BANGKOK, Thailand – “Replication of best practices.”
Thus said Mabalacat, Pampanga Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales as he led a “Laybay Aral” delegation here from May 21-25 to study the successful tourism industry in Thailand which attracted some 14 million visitors last year.
“We have to see it for ourselves so that we can apply it as we gear up to be a city,” said Morales. He was accompanied in the trip by the Mabalacat councilors – Noel Castro, Christian Halili, Benny Jocson Froy Galang, Oscar Aurelio, Tom Manalo, Jerry Basilio, Ed Sotto and Jeng Yumul.
Morales on May 22 met Prakit Piriyakiet, executive director of the South Asia and South Pacific Region Department of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) at his office here.
“Thailand’s success in tourism is largely due to the hospitable people, history and culture, it’s a paradise for shopping and the amazing value you get for your money,” said Piriyakiet. He said the budget of TAT for 2009 is about 7 billion in Philippine pesos.
The tourism officer disclosed that they were targeting to have more than 15 million tourists this year “but the internal and global problem would prevent us to do so.” But he added that they would be able to get at least 14 million for 2009, similar to last year’s total.
Sichard Wattaro, TAT South Asia and South Pacific Market Division head, said they “help the private groups by training them.” She added that they issue license for tourist guides.
Otto, the tourist guide of Morales’ group, said he had to pass a battery of tests to get a license. He added that he pays a minimal fee of about 200 baht as his tax to the government, good for two years.
Morales said he and the town councilors had visited the 22nd largest city in the world “to apply the success story in our own place.” He added that the proposed Central Business District (CBD) north of Mabalacat “would greatly benefit” from his group’s Lakbay Aral.
“The idea would even be better for the CBD as we saw in Bangkok that prices of services and products are competitive. More importantly, it’s teeming with various activities,” said Morales.
Veteran broadcast journalist Deng Pangilian, one of the five media delegates, said “the mayor and his group should be commended for setting aside political affiliations as they all supported the Lakbay Aral.”
First-term Councilor Galang said the trip “would allow us to maximize the proximity of our town to the Clark Freeport.” He added that “more investors coming to Clark and Mabalacat would mean more jobs to the people.”
Morales echoed the sentiments of Galang. “After all,” he added,” Clark is in Mabalacat.”
“We need to drum up activities by adding more places to visit in Clark and Mabalacat,” said Morales.
Morales and the councilors also visited the Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden and the resort town of Pattaya, some 140 kilometers away from the capital city.
He watched the cultural and elephant shows in Nong Nooch to make the annual Mabalacat Caragan Festival “a more memorable one.”
“We have to make a show or activity something like this to make the visitors in Clark and Mabalacat stay after activities such as the hot air balloon fest,” said Morales.
Morales said he admired the colorful costumes of the Thai cultural dancers, giving him an idea to “make permanent but beautiful costumes for the Caragan fest.”
“It will save money in the long run,” he added.
Thus said Mabalacat, Pampanga Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales as he led a “Laybay Aral” delegation here from May 21-25 to study the successful tourism industry in Thailand which attracted some 14 million visitors last year.
“We have to see it for ourselves so that we can apply it as we gear up to be a city,” said Morales. He was accompanied in the trip by the Mabalacat councilors – Noel Castro, Christian Halili, Benny Jocson Froy Galang, Oscar Aurelio, Tom Manalo, Jerry Basilio, Ed Sotto and Jeng Yumul.
Morales on May 22 met Prakit Piriyakiet, executive director of the South Asia and South Pacific Region Department of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) at his office here.
“Thailand’s success in tourism is largely due to the hospitable people, history and culture, it’s a paradise for shopping and the amazing value you get for your money,” said Piriyakiet. He said the budget of TAT for 2009 is about 7 billion in Philippine pesos.
The tourism officer disclosed that they were targeting to have more than 15 million tourists this year “but the internal and global problem would prevent us to do so.” But he added that they would be able to get at least 14 million for 2009, similar to last year’s total.
Sichard Wattaro, TAT South Asia and South Pacific Market Division head, said they “help the private groups by training them.” She added that they issue license for tourist guides.
Otto, the tourist guide of Morales’ group, said he had to pass a battery of tests to get a license. He added that he pays a minimal fee of about 200 baht as his tax to the government, good for two years.
Morales said he and the town councilors had visited the 22nd largest city in the world “to apply the success story in our own place.” He added that the proposed Central Business District (CBD) north of Mabalacat “would greatly benefit” from his group’s Lakbay Aral.
“The idea would even be better for the CBD as we saw in Bangkok that prices of services and products are competitive. More importantly, it’s teeming with various activities,” said Morales.
Veteran broadcast journalist Deng Pangilian, one of the five media delegates, said “the mayor and his group should be commended for setting aside political affiliations as they all supported the Lakbay Aral.”
First-term Councilor Galang said the trip “would allow us to maximize the proximity of our town to the Clark Freeport.” He added that “more investors coming to Clark and Mabalacat would mean more jobs to the people.”
Morales echoed the sentiments of Galang. “After all,” he added,” Clark is in Mabalacat.”
“We need to drum up activities by adding more places to visit in Clark and Mabalacat,” said Morales.
Morales and the councilors also visited the Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden and the resort town of Pattaya, some 140 kilometers away from the capital city.
He watched the cultural and elephant shows in Nong Nooch to make the annual Mabalacat Caragan Festival “a more memorable one.”
“We have to make a show or activity something like this to make the visitors in Clark and Mabalacat stay after activities such as the hot air balloon fest,” said Morales.
Morales said he admired the colorful costumes of the Thai cultural dancers, giving him an idea to “make permanent but beautiful costumes for the Caragan fest.”
“It will save money in the long run,” he added.
