TAT shifts market focus

Written by changthai11 on Monday, October 6th, 2008

TOURISM

CHATRUDEE THEPARAT

The Tourism Authority of Thailand will hold a meeting with private tourism organisations today to find ways to stimulate tourism from countries unlikely to be affected by the US financial crisis.

Participants will also assess the extent of the impact of the US crisis and of the expected fall next year in long-haul arrivals, especially from Europe.

Juthaporn Rerngronasa, the TAT’s deputy governor for international marketing, admitted Thailand’s lucrative tourism industry would definitely feel a pinch from the fall in European visitors next year.

Around 3.5 million European and 700,000 American tourists are expected to visit Thailand this year. Last year, 3.9 million Europeans and 921,000 Americans visited.

Ms Juthaporn said promotion next year would focus on Asia, Russia, Eastern Europe and Scandinavian countries, especially in the upscale market.

Promotional activities will concentrate on niche markets such as golf, weddings, health, sports and eco-tourism, which are expected to remain strong despite the troubled economy.

Weerasak Kohsurat, the Tourism and Sports Minister, said that attractive packages would be targeted at tourists from Australia, Asean, Japan, India, southern China, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.

Most of these visitors require no longer than six hours to reach Thailand from their countries.

Sidivachr Cheewarattananaporn, president of the Thai-Chinese Tourism Alliance Association, said he expected Chinese visitors to start returning to Thailand in November.

Mr Sidivachr expected Chinese visitors to Thailand to reach only 700,000 this year, compared with one million last year and an earlier forecast of 1.5 million for 2008.