Thursday, February 22, 2024
At the Amazing Thailand Media Briefing, part of its 15th appearance at the South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE) 2024, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) highlighted its commitment to promoting Thailand’s varied tourism opportunities with a focus on sustainability. During the event, the latest tourism attractions in Thailand were showcased.
Ms. Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Minister of Tourism and Sports, said “I am determined to elevate Thailand to be a quality and safe destination that delivers a valuable experience to our visitors from India through Thailand’s Soft Powers and promotes Thailand to be an all-year-round destination.”
India remains a crucial market for Thailand’s tourism, with 1.62 million Indian visitors last year, ranking as the fourth largest market and contributing over 63 billion Baht in spending. As of February 19 this year, India is the fifth-largest source of tourists with 262,986 arrivals.
To encourage more Indian tourists, the Thai government has waived tourist visa fees for Indian citizens from November 10 last year to May 10 this year, and efforts to enhance connectivity between the two countries are ongoing.
This year, TAT aims to earn 80 billion Baht from approximately 1.74 million Indian tourists.
Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, said “Key strategies to realise our targets will be subsidy schemes for incentive, wedding, and celebration groups. Joint promotions with airlines and travel agents will be offered for repeat visitors and golfers. Just as importantly, we will continue to strengthen our presence through India’s leading shows including the Outbound Travel Mart in Mumbai, and this SATTE in New Delhi.”
TAT’s promotional strategies will aim at a wide range of audiences, including families, millennials, those celebrating weddings and special occasions, golf enthusiasts, upscale groups, and corporate incentive travelers. Upcoming campaigns will concentrate on engaging senior citizens, female tourists, wellness journeys, adventure activities, Generation Z, and the LGBTQIA+ community.
TAT is also promoting lesser-known destinations like Hua Hin, Kanchanaburi, and Khao Yai, alongside new attractions like EmSphere shopping mall, Thai Bus Food Tour, Pruek dining cruise, UNESCO sites in Nakhon Ratchasima, Andamanda Phuket waterpark, and Carnival Magic theme park.
For health and wellness enthusiasts, options include RVX Sampran, Thann Wellness, and La Vita Sana. New wedding and celebration venues include Cape Fahn, Four Seasons, Banyan Tree, and Anantara Koh Yao Yai.
The Airports of Thailand (AOT) has expanded Suvarnabhumi Airport’s capacity and made Chiang Mai International Airport operational 24/7. Plans are underway to expand Phuket International Airport and study the feasibility of a new airport in Phang-nga. New motorway projects, the M6 to Nakhon Ratchasima and the M81 to Kanchanaburi, are expected to be ready by 2025.
“TAT’s activity in India aligns with our “PASS strategy” to drive Thailand’s tourism towards High-Value and Sustainability. This encompasses ‘Partnership 360’ efforts, digital transformation, subculture movement, and sustainable practices,” Ms. Thapanee said.
In 2023, Thailand played host to more than 28 million international tourists, bringing in revenue of 1.2 trillion Baht. The leading sources of these visitors were Malaysia, China, South Korea, India, and Russia. Between January 1 and February 19, 2024, the country recorded 5.32 million international tourist arrivals, contributing to over 254 billion Baht in earnings. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has established a goal to achieve 3 trillion Baht in tourism revenue for the year, aiming for 1.92 trillion Baht from foreign tourists and 1.08 trillion Baht from domestic travelers.
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Saturday, April 27, 2024
Sunday, April 28, 2024
