to July. The top five favourite fruits with international and domestic tourists alike are reported to be durian, mangosteen, rambutan, longan and salak.
The Thai government is implementing this comprehensive fruit trade strategy to move Thailand toward becoming a fruit capital of the world, as it is rich in many tropical varieties of high quality. This has made the Ministry of Industry responsible for the Eastern Fruit Corridor Project, which is expected to be set up in the ‘Smart Park’ developed by the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand in Rayong.
A feasibility study will be concluded in September 2018, with the arrangements of public forums to sound out the opinion of stakeholders. A survey on investor interest in the project will be carried out between October and December. Construction of related systems will begin in 2019, and the operations of the Eastern Fruit Corridor Project will be launched in 2020.
The Board of Trade of Thailand (BoT) suggested that the project connect with fruit-producing areas across the country, as well as those in neighbouring countries. The project should also be managed professionally and should also include other products that will require cold storage development, as well.
