MULTI-PRONGED MARKETING STRATEGY TARGETS ONE MILLION INDIAN VISITORS
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has crafted a multi-sectoral, multi-city marketing strategy as part of the efforts to attract one million visitor arrivals from India by 2012.
Presently, Thailand gets more than one million visitor arrivals from Malaysia, Japan and China. TAT is hoping to see India join that list within four years.
According to TAT Governor Mrs. Phornsiri Manoharn, “Our marketing strategy is based on the fact that there is virtually unlimited potential from India in all categories of travel, be it leisure, business, MICE, honeymooners, or special interest.
“We plan to invest heavily in developing the Indian market over the next few years, in both the major metro cities as well as secondary cities nationwide. The increasing number of flights between the two countries by both Thai and Indian airlines will help provide the necessary feed,” she said.
TAT opened its New Delhi office in 2003 and appointed a marketing representative in Mumbai in November 2007. This year, the Mumbai representation will be upgraded into a full-scale office.
Mrs Phornsiri says, “We are pursuing creative ways to expand our brand image in India, amongst both consumers and trade. India is now being promoted under the “Amazing Thailand” brand name along with its key sub-themes, Thai-ness, Beaches, Nature, Heritage, Health and Wellness, Chic and Trendy products, and Festivals.
“This year, for the first time, we hosted one of India’s well-known Bollywood film awards ceremonies, getting massive television coverage across India. Thailand is also becoming extremely popular for Indian honeymooners and shopping enthusiasts.”
Further growth is a certainty, especially as more Indian and Thai airlines add more flights. An upcoming free-trade agreement between India and Thailand on the one hand, and India and the ASEAN countries on the other will also facilitate business and trade contacts, Mrs. Phornsiri said.
TAT has identified target segments such as family groups, incentive groups, wedding parties, and honeymooners.
In road shows and workshops across India, leading Indian tour operators are being presented with various ideas to feature in a package. New tourism destinations being presented include Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Krabi, Phuket, Ko Samui and the Greater Mekong Sub-region countries such as Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Mrs Phornsiri said that the main selling points of Thailand in the Indian market include: Value for money and affordability; Great shopping; Accessibility and proximity; Variety; Visa on arrival facility; and year-round holiday destination.
She said the TAT’s marketing strategies cover advertising in a range of high-end publications, increased B2B and B2C promotion in Tier II cities and joint promotions with travel agents.
Efforts are also being made to go direct to consumers in joint promotions with supermarket and retailers.
“We will also be doing a lot more ‘celebrity marketing’ by bringing Indian movie stars to Thailand for feature productions and other publicity-generating events,” Mrs Phornsiri said.
Contact information: International Public Relation DivisionTourism Authority of ThailandTel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.thWeb site: www.tatnews.org
Showing posts with label TAT NEWS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TAT NEWS. Show all posts
2008-08-18
HEALTH & WELLNESS TO DRAW INDONESIAN VISITORS TO THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND
The Tourism Authority of Thailand(TAT) believes that emerging markets like Indonesia will continue to grow, and therefore expects to draw affluent Indonesian visitors to Thailand who are keen on reaping the benefits of the Kingdom’s booming health and wellness industry sector.
With the number of Indonesian tourists to Thailand on the rise during the last three years, the TAT Singapore office has been actively attracting the upscale segments of visitors. Familiarization trips, organized by the office on a regular basis for Indonesian press members and travel agents, have already resulted in an increased number of family travels. This group of high-spending visitors often spends a big part of their travel budget, when traveling, on hospital treatments and health and beauty services.
According to Mrs. Juthaporn Rerngronasa, Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, Tourism Authority of Thailand, “With a large number of overseas visitors coming to Thailand every year to receive treatments from world standard hospitals, health and wellness has become a new travel trend around the globe. TAT’s marketing plans for 2009, therefore, will put a heavy emphasis on leveraging the popularity of this particular segment. With the hope of establishing Thailand as the region’s preferred health and beauty destination, TAT in cooperation with the private sector will organize a series of health and beauty road shows and product presentations in ASEAN.
The hospital business in Thailand has been experiencing steady growth with many accredited hospitals like Bumrungrad, Phya Thai, Bangkok and Bangkok Nursing Home welcoming an influx of overseas patients. Lucrative medical tourism has turned these hospitals into international medical hubs and they all have been constantly improving their facilities to better serve the needs of overseas patients. This has been further supported by the government’s megaproject that will also see the establishment of community medical centres nationwide. As a result, tourist will be able to receive health services wherever they go in the country.
With the Indonesian market showing strong interest in health tourism, during August 14-17, 2008 TAT invited famous Indonesian actresses to film television commercials which will be further distributed across different media. TAT hopes this celebrity marketing will help effectively spread the words about Thailand’s health and wellness products and eventually draw more well-to-do Indonesians to the Kingdom.
The increasing number of visitors from Indonesia is greatly attributed to the success of marketing plans executed by the TAT office in Singapore. Thailand welcomed 230,000 visitors from the market in 2007, a 7.2% increase from the previous year. Statistics in the first four months of 2008 showed a 32% increase in the number of Indonesian tourists from the same period of last year.
Mr. Prakit Piriyakiet, Executive Director, the TAT’s ASEAN, South Asia and South Pacific Region Department, believed more Indonesians can be expected due to many other factors. More flights from Thai Airways International and some other airlines will facilitate more travels. Most importantly, the recent announcement of fiscal tax waived for Indonesian passport holders, who pay approximately US$107 or 3,500 Baht every time they make an overseas trip, will be a surplus. The tax will be waived effective as from January 1, 2009, for those who has Tax ID.
“TAT expects to welcome 265,600 Indonesian tourists by this year-end, projecting an 8.06% increase”, he added. In 2009, the target is 287,000. With the TAT planning to open a new office in Jakarta in 2010, it certainly looks like the Indonesian market is being given some serious attention.
Contact information: International Public Relation DivisionTourism Authority of ThailandTel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.thWeb site: www.tatnews.org
With the number of Indonesian tourists to Thailand on the rise during the last three years, the TAT Singapore office has been actively attracting the upscale segments of visitors. Familiarization trips, organized by the office on a regular basis for Indonesian press members and travel agents, have already resulted in an increased number of family travels. This group of high-spending visitors often spends a big part of their travel budget, when traveling, on hospital treatments and health and beauty services.
