TAT to hold Miracle of Thai Food and Fruit Festival 2012

 

BANGKOK, 16 May 2012 (NNT) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is set to host the ‘Miracle of Thai Food and Fruit Festival 2012’ with over 40 booths selling products from across the country in order to stimulate the country’s tourism and economy. The Miracle of Thai Food and Fruit Festival 2012 will feature Thai food from four regions, popular Thai food among locals and foreigners, as well as seasonal fruit. CNNGo has previously ranked Thai food among the 50 most delicious dishes in the world, with Massaman Curry topping the list at number 1, followed by Tom Yum Goong at number 8, Nam Tok Moo at 19 and Som Tam at number 46. Thus, the TAT will help Thai entrepreneurs in boosting the economy by promoting food which are well-known among foreigners. The TAT expects that the organization of this event will also stimulate the country’s tourism as well as the economy. The overall spending by the event’s visitors last year stood at 30 billion baht. Meanwhile, a 10% growth has been estimated for this year. The Miracle of Thai Food and Fruit Festival 2012 will be held during 25-27 May at Central World.

TAT Launches Special Adventure Travel Website, “100 Unforgettable Experiences”

Bangkok, May 15, 2012 – Adventure travel enthusiasts seeking to try their hand at 100 Unforgettable Experiences in Thailand can log onto a new website http://adventure.tourismthailand.org and take their pick.

Thailand is an adventure traveller’s dream destination with a range of national parks bursting with flora and fauna. In recent years, adventure travel has become a high-growth segment of travel as visitors become more discerning and seek more experiences, especially those that bring them more into contact with nature.

The website covers adventure travel opportunities in 33 Thai provinces and is divided by type of activities, such as rafting, diving, elephant jungle riding, rock climbing, kayaking, canoeing, diving, spelunking, and many more. It offers tips, advice, guidelines, and information on preserving local nature and culture, as well as search and rescue facilities.

Visitors of different age groups and physical capabilities will also find something to arouse their interest. There are suggested activities for women travellers, families, senior citizens, and hard-core adventure travellers.

Richly illustrated with superb photographs and video clips, the dual-language Thai-English website categorises all activities by theme and colour, so that they can be easily found either by category or by province.

In addition to a listing of the Top 5 Destinations visited, the website has been maximised with extensive use of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) tags to allow both Thais and foreigners to trace the relevant information through the popular Internet search engines.

Visitors can share information of destinations and activities with friends and colleagues via social media. The site will be regularly updated with new information.

Along with the new website, the TAT has produced 2,000 copies of the same information in print format in Thai and 1,125 copies in English. Both books have been printed on recycled paper and use soybean ink. The book is also available in electronic format via a searchable PDF file, which can be downloaded or distributed via CD-ROM.

Mr Suraphon Svetasreni, Governor of the TAT, said, “Adventure travel has become very popular in recent years and is likely to grow in the years ahead, for both domestic and foreign visitors. We are very proud of the many adventure travel opportunities in Thailand and have designed the entire package of information to help visitors make us their first-choice destination.

“There is no doubt that it will help meet our strategic policy objective to boost our average length of stay, more evenly distribute tourism earnings around the country and make Thailand an all-year destination. Most importantly, it will help us strengthen Thailand’s brand image as a quality, value for money destination.” added the TAT Governor.

http://adventure.tourismthailand.org

Chiang Mai Fest 2012

March 23 to April 7, 2012
At the Three Kings Monument, Chiang Mai

Earth Wind and Fire and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) are joining hands to reintroduce the Chiang Mai Fest to the cultural surroundings of the Three Kings Monument from March 23 to April 7, 2012.

Yut Wanichanond, Consultant of Earth Wind and Fire, said following a much-hyped inaugural year in 2011 as a three-day event, the Chiang Mai Fest would return this year with 16 days of packed programmes. “The Chiang Mai Fest 2012 will be even bigger, starting with the First International Street Painting Festival in Thailand,” he said.

The inaugural Street Painting Festival will bring in world-famous chalk painters such as Melanie Van Latum and Lysa Ashley from the USA and Tony Cuboliquido from Italy to turn streets, pavements and temporary walls at the Three Kings Monument into an outdoor art exhibition and workshop from March 23 to April 7.

