It comes as no surprise that Thailand witnesses a huge number of travellers from India every year. With 2019 being the record breaker year touching almost 2 million tourist footfall, the destination is now eyeing an increase by 10% in 2020 from the India market. In a recently held press conference and networking dinner, Klissada Ratanaparuk, Executive Director – ASEAN South Asia and South Pacific Region, Tourism Authority of Thailand and Isra Stapanaseth, Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand briefed the Travel Trade media on the upcoming strategies and campaigns.
Arushi Bajaj
Living up to its tagline – ‘Open to the New Shades’, Thailand, which is much more than a fabulous shopping paradise, is hoping for a spectacular 2020. With the increasing number of flights and expansion through small and medium scale agents, the vision of TAT is to push newer destinations in Thailand in the India market. The strategy is to make people look beyond Bangkok Pattaya, especially those who have already been to the country.
Promoting Thailand as a premium destination for MICE, Weddings and also Golf, Tourism Authority of Thailand is looking forward to maintaining the momentum through B2B as well as B2C promotion. The destination had hosted almost 400 Indian weddings last year. Sharing his views on the same, Isra Stapanaseth said, “After the introduction of the new routes, we are glad to admit that traffic from West Bengal and Guwahati is showing good flow. We look forward to maintaining the travel quotient and if the airlines find it profitable, they might introduce newer sectors between India and Thailand this year too.”
It would be safe to say that TAT is vigorously working towards implementing a 360 degree approach for marketing the destination through website, social media and B2B activities, such as, inviting people for a quality experience in Thailand. The government is also trying to lend full support and ensure a safe environment for women travellers, especially solo women travellers. Besides its known factors such as sightseeing, shopping, luxury resorts and spas, the destination, in its endeavour to tap the “millennials”, is positioning “adventure” activities, especially diving, prominently to the segment, inviting them to come and experience the ‘sporty’ side of Thailand.