According to Mrs. Juthaporn Rerngronasa, Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, Tourism Authority of Thailand, “With a large number of overseas visitors coming to Thailand every year to receive treatments from world standard hospitals, health and wellness has become a new travel trend around the globe. TAT’s marketing plans for 2009, therefore, will put a heavy emphasis on leveraging the popularity of this particular segment. With the hope of establishing Thailand as the region’s preferred health and beauty destination, TAT in cooperation with the private sector will organize a series of health and beauty road shows and product presentations in ASEAN.
The hospital business in Thailand has been experiencing steady growth with many accredited hospitals like Bumrungrad, Phya Thai, Bangkok and Bangkok Nursing Home welcoming an influx of overseas patients. Lucrative medical tourism has turned these hospitals into international medical hubs and they all have been constantly improving their facilities to better serve the needs of overseas patients. This has been further supported by the government’s megaproject that will also see the establishment of community medical centres nationwide. As a result, tourist will be able to receive health services wherever they go in the country.
With the Indonesian market showing strong interest in health tourism, during August 14-17, 2008 TAT invited famous Indonesian actresses to film television commercials which will be further distributed across different media. TAT hopes this celebrity marketing will help effectively spread the words about Thailand’s health and wellness products and eventually draw more well-to-do Indonesians to the Kingdom.
The increasing number of visitors from Indonesia is greatly attributed to the success of marketing plans executed by the TAT office in Singapore. Thailand welcomed 230,000 visitors from the market in 2007, a 7.2% increase from the previous year. Statistics in the first four months of 2008 showed a 32% increase in the number of Indonesian tourists from the same period of last year.
Mr. Prakit Piriyakiet, Executive Director, the TAT’s ASEAN, South Asia and South Pacific Region Department, believed more Indonesians can be expected due to many other factors. More flights from Thai Airways International and some other airlines will facilitate more travels. Most importantly, the recent announcement of fiscal tax waived for Indonesian passport holders, who pay approximately US$107 or 3,500 Baht every time they make an overseas trip, will be a surplus. The tax will be waived effective as from January 1, 2009, for those who has Tax ID.
“TAT expects to welcome 265,600 Indonesian tourists by this year-end, projecting an 8.06% increase”, he added. In 2009, the target is 287,000. With the TAT planning to open a new office in Jakarta in 2010, it certainly looks like the Indonesian market is being given some serious attention.
Contact information: International Public Relation DivisionTourism Authority of ThailandTel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.thWeb site: www.tatnews.org
TAT GEARS UP TOURISM PROMOTION ACTIVITIES IN THREE EMERGING MARKETS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
TAT GEARS UP TOURISM PROMOTION ACTIVITIES IN THREE EMERGING MARKETS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
China, the Middle East and India will remain the three main emerging markets in which the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will pump up its tourism promotion activities for the country throughout the year.
These three emerging markets have recently gained the attention of tourism promoters, by recording steady growth during the past years. Marketing and sales promoting activities are therefore critical in encouraging and maintaining long-term growth.
“With the oil prices still negatively affecting the global tourism industry, TAT has shifted its plan to focus more on potential Asian countries, which include, among others, long established markets like Malaysia, Japan and Korea — currently the first, second and third largest markets for Thailand’s tourism industry, respectively. Meanwhile emerging markets like China, the Middle East and India are not to be underestimated. Within a couple of years China has become a major tourism market for Thailand, with visitors reaching the one million mark for the first time last year. India and the Middle East are also showing signs of considerable growth in the years to come,” according to Mrs. Phornsiri Manoharn, Governor of TAT.
TAT will maintain its intensive promotion campaign in these three markets throughout 2008, hoping to attract more visitors, in order to compensate for the missed opportunities from long-haul countries due to the surge in oil prices that has affected the air travel business.
As China is expected to become Thailand’s No. 1 market in three years, several campaigns are already ongoing to encourage more travel from that country. Expecting to welcome about 1,150,000 visitor arrivals by year-end, TAT will be working closely with qualified travel agents in China to ensure incoming traffic will be of high quality. TAT will also participate in many travel fairs; such as, the China International Travel Mart in Shanghai and Kunming and Guangzhou International Travel Fair, while at the same time promoting new destinations in Thailand like Chiang Mai, Ko Chang, Hua Hin and Cha-am.
Meanwhile, visitors from the Middle East reached 453,891 last year, indicating an 11.84% growth from the previous year. Tourists from the region often visit Thailand during the green or off-peak season. TAT foresees 491,000 arrivals from this group of big spending tourists by the end of this year, which is expected to help beef up foreign exchange revenues of up to 79 billion Baht for the country. To further tap the growing market, TAT has set up its Dubai office in order to oversee marketing activities in 12 countries in the Middle East. Part of the strategy is also to participate in major travel marts organized within the region.
With visitor arrivals from India totaling 506,237 in 2007, a notable increase of 17.80%, this country has also caught the attention of TAT, which forecasts 600,000 arrivals at the end of 2008. Aside from the office in New Delhi, TAT appointed its representative in Mumbai in late 2007 to ensure it would not fail to cash in on the stellar growth of the city’s economy.
Apart from attending travel marts held in major cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, TAT will also penetrate the market via smaller-scale marts to generate more awareness for Thailand as a preferred destination. Meanwhile, road shows and other marketing promotion activities in other potential cities will be implemented, allowing operators from Thailand a chance to meet with local tourism-related operators and create a bond between the two sides, which will be beneficial to Thailand’s travel industry in the long run.
Contact information: International Public Relation DivisionTourism Authority of ThailandTel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.thWeb site: www.tatnews.org
China, the Middle East and India will remain the three main emerging markets in which the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will pump up its tourism promotion activities for the country throughout the year.
These three emerging markets have recently gained the attention of tourism promoters, by recording steady growth during the past years. Marketing and sales promoting activities are therefore critical in encouraging and maintaining long-term growth.