The “Art on Street” exhibition will start with a curtain raiser at the Old District Court on Friday, 23 March from 17.00 to 18.00 hrs. The Chiang Mai Fest 2012 will also reintroduce the city’s first and only International Music Festival from April 6- 7.

In its second year, the two-day event will feature world-class performances by international artists such as German contemporary singer Thomas Kiessling, South African opera – classic pop crossover male vocal group Il Quinto, American Blues and Soul revivalist band Blues Brothers and Thai musical maestro Neung Jakkawal.

Last year, the three-day Chiang Mai Fest attracted nearly 10,000 visitors and generated 150 million Baht revenue to Chiang Mai, as well as boosted tourists’ length of stay in the city from 2 to 15 days during the Songkran Festival.

“This year, we expect the 16-day Chiang Mai Fest to attract over 35,000 local and international visitors and help to generate some 200-300 million Baht in tourism-related revenue,” Yut Wanichanond added.

Mr Wiwatchai Boonyapak, Events Department Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said the Chiang Mai Fest 2012 would attract more tourists to Chiang Mai between late-March and early-April in addition to the expected high turnouts during the Songkran Festival.

“The Chiang Mai Fest 2012 will boost tourism revenue and raise the image of Chiang Mai as the centre of international music, art and culture,” Mr Wiwatchai said.

For more information, please contact
Tel: +66 (0) 53 292 224
E-mail: info@wind-and-fire.com
Web site: www.chiangmaifest.com

100 Most Amazing Places in Thailand

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) conducted an online survey during February to April 2011 to find out the “100 Most Amazing Places in Thailand”. Launched under the campaign theme “Your Amazing Places in Thailand that Always Amaze You”, a total of 3,389 travellers from 68 countries around the world who have visited Thailand participated. The results announced on 29 June 2011 are as follows (first 25).

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) conducted an online survey during February to April 2011 to find out the “100 Most Amazing Places in Thailand”. Launched under the campaign theme “Your Amazing Places in Thailand that Always Amaze You”, a total of 3,389 travellers from 68 countries around the world who have visited Thailand participated. The results announced on 29 June 2011 are as follows (first 25). If you’d like to see the complete list click here.

1	Krabi	Mu Ko Phi Phi (Phi Phi Islands)	340	2.24
2	Surat Thani	Ko Tao	337	2.22
3	Chon Buri	Hat Pattaya	302	1.99
4	Chon Buri	Alcazar Cabaret	247	1.63
5	Phuket	Hat Patong	245	1.61
6	Rayong	Ko Samet	236	1.55
7	Phang-nga	Mu Ko Similan National Park	222	1.46
8	Bangkok	Chatuchak Weekend Market	215	1.42
9	Krabi	Ao Maya	210	1.38
10	Chon Buri	Hat Chom Thian	204	1.34
11	Surat Thani	Ko Nang Yuan	203	1.34
12	Surat Thani	Ko Samui	201	1.32
13	Prachuap Khiri Khan	Hat Hua Hin	197	1.30
14	Bangkok	Khao San Road	192	1.26
15	Surat Thani	Ko Pha-ngan	182	1.20
16	Krabi	Sa Morakot	180	1.19
17	Chiang Rai	Phu Chi Fa Forest Park	174	1.15
18	Bangkok	The Grand Palace	166	1.09
19	Chiang Mai	San Kamphaeng Hot Springs	165	1.09
20	Krabi	Ao Nang	163	1.07

Flooding situation has become more stable

28 November 2011

Flood waters have receded in most of the affected areas of Thailand’s central region and cleanup operations have taken place. Central Bangkok has remained dry. Flood waters are receding in many of the outlying districts of greater Bangkok. State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and inter-provincial bus services are now operating as per normal.

Provinces in the north and northeast of Thailand were not affected by the flood. In the central region, tourist destinations such as Hua Hin and Pattaya were also not affected by the flood.

The flood in the central region did not affect provinces in the south. Some southern provinces are experiencing localized flooding due to seasonal rains. Tourist attractions in the south are not affected except for water-related activities in mountainous areas.

