Thailand received over 900,000 Indians in 2011; notched 6.3 per cent growth during Jan-June 2012
Indian traveller numbers to Thailand have grown over the years on account of new and repeat visitor traffic that explores a larger area of Thailand. During Jan-June 2012, Thailand received approximately 504,634 Indian tourists, which is a 6.32 per cent increase compared to the 474,653 tourists received during the same period in 2011. Sethaphan Buddhani, Director, TAT, Mumbai office believes in keeping a consistent approach towards the target segments, “We have focused on the wedding, golf, and single women travellers groups for shopping and family segments. Going forward, we will also add health, medical and wellness tourism to our marketing strategy,” he said. TAT has been focusing on promoting new destinations such as Koh Samui, Chiang Rai, Krabi, Hua Hin, Koh-Chang and Kanchanaburi among others to the Indian market. Moreover, it has also planned to promote lesser known destinations such as Koh Samet, Rayong, Khao Lak, PhangNga and Khao Yai.
Buddhani shared that the tourism board will continue to partner with national carriers and travel trade partners for joint promotions with an aim to welcome one million travellers from India.
Commenting on TAT’s various promotional initiatives Buddhani revealed, “We will take part in various trade shows and exhibitions through the year, along with our Thai partners, to showcase unexplored destinations to India. Media, film producers, travel trade and wedding planners’ FAMs to these regions are also on the cards. To promote health and medical tourism, we have conducted familiarisation trip for our travel trade partners.”
Buddhani informed that the Royal Thai Consulate General in Mumbai recently announced that the processing of a visa application will soon be completed within 24 hours instead of the norm of around three working days. “This will ease out the procedure and will definitely help short-haul travellers. We expect the visa numbers as well as visitor numbers to increase.”
