New tourism federation formed

"The establishment of FETTNA is a new hope to help members in the provinces survive amid the crisis," Wirote Sitaprasertnand, the federation's first president, said yesterday.

The federation would strive to stimulate local tourism and work closer with tourism operators in Bangkok and upcountry, he said.

The tourism industry has been struggling for years due to the economic turndown and political problems. Many operators have already gone out of business, he said.

To rebuild domestic tourism, the federation would work with its members to create a strategic plan, which would be revealed on Wednesday.

Some urgent measures are included like a tourism fair, which set to be held soon in order to help operators get customers, he said.

Representatives of existing tourism associations are working for themselves, not really for the members, he said, adding that they are also involved in politics.

"My federation will be free from politics as has been happening in other associations," he said.

The problems of the tourism industry have not been resolved because of the disarray between two big groups of tourism associations - the Thai Hotels Association and Association of Thai Travel Agents - and the Tourism Council of Thailand, he said.

Both groups are working with government bodies to bring foreign tourists into the country rather than help internal tourism.

The 11 members of the federation are the Association of Thai Tour Operators, Thai Tourism Promotion Association, Professional Tourists Guide Association, Tourist Transport Association, Thai Travel Agents Association, Thai Spa Association, Thai Amusement and Leisure Parks Association, Association of Northern Tourism Federation, Thai Boat Association, Office of Tourism Media and Environment and the Fine Arts Faculty of Rajamangala University of Technology Phra Nakorn.