Almost all key tourist destinations and attractions throughout Thailand were not affected by the flood. The main tourist attraction affected was the World Heritage Site in Ayutthaya, where the water receded in early November. The site has been cleaned up and is open to tourists. A few parts of the World Heritage Site require restoration, which the Fine Arts Department is doing in close co-operation with UNESCO.

As the flooding situation has become more stable, the TAT will provide further situation updates as needed to reflect changing conditions.

Situation in Bangkok
Central Bangkok remains dry. Areas still flooded in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area include suburbs in the east and west, the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, and districts in the northern part of the city.

In central Bangkok, businesses, hotels, shops and tourist attractions are open as per normal in areas including:

	Chatuchak			Ratchaprasong (Central World area)
	Khao San Road			Sathorn
	Phetchaburi Road			Siam Square/ MBK/ Siam Paragon
	Ploenchit/ Chidlom			Silom/ Surawongse
	Pratunam			Sukhumvit Road/ The Emporium
	Rama I Road			Yaowarat (Chinatown)
	Rama IV Road			Siam Park City

Tourists who want to check the latest conditions can call the TAT Information Line at 1672 or visit TAT’s official Web site for flood information: http://www.thailandtourismupdate.com. Travel service operators can also provide additional information.

The BTS Skytrain and MRT subway are operating normally. Taxis and tuk tuks are available as per normal. Some BMTA bus routes are still rerouted or suspended due to the flooding. Express boat services on the Chao Phraya River have largely resumed.

Transportation

State Railway of Thailand and inter-provincial bus services:
State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and inter-provincial bus services are operating as per normal. All train services from Bangkok to northern, northeastern, and southern Thailand now operate from Hua Lamphong Station. Inter-provincial buses leave their regular terminals in Bangkok: the Southern Bus Terminal, also known as Sai Tai Mai; and the Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal.

Suvarnabhumi Airport:
Suvarnabhumi Airport, the main international gateway to Thailand, remains open and will not be affected by the flood. Suvarnabhumi Airport is the main connector for international arrivals to domestic flights serving tourist destinations throughout Thailand. Transportation to and from the airport into central Bangkok including taxis, buses and the Airport Rail Link are operating normally.

Attractions in Ayutthaya are open:
Flood waters have subsided in Ayutthaya and cleanup operations are largely complete. Tourist attractions in Ayutthaya including the World Heritage Site are accessible to tourists. The site will be officially reopened once a detailed inspection by the Fine Arts Department is complete.

Most attractions in Ayutthaya are now open and welcoming visitors, including:

	Ayutthaya Royal Elephant Kraal
	Chankasem National Museum
	Chao Sam Phraya National Museum
	Phom Phet (The Diamond Fort)
	Phra Chedi Sisuriyothai
	Wat Lokkaya Suttha
	Wat Mahathat
	Wat Na Phra Men Ayutthaya
	Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan, Ayutthaya
	Wat Phanom Yong
	Wat Phra Ram
	Wat Phra Si Sanphet
	Wat Phu Khao Thong and King Naresuan Monument
	Wat Phutthaisawan
	Wat Ratchaburana Ayutthaya
	Wat Ratchapraditsathan
	Wat Senasanaram Ratchaworawihan
	Wat Thammikarat
	Wat Tum, Ayutthaya
	Wat Wora Pho
	Wat Yai Chaimongkol

Information sources:
TAT’s official Web site for flood information: www.thailandtourismupdate.com

English-language sources:
The Government Public Relations Department: http://thailand.prd.go.th/
BMA Announcement on Flooding Situation in Bangkok:
http://www.bangkokgis.com/flood/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&
id=34&Itemid=90
Airports of Thailand: http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/index_en.php

Thai- language sources:
Flood Relief Operation Center (FROC): http://www.floodthailand.net/
BMA Flood Control Center: http://203.155.220.231/intranet/Forecast/fcc.htm
BMA Announcement on Flooding Situation in Bangkok:
http://www.bangkokgis.com/flood/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&
id=1&Itemid=65
State Railway of Thailand: http://www.railway.co.th/home/Default.asp

English-language newspapers offering continuous updates on the flooding situation:
Bangkok Post: http://www.bangkokpost.com
The Nation: http://www.nationmultimedia.com

 

Flooding in Thailand

10 November 2011

The flooding situation in Thailand is mainly affecting the central provinces along the Chao Phraya River including Bangkok. Flood waters are subsiding in Ayutthaya. Other popular tourist destinations in the central region including Pattaya, Hua Hin, Kanchanaburi and Ko Chang have not been affected by the floods. Tourist destinations in the south of Thailand including Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani, Ko Samui, Hat Yai and Phang-Nga; and in the north including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Sukhothai, also have not been affected by the floods.

