TAT turns to S America as Europe, US arrivals slow

The authority is focusing on two big emerging markets, Brazil and Argentina, by matching Thai operators with the two countries. The TAT recently took officials from four Thai travel firms to Brazil to promote tourism products such as Thai cultural activities, spas, beaches and food.
The agency also planned to work with airlines to organise familiarisation trips for 300 buyers to Chiang Mai and Phuket from November 23-26 to help promote and sell Thailand.
Moreover, it will appoint a marketing representative to open an office in Brazil next year.
“Many major airlines from Southeast Asia like Singapore Airlines and Malaysian Airlines as well as Qatar from the Middle East have been entering South America, where they see more opportunity,” said Juthaporn Rerngronasa, deputy governor for international marketing (Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas). The moves are aimed at boosting visitors from South America during the peak season in January and February.
TAT hopes an increase in arrivals from Latin American countries will make up for a decline in arrivals from Europe and North America, a trend that is expected to continue in 2012.
Thailand received 30,000-40,000 tourists from South America last year, most of them from Brazil and Argentina, Juthaporn said.
The number is expected to grow by 20 per cent this year and next on the back of the additional marketing and promotional activities. “This year, we expect to have nearly 20,000 tourists each from Brazil and Argentina,” Juthaporn said.
Tourists from the region last year stayed for an average of more than 10 days and spent Bt4,100-Bt4,300 per day per head, more than Americans and Europeans, who spent Bt3,700-Bt4,200 per day per head. Juthaporn said the flooding in Thailand was having only a minimal effect on confidence in long-haul markets, where new bookings remained high.