Tourism Vital to Asian Subregion

 Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva believes tourism is the key to helping Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia get through the economic crisis, deputy government spokesman Puttipong Punnakan said on Saturday.

He was speaking after Mr Abhisit met President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia and Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi of Malaysia for talks on the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth-Triangle (IMT-GT) on Saturday morning.

They explored prospects for further cooperation and development in the IMT-GT subregion.

The three countries are conducting extensive research on Southern Seaboard Development Plan in order to attract more investors and bring sustainable development to the area.

The leaders also discussed a road map for developing the subregion. The development will be group-based, like Thailand's Ranong and Phuket and Indonesia's Aceh province, Mr Puttipong said.

Mr Abhisit said the subregion must pay attention to global warming and the three countries must cooperate in increasing the competitiveness of food, agricutural and forest products, he added.

Source - The Bangkok Post