The targeted areas are Hua Hin and nearby Cha-am, Ayutthaya, and Chiang Saen.

For Hua Hin and Cha-am, it proposed late last month that the government help develop the two beach towns as sustainable attractions.

It will soon ask the authorities to promote Chiang Saen district in Chiang Rai province as a relaxed-travel destination for tourists, especially from Europe.

And Ayutthaya is set to become a new centre for community-based tourism, highlighting night-time attractions.

“This year, DASTA will move forward to help local authorities and government bodies develop new attractions. We aim to push communities to develop sustainable tourist attractions,” he said.

DASTA has already launched tourism development and management plans for six areas in Trat,Chiang Mai, Loei, Nan, Sukhothai and Kamphaeng Khet provinces. It recently began targeting two new areas in Suphan Buri and Chon Buri.

“Over the past decade since DASTA was established, we have been developing and managing only our designated areas, but this will be first year we assist other areas to develop attractions,” Weerasak said.

He said DASTA would continue organising training courses developed by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council to help local residents and communities understand about tourism development and how to manage attractions. The GSTC is a global tourism organisation that has set 41 tourism indicators for long-term development, such as green and low-carbon tourism.

Koh Mak, Thailand’s first low-carbon island destination, was introduced to Western markets in order to attract visitors concerned about the environment. The island received just under 1.5 million tourists last year but 90 per cent of them were Thais; the 10 per cent who came from overseas were largely from Europe.

DASTA has also promoted a gastronomic destination, Baan Rai Gong King Village in Chiang Mai, which is now becoming popular for community-based tourism.

It has turned into a health and wellness destination.