The Tourism Development Office is considering scrapping three projects worth Bt500 million initiated under then tourism minister Pracha Maleenont.

One is a Bt200-million project to convert a 40-rai vacant site along the Chao Phya River in Bangkok, that was owned by the Expressway and Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand, into a tourist information centre featuring a shopping complex and commercial cruise pier.

A budget of Bt100 million was set aside to build a 100-rai tourist centre at River Kwai Bridge in Kanchanaburi province, and Bt200 million was earmarked to develop Khao Krayang in Phitsanulok province into an eco-tourism destination.

Thanitha Maneechot, director of the Tourism Development Office under the Tourism and Sports Ministry, said yesterday that the government had cut this year's budget for tourism development from Bt2 billion back to Bt1.5 billion, so some non-priority projects may as a result be dropped.

However, she said her agency would propose that the government give more authority to local administrations to develop their own tourism products.

Thanitha also said tourism had suffered damage of Bt377 million from the long flood season.

Tourist venues, both manmade and natural, were destroyed by flooding in 12 provinces - four in the North, seven in the Central region and one in the East.

The Central region was hardest hit with 55 tourist spots lost, mainly historical sites, temples and farms. The North followed with 25 places, including temples, waterfalls, a water park and a home-stay resort.

Eight places in the East were ruined, including waterfalls.

Some well-known tourist attractions were heavily damaged.

The damage estimate for Sukhothai Historical Park was Bt10 million, for nearby Srisatchanalai Historical Park Bt11 million, and for Koh Kret in Nonthaburi province Bt10 million. Ayutthaya Historical Park is expected to have suffered the greatest damage at Bt93 million.

Tourism Minister Suvit Yodmani will seek a budget of Bt19 billion for the fiscal year starting this month, with a big portion going to the restoration of tourist attractions.

Suchat Sritama 

 The Nation