TAT goes to Russia, promotes alternative tourist destinations
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The Tourism Authority of Thailand this week publicised new destinations to the Russian tourist market, encouraging travellers to look beyond Pattaya, Phuket and Samui, in an effort to lure 9 per cent more Russians to the Kingdom next year.
Sugree Sithivanich, deputy TAT governor for marketing communications, said Russians were told about Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Krabi, Koh Chang and Rayong. Central Embassy in downtown Bangkok and Lumpinee Boxing Stadium on Ram Intra Road were also presented at a trade fair in Moscow.
The agency is also seeking to raise the interest of the Russian travel trade in new products such as health and wellness. Twenty-two Thai tourism-business operators joined in the OTDYKH International Russian Travel Market-Leisure fair in Moscow. The four-day event ended yesterday.
TAT’s presence at this year’s event was particularly important because it was part of its efforts to revitalise the tourism industry in the current second half.
Before heading to OTDYKH-Leisure, TAT held a roadshow for tourism-business operators and media in the Russian city of St Petersburg.
TAT governor Thawatchai Arunyik said Thailand was now back to normal, so it would continue promoting activities through the “Thainess” theme as a unique selling proposition.
“With the advent of the Asean Economic Community in 2015, this is also an ideal time to promote travel linkages via Thailand to the Greater Mekong Subregion countries,” he added.
In 2006, Russian visitor arrivals totalled 187,658. By 2013, the number had surged to 1.74 million.
From January to August this year, 1.09 million Russians arrived in Thailand, up by 4.8 per cent over the same eight months in 2013. For the full year, TAT expects arrivals from Russia to total 1.93 million, up 10.55 per cent. The number could jump a further 9 per cent next year to reach 2.1 million, contributing revenue of Bt158 billion.
For several years, developers have invested in new products like boutique hotels, private resorts and pool villas to meet rising demand from the Russia market, especially family trips as well as weddings and honeymoons.
