Thailand's Public Health Ministry will open a new branch of spa services in southwestern China's Yunnan province to expand the country's spa industry.

The new branch is expected to be open and start operation in September this year as Thai spa services as well as its herbal plant product have been increasingly popular in China, Deputy Public Health Minister Anuthin Charnveerakul was quoted by Bangkok Post newspaper as saying Monday.

Earlier, the ministry has joined in a Thai spa business in China 's Shanghai, whose operation was proved to be a success.

According to Anutin, Thailand was one of the three countries which has been granted the right to open a heathcare center at the international medical zones in Shanghai. The Thai healthcare center is scheduled to open in 2010.

In addition, the Department for the Promotion of Thai Traditional and Alternative Medicine has been assigned by the ministry to check on whether it is safe and feasible to invest in 350 new and unregistered fields of alternative healthcare in China, he said.

Source: Xinhua