Safari Plus INTALK with Mr. Klissada Ratanapruk, Executive Director Events Department TAT

Safari Plus INTALK with Mr. Klissada Ratanapruk, Executive Director Events Department Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Q1: Next year (2022), India and Thailand will celebrate the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. Will there be any event to boost the tourist market?

Thailand and India have had a good relationship for over 75 years. On behalf of the TAT, we are pleased to support Foreign Ministry and Embassy of India in activities that create happiness and awareness, publicize, and promote the image of Thailand as one of the top-of-mind destinations among tourists.

Q2: Can you please tell us more about “Amazing New Chapters” FY 2022 campaign? What is your expectation and what is the key message to Indian tourists who are looking forward to visit Thailand?

The TAT’s “Amazing New Chapters” campaign is ready to fulfill all the needs of tourists with more amazing new stories and experiences than ever, which reiterate even more wonders; such as, more beautiful nature and new tourist attractions that provide tourists an astonishing experience. 

Q3: What is TAT next year plan regarding to Thai-Indian Cross cultural event to promote Thailand tourism to Indian tourists?

For next year, we (TAT) plan to boost domestic tourism among the Indian expat, which is a group of quality tourists with high spending power. The activities with a blend of the Thai and Indian culture are mainly focused in order to bring tourists to come to celebrate together, which will lead to cultural exchanges and promote Thailand as the destination for Indian tourists around the world.

Q4: As per next year plan, what is your expected number of tourists visiting from India and the subcontinent?

We expect the number of Indian tourists travelling to Thailand to visit Thailand not more than 3,000-4,000 in Quarter 1 next year. The number is still very low due to the Bilateral Air Bubble agreement has not been signed between our country. Air Bubble agreement is an agreement would allow direct flights and chartered flights from India to Thailand without the obstacle of transit through other countries. However, the agreement is under process and expected to be done soon. Meanwhile, tourists have had to accept some additional conditions to resume international trips during the pandemic, such as requirements for RT-PCR tests before their departure and on their return.

Q5: In the pre-Covid era, there were around 300 weekly flights between 17 destinations in India and two in Thailand (Bangkok and Phuket) with over 1.9 million visitors, in your opinion how long will it take this number to come back and will it be better than earlier since the number of Indian tourists never runs down even during the pandemic period.

We believe that the number of this group of tourists will return in the near future. However, it also depends on the COVID-19 situation. Most tourists have been longing for travel, and meanwhile the TAT has been promoting Thai tourism to attract more tourists to travel the country with the hope that Thailand will be one of their destinations.

Q6: Can you talk about the Diwali event which just finished?

It was a festival that reflected the Indian culture which attracted the Indian tourists to join and celebrate together. This festival was held in Pattaya, which have been recognized as the top destination for foreign tourists. The festival is a long holiday season and is the time when many Indian descent return to their home or travel for vacations. As a result, major tourist cities such as Singapore, London or Dubai have held Diwali festival on a big scale to attract the group of Indian tourists around the world to promote tourism of their country.
    Thailand is one of the top three destination for Indian tourists and Pattaya City is always a must visit destination. This year the Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) organised the 1st Diwali festival in Thailand at Pattaya City from 26th-28th November, 2021. The objective of this event was to present and celebrate the joyful Diwali Festival as well as present the beautiful cultural and long stand bonding between the Kingdom of Thailand and Republic of India to general public. We also aim to uplift the event in each coming year to enhance the tourism potential to Thailand.
    The Opening Ceremony was honored by the gracious presence of Pattaya City Mayor (Mr.Sontaya Khunpleum), Deputy of Culture Minister (Mr.Poramet Ngampichet), Commissioner of Tourist Police Bureau (Police Lt.Gen Sukhun Prommayon), Representative from Embassy of India to Thailand & Director of Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center (Mrs.Aparna Patwardhan) and Welcoming speech by an Executive Director Events Department, Tourist Authority of Thailand (Mr. Klissada Ratanapruk). The festival also got vital support by many local Indian community and business in Thailand; such as, India Thai Chamber of Commerce (ITCC), Indian and Indian Association of Thailand (IAT), Destination Siam Group Travel Agency, Thai-Sikh News Channel etc. to run the event successfully.

This year though Thailand did not have much tourists in the Country but the event was warmly supported by local Thai people, Indian Expat Groups and Thai Indian Communities. The total footfalls of the 3 days event was around 70,000 people who came to enjoy the warm and joyful ambiance. The Festival saw an impressive selection of vendors serving up a wide variety of Indian Food, Indian Clothes, Costume Jewelry, Holistic wellness treatments & Lifestyle products. There were plenty of Cultural Performances and Live Music. Pattaya beach also got to witness the biggest Gigantic KITE display ever at total of 120 kites (size from 18-52 meters), which brought along a lot of action and energy to the Pattaya Beach. The night was lit by Pattaya firework festival which is the biggest Firework display in Thailand. 
We expect and wish that when the world tourism resumes back to normal stage, the festival would be organised on a bigger scale with additional WOW factors to excite the people all over the world to visit Thailand.  

Q7: What is TAT next year plan regarding to Thai-Indian Cross cultural event to promote Thailand tourism to Indian tourists?

For next year, we (TAT) plan to boost domestic tourism among the Indian expat, which is a group of quality tourists with high spending power. The activities with a blend of the Thai and Indian culture are mainly focused in order to bring tourists to come to celebrate together, which will lead to cultural exchanges and promote Thailand as the destination for Indian tourists around the world.

Q8: How is Thailand coping up with the Pandemic?

The Thai Government has been encouraging people to receive the COVID-19 vaccines. So far, most people in the country have been already vaccinated, or around 65% of population. The government has also imposed measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which include the Amazing Thailand Safety & Health Administration standard (SHA) for short that has been introduced by the TAT so that operators in the tourism industry can prepare themselves for accommodating tourists when the COVID-19 situation improves.

Q9: With the occurrence of Omicron, it put the travel banned in many countries, In such situation what is Thai government response/measurement toward this?

Thai Government already has protocol to control the COVID-19 Pandemic by calling “TEST AND GO PROGRAM” which applied to 67 countries and India is already under the program agreement. The basic requirement for Traveler to visit Thailand is to follow “Thailand Pass program”, which required traveler to completed the vaccination doze and has negative PCR test 72 hrs before the flight. Once arrive Thailand traveler must follow TEST and GO program by booking their 1st Night only with SHA+ hotel for PCR Test and once result come negative then they are free to travel to Thailand.