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Published on September 4, 2007

Somkiat Anuras, chairman of the joint business council of the Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand Growth Triangle, said the fair would open in Songkhla next January 11 and run for 10 days. Plans for the

event were approved at a recent meeting of the organisation in Ipoh, Malaysia.

It is expected to boost confidence in the southern region's tourism industry, which has been damaged by several years of separatist violence, particularly in the three southernmost provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala.

Somkiat said the Songkhla provincial government would spend about Bt34 million to host and promote the fair, which is expected to draw 100,000 visitors from the three member countries.

It will feature cultural performances from all three nations, as well as indigenous sporting competitions common to the region, including bull- and cockfighting and bird-singing contests.

"We expect an increase of up to 30 per cent in the number of tourists to the three countries following the travel fair," Somkiat said.

The event will feature about 120 booths promoting tourism products from all three countries.

Half of the booths will be from Thailand.