“With the oil prices still negatively affecting the global tourism industry, TAT has shifted its plan to focus more on potential Asian countries, which include, among others, long established markets like Malaysia, Japan and Korea — currently the first, second and third largest markets for Thailand’s tourism industry, respectively. Meanwhile emerging markets like China, the Middle East and India are not to be underestimated. Within a couple of years China has become a major tourism market for Thailand, with visitors reaching the one million mark for the first time last year. India and the Middle East are also showing signs of considerable growth in the years to come,” according to Mrs. Phornsiri Manoharn, Governor of TAT.
TAT will maintain its intensive promotion campaign in these three markets throughout 2008, hoping to attract more visitors, in order to compensate for the missed opportunities from long-haul countries due to the surge in oil prices that has affected the air travel business.
As China is expected to become Thailand’s No. 1 market in three years, several campaigns are already ongoing to encourage more travel from that country. Expecting to welcome about 1,150,000 visitor arrivals by year-end, TAT will be working closely with qualified travel agents in China to ensure incoming traffic will be of high quality. TAT will also participate in many travel fairs; such as, the China International Travel Mart in Shanghai and Kunming and Guangzhou International Travel Fair, while at the same time promoting new destinations in Thailand like Chiang Mai, Ko Chang, Hua Hin and Cha-am.
Meanwhile, visitors from the Middle East reached 453,891 last year, indicating an 11.84% growth from the previous year. Tourists from the region often visit Thailand during the green or off-peak season. TAT foresees 491,000 arrivals from this group of big spending tourists by the end of this year, which is expected to help beef up foreign exchange revenues of up to 79 billion Baht for the country. To further tap the growing market, TAT has set up its Dubai office in order to oversee marketing activities in 12 countries in the Middle East. Part of the strategy is also to participate in major travel marts organized within the region.
With visitor arrivals from India totaling 506,237 in 2007, a notable increase of 17.80%, this country has also caught the attention of TAT, which forecasts 600,000 arrivals at the end of 2008. Aside from the office in New Delhi, TAT appointed its representative in Mumbai in late 2007 to ensure it would not fail to cash in on the stellar growth of the city’s economy.
Apart from attending travel marts held in major cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, TAT will also penetrate the market via smaller-scale marts to generate more awareness for Thailand as a preferred destination. Meanwhile, road shows and other marketing promotion activities in other potential cities will be implemented, allowing operators from Thailand a chance to meet with local tourism-related operators and create a bond between the two sides, which will be beneficial to Thailand’s travel industry in the long run.
Contact information: International Public Relation DivisionTourism Authority of ThailandTel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.thWeb site: www.tatnews.org
BANGKOK TOPS WORLD’S BEST CITY LISTCHIANG MAI ALSO SCORES HIGH IN TOP 10 ASIAN CITIES
BANGKOK TOPS WORLD’S BEST CITY LISTCHIANG MAI ALSO SCORES HIGH IN TOP 10 ASIAN CITIES
For the first time, Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, is top of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best City list following its 2008 World’s Best Awards readers’ survey. This further strengthens Bangkok’s image as a major tourist destination in the world.
The win does not come as a surprise for Bangkok. The city has always been a consistent placer in the top 5 for the last three consecutive years on the US-based travel magazine’s list, but its 13th Annual World’s Best Awards Readers’ Survey Results announced July 10, 2008, marked the first time that the Thai capital was able to snatch the top ranking.
According to Mrs. Phornsiri Manoharn, the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, (TAT) “Bangkok deserves the top ranking in the world’s best city survey because it has everything to offer to different types of visitors, from its modern infrastructure and world-renowned hospitality and service, to our rich culture and to-die-for cuisine.”
The opening of Suvarnnabhumi International Airport just three years ago was a sign of Thailand’s strong commitment to the tourism industry. The new airport link due to be operational in the near future confirms the city’s commitment to constantly upgrading its infrastructure for the greater convenience of all visitors to the country. To provide an added dimension to the already rich culture in the capital city of Thailand is the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, which stands to become one of the city’s major attractions.
Meanwhile, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration(BMA) is keen on further uplifting the overall image of the city. Mr. Apirak Kosayodhin, Governor of Bangkok, said that the survey results will influence the decision making of visitors who are considering a visit to Thailand during the high tourism season during the last quarter onwards. Currently, the BMA’s campaign is emphasizing on the ‘Five Charms of Bangkok’: culture, the Chao Phraya River, shopping, nightlife and cuisine.
The city of Bangkok has always been a perennial winner of tourism awards given by international organisations, and consistently scores high in readers’ surveys conducted by leading travel magazines such as Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler.
Bangkok was named World’s Best City 2008 with a score of 87.61, ahead of Argentina’s Buenos Aires, last year’s runner up, and Cape Town, South Africa, which jumped from no. 10 in 2007.
Being voted the best city in the world secures the capital’s top position in the 10 Best Asian cities, fending off the challenge by Kyoto which climbed up to second place from no. 6 in last year’s survey. Thailand’s Chiang Mai has retained its no. 3 ranking for two successive years, remaining as one of the most preferred choices among visitors to Thailand after Bangkok.
All winners of the Travel + Leisure 2008 World’s Best Awards will be honoured in New York City on 24 July.
Contact information: International Public Relation DivisionTel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.thWeb site: www.tatnews.org
For the first time, Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, is top of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best City list following its 2008 World’s Best Awards readers’ survey. This further strengthens Bangkok’s image as a major tourist destination in the world.
The win does not come as a surprise for Bangkok. The city has always been a consistent placer in the top 5 for the last three consecutive years on the US-based travel magazine’s list, but its 13th Annual World’s Best Awards Readers’ Survey Results announced July 10, 2008, marked the first time that the Thai capital was able to snatch the top ranking.
According to Mrs. Phornsiri Manoharn, the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, (TAT) “Bangkok deserves the top ranking in the world’s best city survey because it has everything to offer to different types of visitors, from its modern infrastructure and world-renowned hospitality and service, to our rich culture and to-die-for cuisine.”
The opening of Suvarnnabhumi International Airport just three years ago was a sign of Thailand’s strong commitment to the tourism industry. The new airport link due to be operational in the near future confirms the city’s commitment to constantly upgrading its infrastructure for the greater convenience of all visitors to the country. To provide an added dimension to the already rich culture in the capital city of Thailand is the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, which stands to become one of the city’s major attractions.
