Thai Tourisum Authorities Miracle Thailand Year Campaign

 

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will promote its Miracle Thailand Year campaign at the World Travel Mart (WTM) in London next month.

After that, the campaign will be promoted at ITB in Berlin and eight more trade shows next year, said Thanes Petsuwan, a TAT director for European, African and Middle East markets.

“Despite the economic problems in Europe, we believe arrivals from the continent still grow due to our campaigns for many festivals and special events in Thailand. Four main targets with high purchasing power are golfers, medical tourists, newlyweds, and eco-tourists,” he said.

The TAT is staging the Fam Trip Thailand Go Green project until today to bring European, African and Middle East tour operators to meet Thai counterparts for business partnerships and to visit eco-tourist destinations in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Loei, Phitsanulok, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram and Phetchaburi.

The four tourist groups that the TAT wants to attract will offset a decline in budget travellers who are slowing spending due to the euro-zone crisis.

Medical clients spend 12,000 baht per day, three times higher than normal visitors. Each medical client stays in Thailand between 8-15 days on average.

During the first eight months of this year, about 3.7 million European tourists arrived in Thailand. The number rose by 8% and should reach 5 million at the year-end. Thailand should earn over 100 billion baht from European visitors and their number may rise by 5% to 5.3 million next year.

Wiyada Srirangkul, a TAT director in Rome, said the European market was growing, especially the Russian segment. Next year, the TAT will launch active marketing campaigns in economically sound Israel and Turkey. Since tourists from these countries usually visit Pattaya, the TAT will introduce them to other seaside destinations like Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi and Hua Hin.

As well, the TAT will persuade families from these countries to tour Bangkok and its outskirts. Turkey conventionally views Thailand as a destination for male tourists and there are not enough guides for Turkish visitors.