*Arunachal needs to take a cue: Mein
By Pradeep Kumar
ITANAGAR | Jul 24 | Arunachal Pradesh having uncanny similarities with Thailand needs to take a cue from this South East Asian nation to boost its tourism and agriculture sectors, said Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein.
Mein, who was on a four-day tour to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai province of Thailand to oversee important agreements on educational and research exchange programmes with two important varsities, told this daily today that Thailand, spread in 5,13,000 sqkm area, is hilly like Arunachal Pradesh, but has turned into a global tourism hub and received a record 32.59 million foreign visitors in 2016.
Tourism makes up about 6% of the economy as Thailand was the most visited country in SEA in 2013, according to World Tourism Organisation. Estimates of tourism receipts directly contributing to Thai GDP of 12 trillion baht ranging from 9% (1 trillion baht, 2013) to 16%. The indirect effects of tourism account for 20.2% (2.4 trillion baht) of Thailand’s GDP.
Interestingly, India, known for its unity in diversity, received 10.37 lakh while Arunachal, known for its natural beauty, received only 6,598 during that period, he said to drive home his message.
Chiang Mai, the capital of the Lanna Kingdom after its founding in 1296, later not only became the capital and cultural core of that Kingdom but also centre of Buddhism in northern Thailand. Basically it is a hilly tribal province, where migrated Chinese were rehabilitated 50 years ago, has imposing double-lane roads with skyscrapers everywhere without any thatched house, reflecting the richness of the people.
He cited the example of Chiang Mai Royal Agricultural Research Center (RARC) set up by the King to end the extensive opium cultivation. The King had visited the area in 1980 and assigned the Garden Plant Division, Thailand Department of Agriculture to demonstrate and breed crops on the area for supporting and passing on the know-how to highland farmers. This is to encourage them to do the plantation instead of growing opium. It has been offering technology to farmers for higher production, he said.
The RARC in Inthanon mountain also offers a variety of winter fruits, like Chinese pears, plums, peaches, nectarines, and strawberries while during winter (January to February), the hill will be covered with a blanket of pink Wild Himalayan Cherry flowers, giving a splendid picturesque sight while numerous bird species, he informed. Thailand had long been the largest rice exporter in the world with 49% of its labour force employed in agriculture.
Thailand is world’s 50th largest country and 20th most populous with around 66 million people whose per capital income is around Rs 4 lakh per annum, Mein said adding 50 years ago Re 1 was equivalent to 2 baht (Thailand currency) which has been reversed by the positive attitude and commitment for speedy socio-economic development of Thais.
The nation has been intermittently ruled by civilian Govts and Army rulers, but presently unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy. But capital Bangkok, showcases it level of growth. The city offers 23,000 free public Wi-Fi Internet hotspots while the internet in the nation includes 10Gbit/s high speed fibre-optic lines that can be leased and ISPs, such as KIRZ to provide residential internet services, he added.
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