Meanwhile, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration(BMA) is keen on further uplifting the overall image of the city. Mr. Apirak Kosayodhin, Governor of Bangkok, said that the survey results will influence the decision making of visitors who are considering a visit to Thailand during the high tourism season during the last quarter onwards. Currently, the BMA’s campaign is emphasizing on the ‘Five Charms of Bangkok’: culture, the Chao Phraya River, shopping, nightlife and cuisine.
The city of Bangkok has always been a perennial winner of tourism awards given by international organisations, and consistently scores high in readers’ surveys conducted by leading travel magazines such as Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler.
Bangkok was named World’s Best City 2008 with a score of 87.61, ahead of Argentina’s Buenos Aires, last year’s runner up, and Cape Town, South Africa, which jumped from no. 10 in 2007.
Being voted the best city in the world secures the capital’s top position in the 10 Best Asian cities, fending off the challenge by Kyoto which climbed up to second place from no. 6 in last year’s survey. Thailand’s Chiang Mai has retained its no. 3 ranking for two successive years, remaining as one of the most preferred choices among visitors to Thailand after Bangkok.
All winners of the Travel + Leisure 2008 World’s Best Awards will be honoured in New York City on 24 July.
Contact information: International Public Relation DivisionTel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.thWeb site: www.tatnews.org
2008-08-11
TAT GETS REALISTIC IN TARGETING TOURISM REVENUES AND TOURIST ARRIVALS FOR 2009
Revealing its marketing plan for 2009, the Tourism Authority of Thailand(TAT) announced a slightly conservative target of 630 billion Baht in foreign tourism revenue from 16 million visitor arrivals for next year.
Adjusted from earlier projections, the tourism target for Thailand is considered more realistic, given the current challenges posed by soaring oil prices which have been affecting major industries across the globe.
This year’s foreign tourism target is generating 600 billion Baht in revenue from 15.48 million arrivals. Tourism was earlier projected to grow by 10% in foreign revenue next year expecting a total of 17 million visitor arrivals. For the domestic market, earnings from next year’s travel industry will reach 407.6 billion Baht, an increase of 5% from this year, with approximately 87 million trips being made.
According to Mrs. Phornsiri Manoharn, Governor of TAT, the marketing plan 2009 the agency officially announced in the first week of July 2008 is a result of a four-month long hard work and close cooperation between TAT in Bangkok and its 35 overseas offices around the world, marketing representatives in 16 countries, as well as local administration organizations and entrepreneurs which have constantly kept TAT updated on current tourism trends and developments. All reports were processed together with information from international tourism-related agencies like the World Tourism Organization and PATA and then academically analyzed for accuracy. Analyzed information was used as the foundation for five regional meetings in Thailand and four overseas meetings plus nine meetings with local government and private agencies. Out of the 18 meetings, the tourism marketing plan 2009 was then concluded and launched.
“While it’s more challenging to convince overseas tourists to travel and choose Thailand as their preferred destination, the positive image of the country helps it to remain competitive,” said the Governor.
Out of ‘Amazing’ dimensions Thailand has, she added, its value for money, ranked no. 1 by Future Brand Index, and its hospitality and authentic culture that have helped to maintain loyalty amongst visitors. It has also gained more recognition as a shopping paradise and nightlife destination.
In promoting the country, TAT will keep the Amazing Thailand unchanged as the tourism branding with seven regrouped products under the theme ‘7 Wonders of Amazing Thailand’ to attract visitors, while a “Visit Thailand Year 2009-2010” campaign is expected to help widen and strengthen awareness of Thailand as a destination of various attractions.
While the energy crisis is affecting worldwide travels, especially those intercontinental long- haul trips, TAT will be heftily focusing on less affected Asian markets like Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan and China including emerging ones like India and the Middle East.
However, overall marketing will cover 14 road shows and 76 sales promotion activities in ASEAN, Asia, Europe and America. To strengthen its overseas office network, TAT aims to establish three more offices in Mumbai, India and in China’s Shanghai and Kunming in the near future.
Adjusted from earlier projections, the tourism target for Thailand is considered more realistic, given the current challenges posed by soaring oil prices which have been affecting major industries across the globe.
This year’s foreign tourism target is generating 600 billion Baht in revenue from 15.48 million arrivals. Tourism was earlier projected to grow by 10% in foreign revenue next year expecting a total of 17 million visitor arrivals. For the domestic market, earnings from next year’s travel industry will reach 407.6 billion Baht, an increase of 5% from this year, with approximately 87 million trips being made.
According to Mrs. Phornsiri Manoharn, Governor of TAT, the marketing plan 2009 the agency officially announced in the first week of July 2008 is a result of a four-month long hard work and close cooperation between TAT in Bangkok and its 35 overseas offices around the world, marketing representatives in 16 countries, as well as local administration organizations and entrepreneurs which have constantly kept TAT updated on current tourism trends and developments. All reports were processed together with information from international tourism-related agencies like the World Tourism Organization and PATA and then academically analyzed for accuracy. Analyzed information was used as the foundation for five regional meetings in Thailand and four overseas meetings plus nine meetings with local government and private agencies. Out of the 18 meetings, the tourism marketing plan 2009 was then concluded and launched.
“While it’s more challenging to convince overseas tourists to travel and choose Thailand as their preferred destination, the positive image of the country helps it to remain competitive,” said the Governor.
Out of ‘Amazing’ dimensions Thailand has, she added, its value for money, ranked no. 1 by Future Brand Index, and its hospitality and authentic culture that have helped to maintain loyalty amongst visitors. It has also gained more recognition as a shopping paradise and nightlife destination.
In promoting the country, TAT will keep the Amazing Thailand unchanged as the tourism branding with seven regrouped products under the theme ‘7 Wonders of Amazing Thailand’ to attract visitors, while a “Visit Thailand Year 2009-2010” campaign is expected to help widen and strengthen awareness of Thailand as a destination of various attractions.
While the energy crisis is affecting worldwide travels, especially those intercontinental long- haul trips, TAT will be heftily focusing on less affected Asian markets like Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan and China including emerging ones like India and the Middle East.