Flood waters in Ayutthaya and some other central provinces have begun to subside, although many areas are not yet fully accessible. Tourist attractions in Ayutthaya will reopen once they have been restored.

In some areas, tourists may find that there are occasional shortages of consumer products that are in high demand such as local brands of water and locally-bottled beer. These products are replenished periodically. Imported products including beer and bottled water are widely available.

The Transport Ministry is preparing alternate routes between Bangkok and the southern provinces in case some parts of Highway 35, a major road to the south also known as Rama II Road, is affected by the flood waters draining to the west of the city.

Situation in Bangkok
Areas flooded in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area include suburbs in the east and west, the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, and districts in the northern part of the city.

In central Bangkok, businesses, hotels, shops and tourist attractions remain open as per normal in areas including:

	Khao San Road			Ratchaprasong (Central World area)
	Phetchaburi Road			Sathorn
	Ploenchit/ Chidlom			Siam Square/ MBK/ Siam Paragon
	Pratunam			Silom/ Surawongse
	Rama 1 Road			Sukhumvit Road/ The Emporium
	Rama 4 Road			Yaowarat (Chinatown)

Given the rapidly changing nature of the flooding situation in Bangkok, visitors should check multiple sources of information to make an informed decision about whether they should visit central Bangkok at the present time.

The BTS Skytrain and MRT subway are operating normally at this time. Some MRT stations have closed certain entrances as a precaution. Visitors are advised to check with the BTS and MRT regarding the current status of their operations. Taxis and tuk tuks are available although the number in service is reduced. Many BMTA bus routes have been rerouted or suspended due to the flooding. Express boat services on the Chao Phraya River have also been suspended, as have most water-related tourist activities.

Transportation

Airports:
Bangkok is served by two airports. Suvarnabhumi Airport, the main international gateway to Thailand, remains open. It has considerable flood protection measures in place. Suvarnabhumi Airport is the main connector for international arrivals to domestic flights serving tourist destinations throughout Thailand such as Phuket, Chiang Mai and Surat Thani. Domestic flights are operating as per normal between Suvarnabhumi Airport and other airports in Thailand.

Transportation to and from the airport into central Bangkok including taxis, buses and the Airport Rail Link have not been affected by the floods and are operating normally. Highways from the airport to tourist destinations southeast of Bangkok such as Pattaya, Rayong and Ko Chang are open.

Don Mueang Airport, the old international airport, is closed due to flooding. The two domestic airlines operating from Don Mueang have temporarily switched their operations to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

A “Tourist Assistance Center” is set up on the 3rd floor of Airport Rail Link’s Makkasan Station to facilitate tourists’ transport from hotels in central Bangkok to the airport. The TAT and the Thai Hotels Association (THA) are providing free transportation from hotels to Makkasan Station. The Tourist Police will assist tourists at Makkasan Station and at the airport. Tourists who would like to use this service can contact the Tourist Assistance Center via the TAT Call Center at 1672, or the Tourist Police at 1155.

State Railway of Thailand and inter-provincial bus services:
State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and inter-provincial bus services are operating as per usual in areas that are not affected by the floods. In Bangkok and other areas affected by the floods, the SRT and inter-provincial bus service operators are adjusting their routes to best serve passengers given the disruptions caused by the flooding. Inter-provincial buses from Bangkok to southern provinces are leaving from a temporary station with shuttle services to and from the Southern Bus Terminal, also known as Sai Tai Mai.

