Thailand’s Department of Rural Roads, Ministry of Transport is developing three scenic tourist routes in the south, centre and north-east of the country that will enhance the destination’s tourism competitiveness and appeal.
The routes are the Southern Coastal Road or Thailand Riviera connecting destinations along the western coast of the Gulf of Thailand from Samut Prakan province to Narathiwat province; the Naga Withi route along the Mekong River from Loei Province to Ubon Ratchathani province; and the Burapha Khiri route passing through Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachin Buri and Sa Kaeo provinces.
Promising a safe, comfortable and picturesque travel experience, the routes will see the improvement of existing road sections as well as creation of new ones. It will also create job opportunities for the local people, said Pathom Chaloeywaret, director-general of the Department of Rural Roads.
As the longest of the three scenic routes, the Southern Coastal Road is divided into four phases, with construction ongoing now on the Samut Songkhram to Chumphon (Phase 1) and Chumphon to Songkhla (Phase 2) sections. They are set for completion in 2023 and 2026 respectively. Construction of the Samut Prakan to Samut Songkhram (Phase 3) section is expected to begin in 2023, the same year in which design work is scheduled for the Songkhla to Narathiwat (Phase 4) section.
Work on the Naga Withi route is set to begin in 2022 while Burapha Khiri route is currently in the design stage.
