The council will seek talks with government bodies including the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Office of Tourism Development and the Tourism and Sports Ministry to suggest encouragement of the private sector to take over and redevelop tourism attractions, including natural and historical sites.

"We have so many tourist places, but they do not draw many tourists," he said. "We need to restore and promote them, to attract more visitors."

He said in some neighboring countries such as Cambodia, the government is handing the management of tourist attractions over to private companies, which can run them better than government departments.

Thailand should follow this example, he said, pointing out that most tourist attractions in Thailand are owned by government bodies at a time when the country is desperate to attract more visitors.

Kongkrit said TCT would also focus on four tourism strategies: working in greater cooperation with the government, focusing on human development, undertaking more marketing activities both locally and overseas and working with study institutions for information research and development.

The council will also work with the Office of the Board of Investment and the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Promotion Board to create tourism-oriented opportunities for overseas investors.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation