Thailand welcomes int'l visitors to horticultural exposition in Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI, November 24 (TNA) - The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has confirmed that Thailand will, from next month, welcome international visitors to the quarter-year-long International Horticultural Exposition in the northern resort Chiang Mai Province, with the expected total number of visitors maintained at two million. Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silapa-archa, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Theera Wongsamut and former prime minister Banharn Silpa-acha, who is chief adviser on the exposition organization, inspected preparations for the exposition at the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek Park in Chiang Mai on Thursday. The renovation of 23 old horticultural zones of other countries and local organizations has been reportedly complete and decorations at a new zone are scheduled to be finished by early next month. The forthcoming International Horticultural Exposition, organised as part of Thailand's grand nationwide celebrations of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 84th birthday this year, will be held in Chiang Mai from December 14, 2011-March 14, 2012, a postponement from its earlier schedule from November 9, 2011-February 15, 2012. A one-day 50 per cent discount of the admission fee to the three-month international horticultural expo will be offered to local visitors, one province each day. For example, visitors in Chiang Mai will first enjoy the discount on December 15, 2011 and the special discount will then be available on other days for visitors from other provinces on a rotational basis. (TNA)