An e-guidebook has been launched to provide information about places of interest to Muslim tourists visiting Thailand, as well as recommended restaurants in various areas.

The Thai and English versions of the e-book, Muslim Friendly & Gastronomy Tourism Routes, is published by the Department of Tourism, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, and is also available for free download.

The Department of Tourist stated that it had developed the guidebook for self-drive tourism connecting 14 southern provinces in Thailand with Malaysia, Singapore, and Batam Island in Indonesia.

The 154-page guidebook provides two types of routes, as follows:

1) Muslim Friendly Tourism Route: This route will guide Muslim tourists interested in visiting places of interest. General tourists may follow the route to experience Muslim culture, foods and activities;

2) Gastronomy Tourism Route: The route introduces numerous tourist attractions and suggests famous restaurants in each location, where visitors may experience the culture of local people through their meals.

The book also contains information about where to eat and what to buy in the 14 southern provinces, which include Chumphon, Ranong, Phang-nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Satun, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat.

It also provides a sample of a Muslim-friendly tourism route covering 20 days and a sample of a gastronomy tourism route, also covering 20 days. In addition, information on how to apply for a tourist visa to enter Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia is also available.

Thailand has developed itself as a “Muslim Friendly Destination,” and it has witnessed significant growth in visitor arrivals from Muslim population centers around the world. The country is also realizing its potential and readiness to promote this market. A lot of products and services have been provided to cater to it, such as halal hotels and restaurants in major tourist cities.