The Tourism Authority
of Thailand(TAT), pioneers in offering Leisure Destinations, is all set to
raise the bar of quality levels in the tourism segment by announcing the theme
for 2017 - ‘Discover Unique Local Experiences’ in Mumbai. The objective behind
this campaign is to promote Thailand as a wealth of cultural heritage with a
competitive edge in the travel and tourism sector. After receiving an
overwhelming response from SATTE and
OTM 2017, TAT Mumbai hosted an
exclusive meet for the media to announce their plan for 2017 and the global
campaign for the Indian audiences. Mrs.
Srisuda Wanapinyosak, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Asia
and the South Pacific) and brand ambassador Anusha Dandekar graciously presided the occasion with their
presence.
As a part of their
global campaign, this year TAT is welcoming visitors by offering a touch of
Thai Local Experiences in various interesting activities. Designed to fit in
with the ‘Year of Sustainable Tourism Development’ proclaimed by the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)
for 2017, the ‘Discover Unique Local Experiences’ campaign will be the focus
for 2017 by TAT. The intention behind the endeavor is to warrant that Thailand
remains in people’s minds as a top of the mind recall when it comes to
‘preferred destination’ and traveling with ‘purpose’. It also entails
attracting more international visitors to explore and understand a more
authentic Thailand and experience living a local Thai life.
On a global scale, India
is ranked 6th in terms of tourist arrivals in Thailand. As per the recent
numbers released by Department of Tourism, in 2016, Thailand welcomed 1.19
million Indian travelers and for 2017, the target is 14% increase in revenue
and 8% increase in footfalls expected from India alone. The focus destinations this year will be
mainly the local communities along with Chiang
Mai, Krabi, Trat and Bangkok.
Commenting on the
future plans and the campaign, Mrs.
Srisuda Wanapinyosak, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Asia
and the South Pacific) said, “India has always been one of the significant
markets for us as each year we see an increase in the footfalls. This year too
we are expecting a phenomenal growth of 8 percent. When you visit Thailand, you
always discover something new and unique which makes you want to visit the
kingdom time and again. This year, with Discover Unique Local Experience theme,
we are happy to give our guests an experience of the local tastes and culture
that holds Thailand to its roots, and we also plan to introduce new
destinations and activities for the travelers which will make their stay
memorable and invaluable.”
Anusha Dandekar commented, “Thailand leaves you with scenic
turquoise beaches, lovely islands, diverse wildlife, warm culture, glittering
temples, and scrumptious cuisines. With varied tastes and cultures, Thailand
has always been the land of smiles. As a traveler, I personally like to explore
the local culture, traditional, history, art and flavors to get the
real-authentic experience which will last a lifetime. The ‘Thainess’ aspect radiates a unique
charm, which urges travel enthusiasts from all over the world to head on to
this fantastic destination. Experiencing the local Thai culture and way of life
will introduce a different facet of Thailand which the world has ever seen.”
Ms Soraya Homchuen, Director, Tourism Authority of
Thailand, Mumbai, said, “While Thailand is a thriving modern nation that offers
luxury and comfort of the 21st century, it’s the unique Thai traditions and
attractions that are often most memorable for visitors. In 2017, TAT aims to offer ‘Value for
Experiences’ to travelers coming to the Kingdom by focusing on ‘Unique Thai
Local Experiences’ to the world which features Thailand’s local experiences.
Our effort through this campaign is to highlight our strong faith in the local
communities of Thailand to offer genuine hospitality and experiences that are
exciting and unique to the travelers. Our humble attempt through this campaign
will in turn also benefit locals and the travel agents in the country.
Thailand’s culture, old and new, is waiting to be discovered by people of all
ages and backgrounds. In terms of the prospects, we are expecting the upcoming
year to be fruitful, as we are foreseeing a rise of Indian travelers by 8% and
anticipating up to 1.2 million tourists from India alone.”
As per the recent emerging travel trend, 2017 will be
primarily about culinary tourism and culture tourism. In the current robust tourism market, change
is always afoot, and Thailand is building on several trends that are in sync
with the global tourism trends. With the new campaign the kingdom is all set to
locally globalize the experience for 2017 which will mark the opening of a new
chapter for Thai tourism.