A pilot project has been launched to hold a floating market, called “Floating Bazaar Tani,” in the southern border province of Pattani on Fridays and Saturdays of the first week of each month, from 2:00 p.m. onwards.
The first Floating Bazaar Tani took place on 3-4 April 2015 on the riverside of the Pattani, or Tani, River on Narintharat Road in Mueang district. The Pattani River originates in Betong district, Yala province. It flows into the Gulf of Thailand in the town of Pattani.
Secretary-General of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center Panu Uthairat said that the organizing of this floating market had been proposed by a group of business people under the “Young Entrepreneurs Scheme.” They wanted to create a new tourist attraction and business opportunities for the deep South. The project has been well received by the general public.
The floating market is the first of its kind in Pattani and in the three southern border provinces, which, apart from Pattani, include Yala and Narathiwat. At this market, there are many boats selling various kinds of local products. It is expected that about 10,000 Thais and foreigners will join this event each time.
The Floating Bazaar Tani is a result of joint cooperation from the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Center, the Pattani Provincial Administrative Organization, the Pattani City Municipality, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and the local business community.
In the past, Pattani served as an important port and a center for administration, marine trade, and culture. The organizers of the floating market, therefore, came up with the idea of reviving river-based activities. The Portuguese established a trading post here in 1516, the Japanese passed through in 1605, the Dutch in 1609, and the British flexed their colonial muscle in 1612.
Pattani consists of two major rivers, the Pattani and Sai Buri, and a long coastline along the Gulf of Thailand. The province’s attractions include unspoiled beaches, several historical sites, and a harmonious mixture of Thai, Chinese, and Malay cultures. The distinctive multicultural society has been used as strength to promote local tourism.
As an international center for Islamic studies, Pattani is the location of the College of Islamic Studies under Prince of Songkhla University. It is the first Muslim higher institution in Thailand. The province plans to develop itself as a source of agricultural produce and halal products of high quality. It is rich in marine resources to be processed into fishery products.
The Floating Bazaar Tani is a pilot project, to be held for three consecutive times, before the establishment of a permanent floating market in this province in the future.
Floating market to stimulate southern economy and tourism Related image(s)
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