Foreign role urged for Thailand tourism

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Foreign role urged for Thailand tourism  
The Nation: 6 Oct 2009
Foreign role urged for Thai tourism
By SUCHAT SRITAMA
Tourism operators have urged the Tourism Authority of Thailand to enlist the private sector in developing mega destination projects here or else risk losing visitors to other countries.

"We have been selling Thai culture and natural products like 'sun, sea, sand' for more than 30 years. It's time to have more activities and places for tourists," Surapol Sritrakul, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, said yesterday.

Neighbouring countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Macao and Vietnam are adding more attractions in their countries to capture international tourists as well as business travellers.

All rivals are putting up more and more magnets so many tourists would head to those countries rather than come to Thailand, he said.

Foreign companies should be invited to open tourism sites here as they are doing in other countries, he added.

Tasapon Bijleveld, CEO of Thai AirAsia, said Singapore and Hong Kong were moving very fast in building tourism infrastructure.

"In the near future, I don't know what new product we would have to compete with them," he said.

According to ATTA members, Resort World at Sentosa Island in Singapore is scheduled to open next year at a cost of about Bt150 billion.

The complex will feature new tourism and entertainment hardware including Universal Studio, luxury hotels, Marine Park and other facilities.

Despite these difficult times, the operator is confident that the resort would be a new oasis for families from the whole region.

Early this year, Marina Bay Sands Singapore said it would open a Bt126 billion project by early next year.

Sheldon Adelson, chairman of US-based casino and entertainment group Las Vegas Sands, said the complex would target visitors from Asean countries, especially Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, but it will also appeal to tourists from Australia, India and the Middle East.

The group last year opened the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, which is aiming at both the leisure and corporate market.

According to a travel operator, Hong Kong Disney Land is expanding its theme park by adding more than 30 activities and attractions over five years.

The operator is spending nearly US$800 million for the expansion, which is expected to draw tourists from all over Asia.

Vietnam is promoting its unspoiled beaches along its long coast while Cambodia is focusing on historical products.

Singapore plans to increase international tourist numbers to 17 million annually by 2015.

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