Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will spend this weekend in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai provinces, which are strongholds of the Pheu Thai party. He arrived at Mae Fah Luang airport in Chiang Rai at 12.45pm today (Friday).

High on his agenda are border trade and water management, as well as issues related to the various ethnicities who live in these provinces.

Accompanying him are his deputies, Anutin Charnvirakul and Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwan, as well as Agriculture and Cooperatives minister Thammarat Prompao and Transport minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit.

At the airport, he was greeted by local people who gave him garlands and bouquets of flowers. Some held placards which read “welcome PM Srettha, our special guest.”

Many people were seen taking photos of the license plates of Srettha’s vehicle, hoping that they may be lucky numbers in the government lottery draw on Saturday.

Srettha had lunch at a restaurant before visiting the Mae Sai border checkpoint, where he was briefed on border trade and narcotics trafficking. He also met with representatives of hill tribe people and discussed ways to solve problems with access to education, land and healthcare.

In Chiang Mai, Srettha will discuss ways to increase the number of flights to and from the province, to boost tourism in the area.