TAT reworks strategy to deal with Europe woes, floods

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is revising strategies to deal with economic crisis in Europe and bad situations in the domestic market such as floods and violence in the South.

TAT is preparing three strategies to maintain markets and seek new ones in Europe, which is being affected by economic problems. It will maintain key markets such as the United Kingdom and Germany but will focus on niche markets such as honeymoons. TAT will provide stimulus for emerging markets such as Russia by approaching high-spending segments such as medical tourism. Moreover, it will focus on general tourists from countries in Eastern Europe. The number of Russian visitors is expected to exceed a million this year, ahead of the UK, which has been the Kingdom’s biggest European tourist market for years. Juthaporn Roengron-asa, deputy TAT governor for Europe and the Americas, said more than 12 countries in Europe were in trouble because of economic downturns. Five countries – Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain – are facing crises. However, TAT will seek new sources of tourists by working with airlines to encourage visitors to the country during this year’s high season, she said. Some airlines plan to operate charter flights from Poland and the Czech Republic into Thailand, while Thai Airways International is set to add direct flights to Phuket next month. Sansern Ngaorungsi, deputy TAT governor for Asia and South Pacific markets, said the authority would work to boost visitors from key markets including China, South Korea and Japan. TAT will open its fourth office in China in Chengdu, after Beijing, Shanghai and Kunming. During the first eight months of this year, 1.1 million Chinese visited Thailand, a 60-per-cent increase from the same time last year. TAT expects to see 1.5 million tourists from China this year thanks to the new office while Air China increases frequencies to Bangkok and will begin operating direct flights to Phuket next month. Tourists from South Korea are also expected to increase as airlines plan to add direct flights into Phuket during this year’s high season. The Japan market has recovered quickly, with 720,000 visitors during the first eight months, a 28-per-cent increase from the same time last year. Japanese tourists should number 1 million to 1.1 million this year, up from 800,000 in 2010. According to Suraphon Svetasreni, governor of TAT, the tourism picture should be one of growth this year despite the economic crisis in Europe, unrest in the South, and flooding. "Last year, 37 provinces were flooded but tourism was still positive. And this year growth should recover," he said. TAT and Toyota Motor (Thailand) Co plan to organise caravan tours into flood-hit areas to help restore tourism. The agency also plans some big water festivals, including Loy Krathong, in the remaining months to rebuild domestic tourism. According to TAT, 17 countries have issued travel advisories on southern Thailand after a bomb blast on September 16 in Narathiwat killed four tourists, with more than 50 people injured. Eight countries – Austria, South Korea, Portugal, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and New Zealand – have warned their citizens to avoid visiting the three southernmost provinces. Nine countries – Australia, Canada, France, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland – strongly advised their people not to go to those provinces. To revitalise tourism in the region, TAT and operators in Ipoh, Malaysia, will launch a joint promotion in the final quarter to bring tourists into Hat Yai, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Phuket and Krabi. The TAT board yesterday appointed two new deputy governors and four executive directors, to replace retirees and fill vacant positions. Apichart Intharapongphan, executive director for the Northeast region, was picked as deputy governor for administration, while Phongsathon Katesamri, executive director for Southeast Asia, was appointed as deputy governor for policy and planning.

TAT reworks strategy to deal with Europe woes, floods

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is revising strategies to deal with economic crisis in Europe and bad situations in the domestic market such as floods and violence in the South.

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