Tourism Authority of Thailand to boost Chinese tourist confidence
The Voice of Canada News:
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced a series of tactical promotions in anticipation of the high season return of Chinese tourists during the last two months of this year, along with ongoing activities and long-term strategies to boost Chinese tourists’ confidence in Thailand.
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said “The immediate strategy is to restore Chinese tourists’ confidence in Thailand, so TAT has sought co-operation with Thai tourism operators to ensure that their operations and tour programmes as well as services adhere to strict safety guidelines.”
To stimulate travel and bookings globally, TAT plans to launch “Amazing Thailand Grand Sale Passport Privileges” promotion during November- December and is planning another ‘Top Thai Brand Sale’ event.
The strong Chinese-Thai bilateral tourism relationship also plays pivotal role in TAT’s ongoing effort to maintain Chinese tourists’ confidence. Recent activities included the “Amazing Thailand All Star Golf Invitation Tournament” in Phuket from 15 to 18 October, and TAT’s participation in the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) China in Shanghai from 31 October to 2 November.
Events planned for the rest of this year include TAT’s participation in the China International Travel Mart (CITM) in Shanghai from 16 to 18 November, followed by the New Year Electronic Music Festival in Pattaya on 30-31 December, and the Countdown celebrations in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai on 31 December.
2019 marks the 15th anniversary of cooperation between TAT, the Chinese Ministry of Culture and the Chinese Embassy in organising annual Chinese Lunar New Year festivities in Thailand, which is scheduled on 5 February in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai.
Events and activities planned for next year also include the Amazing Thailand road shows to China in March, Songkran Festival in Thailand, and the Luxury-Health-Wellness road show to China in April, the Amazing Romance 5.20 trip to Thailand and Michelin Food Festival in Phuket in May, the Thailand Travel Mart 2019 in June, and Thai festival in China in the second half of the year to name only a few. In addition, the annual Chinese-Thai friendship caravan is set to return next year with expanded overland travel itineraries in neighbouring Mekong countries.
Meanwhile, TAT is planning a raft of long-term initiatives in cooperation with the public and private sectors to ensure Chinese tourists’ confidence in Thailand.
TAT is in talks with the Royal Thai Navy to formulate a memorandum of understanding on marine surveillance along the Andaman coastal region and the Gulf of Thailand to help assure tourist safety. It is also discussing with the Thai Meteorological Department and China’s Alibaba to co-operate on a bilingual real-time weather notification system.
TAT is also looking at ways to facilitate safe and convenient entry for Chinese tourists including the visa fee waiver initiative, which could be offered for a short period to stimulate travel and bookings.
In terms of long-term marketing strategy for the Chinese market, Mr. Yuthasak said TAT would place emphasis on promoting tourism linkages from major to secondary cities, in line with the Amazing Thailand Go Local policy to better balance the distribution of tourists and tourism revenue between urban and rural areas and even out monthly travel seasonality.