Train services to northeastern Thailand are operating as per normal. Train services to the northern provinces are operating between Hua Lamphong station in central Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Trains to the north are being rerouted around flooded areas, adding approximately two hours of travel time. Train services to the southern provinces are operating mainly from Nakhon Pathom due to flooding in Bangkok’s western suburbs. The SRT is providing shuttle bus services between Hua Lamphong station and Nakhon Pathom. Travelers are advised to check in advance with these operators and may want to consider flying to their destinations within Thailand.

FLOODING IN THAILAND: SITUATION UPDATE

(27/10/2011)

The flooding in Thailand is mainly affecting the central provinces along the Chao Phraya River including Bangkok and Ayutthaya. Other popular tourist destinations in the central region including Pattaya, Hua Hin, Kanchanaburi, and Koh Chang have not been affected by the floods. Flood waters in several provinces in northern Thailand have begun to subside. Provinces in the south of Thailand have not been affected by the floods.

Most areas of central Bangkok where tourists normally go are not flooded. The Chao Phraya River, which runs through Bangkok, is at a higher-than-normal level. This is causing some flooding at tourist attractions that are close to the river.

In the greater Bangkok Metropolitan Area, several suburbs and areas adjacent to the Chao Phraya River are experiencing flooding. As these areas are largely residential and industrial zones, they are not normally visited by tourists.

The TAT advises visitors to contact the TAT Information Line at 1672; check the latest reports in the local media; or get an update from the staff of the accommodations where they are staying if they are planning to visit tourist attractions that are located close to the Chao Phraya River.

Transportation:
Tourist destinations in the north, such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Sukhothai, are best accessed by air as some roads and railways in the central provinces are closed due to the floods. Provinces in southern and eastern Thailand remain fully accessible by road and train.

Tourists planning to travel to areas affected by the floods are advised to check the latest weather forecasts for their destination and confirm arrangements with the transportation providers with which they will be travelling. Tourists can call the TAT Information Line at 1672 to check local conditions, or visit the Thailand Meteorological Department web site at http://www.tmd.go.th/en for updated weather forecasts.

In & Around Bangkok: 
–Transportation from Suvarnabhumi Airport into central Bangkok including taxis, buses and the Airport Link have not been affected by the floods and are operating normally.
— Transportation in most areas within central Bangkok including taxis, tuk-tuks, the BTS and the MRT are also operating normally.
— In the areas affected by flooding, public transportation is being rerouted in some areas and the availability of taxis is limited.

Airports:
— Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok has not been affected by the floods and is operating as per usual. The airport has considerable flood protection measures in place and officials are monitoring the situation closely.
— Don Mueang Airport, which is located in a northern suburb of Bangkok and handles domestic airlines serving a small number of provinces, has been closed until November 1st due to flooding.
— All other airports in Thailand are open and operating normally.

Roads:
–Highway 32, also known as The Asian Highway (AH-2), in central Thailand is partly affected by the floods. Inter-provincial buses between Bangkok and the north and northeast of Thailand are operating, but subject to detours and extended travel times.
— Inter-provincial buses to eastern, western, and southern Thailand are operating as per normal.

Train services:
–Train services from Bangkok to northern destinations are suspended due to the tracks being flooded. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is offering full refunds on tickets for travelers who want to cancel their trips to destinations where train service is suspended.
–Train services to other parts of Thailand are operating as per normal.

Useful Contact Numbers: 
TAT Call Center: 1672
Thai Airways: +66 (0) 2356 1111
Bangkok Airways: +66 (0) 2265 8777
AirAsia: +66 (0) 2515 9999
Nok Air: 1318 or +66 (0) 2900 9955
Orient Thai Airlines: 1126
State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Call Center: 1690
Transport Co.,Ltd. Hotline:(Inter-provincial bus service) 1490

Major tourist destinations not affected by the floods include:

North:
Chiang Mai
Chiang Rai
Lampang
Sukhothai

Northeast:
Loei
Ubon Ratchathani
Nakhon Ratchasima
Udon Thani

Central:
Hua-Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan
Pattaya, Chonburi
Kanchanaburi
Ratchaburi
Ko Chang, Trat
Rayong

South:
Chumphon
Phuket
Krabi
Ranong
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Songkhla
Narathiwat
Satun
Pattani
Surat Thani
Phang Nga
Trang
Phatthalung
Yala

English-language sources:
The Government Public Relations Department
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)

Thai- language sources:
Flood Relief Operations Center 
BMA Flood Control Center 
Airports of Thailand
State Railway of Thailand

English-language newspapers offering continuous updates on the flooding situation:
Bangkok Post
The Nation

Source: Tourism Authorithy of Thailand (TAT)

Japan to offer 10,000 free trips to foreigners to boost tourism industry

TOKYO —

Japan will offer 10,000 foreigners free airfares to visit the country next year, in an attempt to boost the tourism industry which has been hit by the ongoing nuclear disaster, a report said Monday.