However, overall marketing will cover 14 road shows and 76 sales promotion activities in ASEAN, Asia, Europe and America. To strengthen its overseas office network, TAT aims to establish three more offices in Mumbai, India and in China’s Shanghai and Kunming in the near future.
BANGKOK TOPS WORLD’S BEST CITY LISTCHIANG MAI ALSO SCORES HIGH IN TOP 10 ASIAN CITIES
BANGKOK TOPS WORLD’S BEST CITY LISTCHIANG MAI ALSO SCORES HIGH IN TOP 10 ASIAN CITIES
For the first time, Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, is top of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best City list following its 2008 World’s Best Awards readers’ survey. This further strengthens Bangkok’s image as a major tourist destination in the world.
The win does not come as a surprise for Bangkok. The city has always been a consistent placer in the top 5 for the last three consecutive years on the US-based travel magazine’s list, but its 13th Annual World’s Best Awards Readers’ Survey Results announced July 10, 2008, marked the first time that the Thai capital was able to snatch the top ranking.
According to Mrs. Phornsiri Manoharn, the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, (TAT) “Bangkok deserves the top ranking in the world’s best city survey because it has everything to offer to different types of visitors, from its modern infrastructure and world-renowned hospitality and service, to our rich culture and to-die-for cuisine.”
The opening of Suvarnnabhumi International Airport just three years ago was a sign of Thailand’s strong commitment to the tourism industry. The new airport link due to be operational in the near future confirms the city’s commitment to constantly upgrading its infrastructure for the greater convenience of all visitors to the country. To provide an added dimension to the already rich culture in the capital city of Thailand is the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, which stands to become one of the city’s major attractions.
Meanwhile, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration(BMA) is keen on further uplifting the overall image of the city. Mr. Apirak Kosayodhin, Governor of Bangkok, said that the survey results will influence the decision making of visitors who are considering a visit to Thailand during the high tourism season during the last quarter onwards. Currently, the BMA’s campaign is emphasizing on the ‘Five Charms of Bangkok’: culture, the Chao Phraya River, shopping, nightlife and cuisine.
The city of Bangkok has always been a perennial winner of tourism awards given by international organisations, and consistently scores high in readers’ surveys conducted by leading travel magazines such as Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler.
Bangkok was named World’s Best City 2008 with a score of 87.61, ahead of Argentina’s Buenos Aires, last year’s runner up, and Cape Town, South Africa, which jumped from no. 10 in 2007.
Being voted the best city in the world secures the capital’s top position in the 10 Best Asian cities, fending off the challenge by Kyoto which climbed up to second place from no. 6 in last year’s survey. Thailand’s Chiang Mai has retained its no. 3 ranking for two successive years, remaining as one of the most preferred choices among visitors to Thailand after Bangkok.
All winners of the Travel + Leisure 2008 World’s Best Awards will be honoured in New York City on 24 July.
Contact information: International Public Relation DivisionTel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.thWeb site: www.tatnews.org
For the first time, Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, is top of Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best City list following its 2008 World’s Best Awards readers’ survey. This further strengthens Bangkok’s image as a major tourist destination in the world.
The win does not come as a surprise for Bangkok. The city has always been a consistent placer in the top 5 for the last three consecutive years on the US-based travel magazine’s list, but its 13th Annual World’s Best Awards Readers’ Survey Results announced July 10, 2008, marked the first time that the Thai capital was able to snatch the top ranking.
According to Mrs. Phornsiri Manoharn, the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, (TAT) “Bangkok deserves the top ranking in the world’s best city survey because it has everything to offer to different types of visitors, from its modern infrastructure and world-renowned hospitality and service, to our rich culture and to-die-for cuisine.”
The opening of Suvarnnabhumi International Airport just three years ago was a sign of Thailand’s strong commitment to the tourism industry. The new airport link due to be operational in the near future confirms the city’s commitment to constantly upgrading its infrastructure for the greater convenience of all visitors to the country. To provide an added dimension to the already rich culture in the capital city of Thailand is the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, which stands to become one of the city’s major attractions.
Meanwhile, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration(BMA) is keen on further uplifting the overall image of the city. Mr. Apirak Kosayodhin, Governor of Bangkok, said that the survey results will influence the decision making of visitors who are considering a visit to Thailand during the high tourism season during the last quarter onwards. Currently, the BMA’s campaign is emphasizing on the ‘Five Charms of Bangkok’: culture, the Chao Phraya River, shopping, nightlife and cuisine.
The city of Bangkok has always been a perennial winner of tourism awards given by international organisations, and consistently scores high in readers’ surveys conducted by leading travel magazines such as Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler.
Bangkok was named World’s Best City 2008 with a score of 87.61, ahead of Argentina’s Buenos Aires, last year’s runner up, and Cape Town, South Africa, which jumped from no. 10 in 2007.
Being voted the best city in the world secures the capital’s top position in the 10 Best Asian cities, fending off the challenge by Kyoto which climbed up to second place from no. 6 in last year’s survey. Thailand’s Chiang Mai has retained its no. 3 ranking for two successive years, remaining as one of the most preferred choices among visitors to Thailand after Bangkok.
All winners of the Travel + Leisure 2008 World’s Best Awards will be honoured in New York City on 24 July.
Contact information: International Public Relation DivisionTel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.thWeb site: www.tatnews.org
TAT LEADS LOCAL OPERATORS TO SUCCESSFUL ROAD SHOWS IN KOREA
Bangkok, Thailand, 24 June, 2008 — As part of its strategy to promote Thailand’s tourism in East Asia in line with its 2008 marketing plan, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) led 130 representatives from the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association (CMTBA) and Phuket Tourist Association (PTA), along with tourism operators, on a series of road shows in Korea.
2008 is the 50th Anniversary of Thai-Korean diplomatic relations. With tourist arrivals from Korea reaching 1 million in 2007, TAT this year has ambitiously aimed to further increase tourism revenue from Korea, a quality market with high spending tourists. Right now, Phuket and Chiang Mai are the two most popular destinations after Bangkok, and TAT believes that the CMTBA and PTA stand a great chance of seeing substantial growth from the East Asian country.
