Big crowds lift hopes at Thai travel fair
Bangkok Post: 8 Jun 2009
TRAVEL & TOURISM
Big fair crowds bring smiles to operators
By: CHADAMAS CHINMANEEVONG www.BangkokPost.comTour operators have had their hopes renewed after seeing a large number of of visitors to the five-day travel fair that ended yesterday at Impact Muang Thong Thani.
The visitor total was up significantly from last year and participants were now more upbeat after facing difficulties since early this year, said Weerapatara Tansuwandee, a consultant to the Thai Tourism Promotion Association (TTPA).
The Tiew Thai Kruek Kruen, Setthakit Thai Kuek Khak fair was organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)."I think the improved situation reflects the success of TAT campaigns to promote local travel among Thai people. I'm strongly confident that local people will travel more in the rest of the year," he said.
He said that the "12 Duen, 7 Dao, 9 Tawan" campaign had received an overwhelming response from visitors following a video presentation broadcast on the Ruang Lao Chao Nee programme on Channel 3.
The TAT has invested 40 million baht in the campaign, featuring attractions matched to all 12 months on the local tourism calendar. Two destinations are selected for each month. The 7-Dao destinations mean the sites are very beautiful at night, and the 9-Tawan destinations are superb places for daytime visits.Mr Weerapatara said the ad campaigns and video presentations on talk shows such as Ruang Lao Chao Nee were more effective than billboards and leaflets.
However, the industry may not have been prepared for the success of the promotion.
"You know, many visitors asked me about tour packages and accommodation in the destinations mentioned in the ads, but we don't even have packages, or we have only a few packages for some of these locations," he said.
He suggested that the TAT should first discuss the concept or theme before launching any campaign, so that tour operators can prepare packages to meet tourist demand and ensure the success of the campaign.
Mr Weerapatara said now was a good time for people to travel because packages are so cheap. For example, the association has joined with the TAT to promote "Caravan Tiew Thai 5 Phak" tourism routes at only 1,990 baht per package.Natthaya Lamor, a representative of Mekong World Holidays, said she and other operators were now more hopeful that the tourism market would recover as the number of visitors was up significantly from the previous fair.
"I don't know if they will buy packages or not but I believe they are interested in the packages because we ran out of leaflets after the first two days," she said. "The packages are very cheap. We've cut the prices as much as we could to attract customers. We just hope they will travel more to help Thai tourism."The most popular destinations, she added, were Koh Tao and Pai.
Supaporn Promcharoen, the owner of a construction materials shop, said she came with her husband to look for bargain holiday packages with the family around the end of this year.
"I can say that the package prices are very cheap - I've already booked two," she said.
"Normally, our family travels abroad at least once a year. This year we'll travel domestically to help Thai tourism and save money too. Actually, Thailand is very good with a variety of interesting tourist destinations. I hope other people will think like us."
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