The Japan Tourism Agency plans to ask would-be travelers to submit online applications for the free flights, detailing which areas of the country they would like to visit, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said.

The agency will select the successful entrants and ask them to write a report about their trip which will be published on the Internet.

Tourism authorities hope that positive reports from travelers about their experiences in Japan will help ease international worries about visiting the country, the newspaper said.

The program, which will require travelers to cover other costs such as accommodation, is expected to start from next April, subject to government budgetary approval.

The number of foreign tourists to Japan fell more than 50% year-on-year during the three months after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that triggered meltdowns and explosions at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

The sharp drop began to ease somewhat in the summer.

In June and July, tourist figures were down 36% from a year ago, easing to 32% in August as the country worked to reassure foreign tourism markets.

The government has said Japan is safe except for the immediate vicinity of the crippled plant, where work crews are still trying to bring the facility to a cold shutdown.

From JapanToday

Phuket seafood fiesta 2011

Phuket, August 1, 2011 — The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is to organise the “Phuket Seafood Fiesta 2011” during 1-31 August 2011 to attract visitors to one of the kingdom’s most popular beach resorts during the “Green Season” months.

Seafood lovers will be able to enjoy a vast range of Thai, Asian and global delicacies during the festival, which is being organised in cooperation with the Phuket Provincial Administration, numerous public sector agencies and the Phuket tourism industry.
Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Suraphon Svetasreni said, “Phuket, one of the world’s most popular beach resorts, is already renowned for its excellent seafood, all prepared in a variety of different styles and combinations.

“The festival aims to create awareness of its outstanding seafood as a unique selling point and generate additional business for the main island as well as the many surrounding islands and resorts during what is traditionally known as the “low season” but which we now call the Green Season.”

The main events will comprise of the following:

	More sales promotion and activities on 12-13 August 2011, from 1700-2200 hrs, on Rawai Beach and 25-26 August 2011 from 1700-2200 hrs at Chalerm Prakiat Park, Phuket Town of Phuket.
	“Good Taste Best Price” campaign, with over 100 food shops and restaurants in Phuket giving special discounts of 10-20% for seafood dishes.
	Musical performances and entertainment during the sales promotion activities.
	Seafood cooking contest.
	Cooking demonstration of local and international dishes by famous chefs.

Promotion of Thai cuisine is one of the TAT’s topmost priorities because it is an indispensable part of the travel and tourism experience.

Thai food is one of the most popular cuisines world-wide. There are thousands of Thai restaurants all over Europe, North America, Oceania and Southeast Asia ranging from elegant up-market outlets to fast-food take-aways.

Phuket is today Thailand’s second most important direct access gateway with a total of 521 domestic, regional and international flights per week. In 2010, the island attracted over five million domestic and international visitors, generating an estimated one billion Baht in income.

In recent years, the island resort has seen the development of a spectacular product range, especially spas, health and wellness resorts, attractions and boutique hotels. This has in turn attracted the interest of low-cost airline flights. One of the fastest growing market segments is weekend holiday breaks by visitors from neighbouring countries; such as, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and India.

For more information please visit http://www.phuketseafoodfiesta.com

Colours, Fun and Knowledge to Come Together at Thailand Tourisn Festival, June 8-12

Bangkok, 3 June 2011 — More than 200,000 people are expected to attend the Thailand Tourism Festival 2011 (TTF 2011), the annual travel and tourism showcase event targetting Thai and expatriate residents, to be held during June 8-12, 2011 at the Challenger Hall 1-3, Impact Muang Thong Thani Exhibition Centre between 10.00-21.00 hrs.