“Although it is too early to see tangible results in terms of business, the response has so far been huge, and all signs indicate that we can expect more visitors from this high spending market,” noted Mr. Sansern Ngaorungsi, Director of the East Asia Region Department.
During these road shows, he added, TAT promoted the country, its culture and also re-categorized tourist attractions based on the heavily promoted “Seven Wonders of Amazing Thailand” concept.
In early June, TAT’s Seoul office, together with Team Thailand, comprising the Royal Thai Embassy led by Thai Ambassador to Korea H.E. Mr. Vasin Teeravechyan, the Defence Attache’ Office, the Office of Commercial Affairs and Thai Airways International, participated in the Korea Travel Fair (KOFTA 2008) held from 5-8 June at the COEX Mall, Seoul, a large consumer fair that attracted approximately 80,000 visitors. At the fair, apart from distributing travel promotion materials and displaying local arts and crafts, TAT also strongly promoted “Loi Krathong” in order to attract more Korean visitors to Thailand during this festival. KOFTA is the largest and most important travel fair in Korea, having been held for 18 consecutive years in which this year travel-related organizations from 48 countries attended the event. At the fair, TAT won two prestigious awards: The Best Booth Design Award and The Best Folklore Performance Award.
TAT also organized the Thailand Festival and Road Show 2008 twice on 10 and 12 June at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul and the Lotte Hotel in Pusan, respectively. Joining the road show were 37 tourism organizations from Thailand, as well as 300 Korean tourism operators and members of the Press. During the event, operators from the two countries had a chance to meet and discuss issues related to tourism.
Korea is currently the third largest Asian market for Thailand after Malaysia and Japan. The latter has been a strong market for Thai tourism for years, while during the last couple of years Korea has been catching up with its neighbour in terms of tourist arrivals to the kingdom, thanks to TAT’s heavy promotional campaigns. In 2007, the country welcomed 1,075,516 visitor arrivals from Korea and with a specific focus on East Asia this year, TAT expects to see some growth in the market.
Contact information: International Public Relation DivisionTel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.thWeb site: www.tatnews.org
2008 is the 50th Anniversary of Thai-Korean diplomatic relations. With tourist arrivals from Korea reaching 1 million in 2007, TAT this year has ambitiously aimed to further increase tourism revenue from Korea, a quality market with high spending tourists. Right now, Phuket and Chiang Mai are the two most popular destinations after Bangkok, and TAT believes that the CMTBA and PTA stand a great chance of seeing substantial growth from the East Asian country.
“Although it is too early to see tangible results in terms of business, the response has so far been huge, and all signs indicate that we can expect more visitors from this high spending market,” noted Mr. Sansern Ngaorungsi, Director of the East Asia Region Department.
During these road shows, he added, TAT promoted the country, its culture and also re-categorized tourist attractions based on the heavily promoted “Seven Wonders of Amazing Thailand” concept.
In early June, TAT’s Seoul office, together with Team Thailand, comprising the Royal Thai Embassy led by Thai Ambassador to Korea H.E. Mr. Vasin Teeravechyan, the Defence Attache’ Office, the Office of Commercial Affairs and Thai Airways International, participated in the Korea Travel Fair (KOFTA 2008) held from 5-8 June at the COEX Mall, Seoul, a large consumer fair that attracted approximately 80,000 visitors. At the fair, apart from distributing travel promotion materials and displaying local arts and crafts, TAT also strongly promoted “Loi Krathong” in order to attract more Korean visitors to Thailand during this festival. KOFTA is the largest and most important travel fair in Korea, having been held for 18 consecutive years in which this year travel-related organizations from 48 countries attended the event. At the fair, TAT won two prestigious awards: The Best Booth Design Award and The Best Folklore Performance Award.
TAT also organized the Thailand Festival and Road Show 2008 twice on 10 and 12 June at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul and the Lotte Hotel in Pusan, respectively. Joining the road show were 37 tourism organizations from Thailand, as well as 300 Korean tourism operators and members of the Press. During the event, operators from the two countries had a chance to meet and discuss issues related to tourism.
Korea is currently the third largest Asian market for Thailand after Malaysia and Japan. The latter has been a strong market for Thai tourism for years, while during the last couple of years Korea has been catching up with its neighbour in terms of tourist arrivals to the kingdom, thanks to TAT’s heavy promotional campaigns. In 2007, the country welcomed 1,075,516 visitor arrivals from Korea and with a specific focus on East Asia this year, TAT expects to see some growth in the market.
Contact information: International Public Relation DivisionTel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.thWeb site: www.tatnews.org
TTM & TTF 2008 SUCCESS SURPASSES LAST YEAR’S EVENT
TTM & TTF 2008 SUCCESS SURPASSES LAST YEAR’S EVENT
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) revealed that the success of the Thailand Travel Mart 2008 Plus and Thailand Travel Fair 2008 exceeded the set target and surpassed that of last year.
Held on 5-8 June in Bangkok, TTM 2008 Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Sub-region and Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle was a significant venue for buyers from around the world to meet and talk business with local sellers and those from the Mekong area. And for this year TAT incorporated the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) into the event in which more sellers from Malaysia and Indonesia also attended TTM. Also the consumers-oriented Thailand Tourism Festival 2008 (TTF) was held at the same period to allow overseas buyers to witness a variety of the nation’s tourism products.
Speaking of the consumer event, H.E. Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat, Tourism and Sports Minister, said that TTF is aimed at encouraging domestic travel. With quality tourism products from all 76 provinces of the kingdom being categorized and displayed under one roof, this provides Thai visitors with the most updated information on the latest range of tourism-related activities and products and inspires them to travel more.
“We’ve received positive feedback praising the well-planned organization of the event. I have ideas for TAT to hold this similar event in different parts of the country to stimulate more travel,” he added.
On 5 June, the first day of TTF, there was a total of 17,741 visitors, an increase of 5.33% from last year’s open day, and with Bt16,250,070 spending registered. Most of them were interested in booking hotels and other accommodation, purchasing products and ecotourism and cultural packages, and buying handicrafts and other goods.
Mrs. Pataraporn Kaweerat, General Manager, Bundhaya Resort in Satun province, said the company joined TTM and TTF every year and business results for this year are as expected, while Mrs. Napat Srimaserm, Managing Director, Southern Plus Travel from Surat Thani, commented that less public relations to promote the TTF as well as the impact from oil prices crisis caused her company’s business to sharply drop by 50%, compared to last year’s results.
