Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) showcased its existing and new tourism product portfolio as part of its strategic move to transform Thailand’s tourism towards high-value and sustainable tourism to the global tourism market at Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2023.
Presenting the diversity of tourism products and services including luxury tourism experiences, wellness tourism, and tourism towards sustainability, Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, TAT, said “TAT is illustrating Thailand as offering meaningful-driven travel to improve visitors’ experience. Encompassing discovery, transformation, fulfilment, and engagement between people, cultures, and nature, this underscores TAT’s direction to making a destination for protecting the country’s vast natural and scenic beauty and instigating a range of environmental initiatives.”
Chattan detailed about Bangkok Life, Phangnga and Phuket, wellness tourism and its possibilities including wellness breaks in Chiang Mai and Ko Samui, Surat Thani.
Highlighting the significance of sustainability, the Deputy Governor talked about a wide range of destinations and activities that deliver sustainability experiences, including exploring local community by bike at Bang Krachao, Samut Prakan; adventurer travel in Umphang, Tak; slow life at low- carbon destination on Ko Mak in Trat; and exploring the Little Amazon and surfing at the Memories beach in Takua Pa, Phangnga.
Moreover, the Authority is also developing a national drive that encompasses the entire Thai tourism industry with the development of the Sustainable Tourism Goals (STGs) of the United Nations. Among new initiatives include a STAR (Sustainable Tourism Acceleration Rating) system to certify sustainable tourism businesses.
TAT continues to develop a new tourism ecosystem and elevate supply through such initiatives as the Thailand Tourism Awards, ‘Up- Skill Re-Skill’ human resources development project, and ‘CF Hotels’ online platform for hotel and lodging operators to sustainably manage businesses.
Chattan said “Key marketing strategies include the “Great Resumption Episode II” for short haul markets, focusing on the return of Chinese market, the growth of source markets and new segments, the integration of Amazing Thailand brand seamlessly in the tourist’s slice of life, responsible tourism, and expanding new markets. While for long-haul markets, TAT continues to collaborate with strategic partners and increase air connectivity, expand markets, and promote Thailand as an all-year round destination.”
Thailand celebrated a milestone achievement in 2022, welcoming a total of 11.15 million international arrivals, which generated revenue of 589 billion Baht, and recorded 189 million domestic trips, which generated revenue of 641 billion Baht.
For 2023, TAT hopes to see around 80 percent of the tourism revenue generated in 2019, which is expected to be 2.38 trillion Baht, which 1.5 trillion Baht will be generated from the overseas market and 880 billion Baht from the domestic market.
Thailand welcomed 10,378,457 international arrivals generating 428 billion Baht during January 1 – May 27, 2023. The top five tourism markets were from Malaysia (1,606,373), China (1,098,604), Russia (734,995), South Korea (627,760), and India (583,319).