This event is being specifically held in conjunction with the Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2011, so that it may be visited by international trade visitors and help to further boost the publicity and promotional value for the variety and uniqueness of Thai tourism products and services from all regions.

The five-day event is expected to generate an estimated 150 million Baht, both directly and indirectly. One of its primary objectives is to promote domestic tourism and meet the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s 2011 target of 91 million domestic trips and estimated revenue of 432 billion Baht (US$13.03 billion).

“We want to stress the importance of domestic tourism to the national economy, especially in these days of frequent global crises which invariably have an impact on international visitor arrivals.”

This year, TTF is designed to focus on promoting sustainable tourism activities under a new campaign slogan, “Travel with a New Heart for a Sustainable Thailand”. The numerous promotional activities are divided into three categories:

Exhibition “The auspicious occasion of 7th cycle 84th birthday of His Majesty the King”: Participants will have a chance to send greetings and blessings to His Majesty the King through information technology.

Creating Awareness and Disseminating Tourism Knowledge: This section will be sub-divided into seven zones, as follows:

Zone 1 Tourism Authority of Thailand:
TAT will highlight the latest campaign “Travel with a New Heart for a Sustainable Thailand” and feature an exhibition of the TAT’s history, information technology, 1672 call centre, TAT magazine, etc.

Zone 2 Identity of each tourism destination in the five regions:
TAT together with related agencies from each region of Thailand will present and highlight the unique identities of major tourist attractions, tourism activities and products under the following themes:
Central region: “Variety of Tourism”
Northern region: “Valuable Culture, Beautiful Nature”
Northeastern region: “Destination for Learning, Places of Civilization”
Eastern region: “Colours of the East”
Southern region: “Beautiful Forest and Sea, Variety of Cultures”

Zone 3 “Travel with Knowledge, Preserve Tourist Attractions”:
This will highlight the many activities of the TAT under the 7 Greens campaign — Green Heart, Green Logistics, Green Attraction, Green Community, Green Activity, Green Service and Green Plus. In addition, the Thailand Tourism Awards “Hall of Fame”, ecotourism and adventure activities, health and wellness ;such as, salt spa and demonstration of different styles of Thai massages from the 4 regions will be presented in this zone.

Zone 4 “77 Dining Places, 77 Shopping Places in 77 Provinces”:
A showcase of outstanding dishes, famous menus, delicious fruits,and souvenirs from Thailand’s 77 provinces.

Zone 5 New dimension of “Holding Hands, Feeling with the Heart, Hug Thailand, Let’s Go Together”:
This will highlight the long-standing cooperative efforts between TAT and the many government agencies and private-sector bodies; such as, Ministry of Commerce, International Arts and Craft Promotional Centres, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Office of Commerce in Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Provincial Office of Tourism and Sports, etc.

Zone 6 Entertainment:
Thai cultural performance, contemporary art performance and entertainment ;such as, Thai folk songs, Thai folk concert, magic show, Thai classical dance, pantomime (Khon) and mini puppet show will be shown on the main stage. There will also be a mock up of a temple fair atmosphere with fun games and outdoor cinema.

Zone 7 Technical seminars:
On June 9, consumers can attend three informative seminars on the following topics: “Destination Branding” from 09.30-12.00 hrs, and “Modern Destination Marketing” from 14.00-16.00 hrs. On June 12, 2011, a seminar on “Tourism Onward: Past and Present” from 09.30-17.30 hrs will bring together a number of Thai experts invited to share their views. All the seminars will be conducted in Thai.

“Travel Linkages Promotion”: Dozens of exhibitors from the public and private sectors including tour operators, travel agents, diving schools and equipment suppliers, spas, accommodation, airlines, golf courses, car rental companies, souvenirs, local handicrafts, local foods and entertainment suppliers are participating in this promotion.

People who buy travel packages at this event will have a chance to win special prizes as well.

Visitors who join the activity of “Travel with a New Heart, Travel Thailand Every Month” can collect the 12-points stamp on the TAT passport and have a chance to win a gift of “New Heart” from TAT.

For further information on the Thailand Tourism Festival 2011, please check http://www.tourismthailand.org or Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext 1336, 1337

International Public Relations Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.th
Web site: http://www.tatnews.org