For better-known hotel groups like the Dusit Thani, business is as good as ever. Mr. Apichat Tungguay, Senior Sales Manager, revealed, “It’s better this year with more response from our target clients… At TTM, we’re 85% successful while at TTM we gained as much business as we expected, thanks to our client base and the name of the group.”
For TTM 2008, 473 buyers from 63 countries attended, a 31.2% increase over 2007. The 392 seller organizations participating this year included 16 companies from the Greater Mekong Sub-region and 41 companies from the IMT-GT.
Most of the buyers were pleased with the organization. Mr. David Kevan of Tropical Locations, London, said it is well organized and on- site appointments went on smoothly. “Everything is O.K,” he said. Mr. Johann Ehrensperger, Manager-Wholesale, Invogue Tours, South Africa, came to the event for the fourth time and would be back next year.
Mr. Martin Foong, Managing Director, Hi Ha Holidays Travel & Tours, based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, also attended TTM for the first time as a hosted buyer; his company has been promoting a few destinations including Thailand for years. The new programme he would like to promote will include Khao Yai with a wine museum and attractions like Chokchai Farm as selling points.
As one of the sellers, Mr. Pinyo Ratchabandit, Sales & Marketing Director, Takolaburi, confirmed business results from this year’s TTM exceeded last year’s but showed some concern about political instability.
“With regard to tourism, I’d love Thai politics to be more stable. Overseas visitors all love Thailand. Let’s hope for no more national catastrophes and more stable politics, then the future of tourism will be brighter and better.”
Mrs. Lernapa Bilyee, Resident Manager, Tipa Resort in Krabi, was also content with the overall outcome with business reaching an 80% satisfactory rate.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) revealed that the success of the Thailand Travel Mart 2008 Plus and Thailand Travel Fair 2008 exceeded the set target and surpassed that of last year.
Held on 5-8 June in Bangkok, TTM 2008 Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Sub-region and Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle was a significant venue for buyers from around the world to meet and talk business with local sellers and those from the Mekong area. And for this year TAT incorporated the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) into the event in which more sellers from Malaysia and Indonesia also attended TTM. Also the consumers-oriented Thailand Tourism Festival 2008 (TTF) was held at the same period to allow overseas buyers to witness a variety of the nation’s tourism products.
Speaking of the consumer event, H.E. Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat, Tourism and Sports Minister, said that TTF is aimed at encouraging domestic travel. With quality tourism products from all 76 provinces of the kingdom being categorized and displayed under one roof, this provides Thai visitors with the most updated information on the latest range of tourism-related activities and products and inspires them to travel more.
“We’ve received positive feedback praising the well-planned organization of the event. I have ideas for TAT to hold this similar event in different parts of the country to stimulate more travel,” he added.
On 5 June, the first day of TTF, there was a total of 17,741 visitors, an increase of 5.33% from last year’s open day, and with Bt16,250,070 spending registered. Most of them were interested in booking hotels and other accommodation, purchasing products and ecotourism and cultural packages, and buying handicrafts and other goods.
Mrs. Pataraporn Kaweerat, General Manager, Bundhaya Resort in Satun province, said the company joined TTM and TTF every year and business results for this year are as expected, while Mrs. Napat Srimaserm, Managing Director, Southern Plus Travel from Surat Thani, commented that less public relations to promote the TTF as well as the impact from oil prices crisis caused her company’s business to sharply drop by 50%, compared to last year’s results.
For better-known hotel groups like the Dusit Thani, business is as good as ever. Mr. Apichat Tungguay, Senior Sales Manager, revealed, “It’s better this year with more response from our target clients… At TTM, we’re 85% successful while at TTM we gained as much business as we expected, thanks to our client base and the name of the group.”
For TTM 2008, 473 buyers from 63 countries attended, a 31.2% increase over 2007. The 392 seller organizations participating this year included 16 companies from the Greater Mekong Sub-region and 41 companies from the IMT-GT.
Most of the buyers were pleased with the organization. Mr. David Kevan of Tropical Locations, London, said it is well organized and on- site appointments went on smoothly. “Everything is O.K,” he said. Mr. Johann Ehrensperger, Manager-Wholesale, Invogue Tours, South Africa, came to the event for the fourth time and would be back next year.
Mr. Martin Foong, Managing Director, Hi Ha Holidays Travel & Tours, based in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, also attended TTM for the first time as a hosted buyer; his company has been promoting a few destinations including Thailand for years. The new programme he would like to promote will include Khao Yai with a wine museum and attractions like Chokchai Farm as selling points.
As one of the sellers, Mr. Pinyo Ratchabandit, Sales & Marketing Director, Takolaburi, confirmed business results from this year’s TTM exceeded last year’s but showed some concern about political instability.
“With regard to tourism, I’d love Thai politics to be more stable. Overseas visitors all love Thailand. Let’s hope for no more national catastrophes and more stable politics, then the future of tourism will be brighter and better.”
Mrs. Lernapa Bilyee, Resident Manager, Tipa Resort in Krabi, was also content with the overall outcome with business reaching an 80% satisfactory rate.
GENERAL TOURISTS AND CARDHOLDERS URGED TO DISCOVER AMAZING CHIANG MAI IN 72 HRS
GENERAL TOURISTS AND CARDHOLDERS URGED TO DISCOVER AMAZING CHIANG MAI IN 72 HRS
With its own unique charm, Chiang Mai has always been a top destination among local Thais and has recently become a favourite city among international visitors, having been voted the third best city in Asia by Travel+Leisure magazine for two consecutive years.
Recently, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) joined hands with MasterCard Worldwide in announcing the launch of the “72 hrs Amazing Thailand Chiang Mai” campaign, following last year’s introduction of 72 hrs Amazing Thailand which reportedly received an extremely warm welcome from short-haul visitors.
Mrs. Juthaporn Rerngronasa, Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, said, “As a destination, Chiang Mai is one of the most amazing cities in the whole Southeast Asian region with its rich culture, diverse tourist attractions, trendy and hip boutique hotels and resorts, as well as an exotic vibe that makes it charmingly different from other big cities. Exploring Chiang Mai might need one full week in order to fully absorb its Lanna-styled attractiveness. However, three days or 72 hours might also be just what one needs, especially international visitors, to know and fall in love with the capital of the North.”
Buoyed by its retaining the No. 3 ranking in Top 10 Asia’s Best Cities in Travel+Leisure’s 13th Annual World’s Best Awards Readers’ Survey Results announced early July, Mrs. Juthaporn believed Chiang Mai will see a large number of overseas visitors, along with locals who always rank the Lanna capital as one of their favourite destinations, who would love to come and see for themselves what Asia’s third best city, after Bangkok and Kyoto, has to offer.
72 hrs Amazing Thailand Chiang Mai was created following the massive success of 72 hrs Amazing Thailand, aimed at introducing tourists to other attractive destinations in Thailand, starting off with Chiang Mai. MasterCard holders will receive five to 50 percent of discounts and other privileges from companies participating in the project.
Similar campaigns promoting other cities in Thailand are expected to be launched in the future, which are all targeted at mid-to high-monthly income earners.
The campaign, held from July 2008 to December 2009 aims to showcase a selectively wide range of Chiang Mai’s newest and most stylish resorts and hotels, hip shopping spots, luxurious pampering hideaways, chic dining outlets and not-to-be-missed activities when visiting the majestic northern province during a short trip of 3 days. All details of these attractions are featured in a 250-baht coloured guidebook and map in English available at leading bookstores.
As a travel destination, Chiang Mai boasts a wide array of diverse attractions from cultural and historical sites, natural parks and natural tourist spots, to local traditions and festivals. “Whether it’s New Year, Loi Krathong or Songkran, Chiang Mai draws a lot of visitors all year round,” according to Sethapon Chindanon, Executive Director, Northern Region.
Local food has always been an added attraction. With new hip dining outlets in town, epicureans are spoiled for too many choices during their stay. When it comes to accommodation, Chiang Mai is at the forefront of a city with the best boutique and hip resorts and hotels, from the property with typical Chiang Mai local ambiance like Lanna Accent Boutique Villa, to theme resorts like Tea Vana, decorated in a modern Chinese style and understandingly having “tea” served in many purposes.
Chiang Mai is one of Thailand most popular destinations, after Bangkok, welcoming 1,755,140 international visitors in 2007. The average length of stay is 3.42 days. In 2008, TAT targets a 7% increase in tourist arrivals to 15.48 million with tourists from (Malaysia, China, and Japan as top three major markets.
For more information, log on to http://www.thailand72hrsamazing.com or call TAT at Call Center 1672.
Contact information: International Public Relation DivisionTourism Authority of ThailandTel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.thWeb site: www.tatnews.org
With its own unique charm, Chiang Mai has always been a top destination among local Thais and has recently become a favourite city among international visitors, having been voted the third best city in Asia by Travel+Leisure magazine for two consecutive years.
Recently, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) joined hands with MasterCard Worldwide in announcing the launch of the “72 hrs Amazing Thailand Chiang Mai” campaign, following last year’s introduction of 72 hrs Amazing Thailand which reportedly received an extremely warm welcome from short-haul visitors.
Mrs. Juthaporn Rerngronasa, Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, said, “As a destination, Chiang Mai is one of the most amazing cities in the whole Southeast Asian region with its rich culture, diverse tourist attractions, trendy and hip boutique hotels and resorts, as well as an exotic vibe that makes it charmingly different from other big cities. Exploring Chiang Mai might need one full week in order to fully absorb its Lanna-styled attractiveness. However, three days or 72 hours might also be just what one needs, especially international visitors, to know and fall in love with the capital of the North.”
Buoyed by its retaining the No. 3 ranking in Top 10 Asia’s Best Cities in Travel+Leisure’s 13th Annual World’s Best Awards Readers’ Survey Results announced early July, Mrs. Juthaporn believed Chiang Mai will see a large number of overseas visitors, along with locals who always rank the Lanna capital as one of their favourite destinations, who would love to come and see for themselves what Asia’s third best city, after Bangkok and Kyoto, has to offer.
72 hrs Amazing Thailand Chiang Mai was created following the massive success of 72 hrs Amazing Thailand, aimed at introducing tourists to other attractive destinations in Thailand, starting off with Chiang Mai. MasterCard holders will receive five to 50 percent of discounts and other privileges from companies participating in the project.
Similar campaigns promoting other cities in Thailand are expected to be launched in the future, which are all targeted at mid-to high-monthly income earners.
The campaign, held from July 2008 to December 2009 aims to showcase a selectively wide range of Chiang Mai’s newest and most stylish resorts and hotels, hip shopping spots, luxurious pampering hideaways, chic dining outlets and not-to-be-missed activities when visiting the majestic northern province during a short trip of 3 days. All details of these attractions are featured in a 250-baht coloured guidebook and map in English available at leading bookstores.
As a travel destination, Chiang Mai boasts a wide array of diverse attractions from cultural and historical sites, natural parks and natural tourist spots, to local traditions and festivals. “Whether it’s New Year, Loi Krathong or Songkran, Chiang Mai draws a lot of visitors all year round,” according to Sethapon Chindanon, Executive Director, Northern Region.
Local food has always been an added attraction. With new hip dining outlets in town, epicureans are spoiled for too many choices during their stay. When it comes to accommodation, Chiang Mai is at the forefront of a city with the best boutique and hip resorts and hotels, from the property with typical Chiang Mai local ambiance like Lanna Accent Boutique Villa, to theme resorts like Tea Vana, decorated in a modern Chinese style and understandingly having “tea” served in many purposes.
Chiang Mai is one of Thailand most popular destinations, after Bangkok, welcoming 1,755,140 international visitors in 2007. The average length of stay is 3.42 days. In 2008, TAT targets a 7% increase in tourist arrivals to 15.48 million with tourists from (Malaysia, China, and Japan as top three major markets.
For more information, log on to http://www.thailand72hrsamazing.com or call TAT at Call Center 1672.
Contact information: International Public Relation DivisionTourism Authority of ThailandTel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.thWeb site: www.tatnews.org
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