TAT promotes weekend destination in Asean

Jamnong Junnapiya, executive director for Asean, South Asia and South Pacific, said last week that TAT had already lined up marketing plans and events for Southeast Asian markets for the coming year to recall tourists back to the country.
Arrivals from other Asean countries reached 4.7 million during the first nine months of this year, declining by 11.3 per cent from the same time last year.
Visitors from Myanmar recorded the highest growth in the region with 13.2 per cent during the period while Cambodia and Laos were also in positive territory with 12.6 per cent and 8.6 per cent. Brunei saw the biggest drop with 29 per cent. Asean visitors this year would decline from the projection of eight million to seven million due to the political crisis here.
However, TAT aims to maintain the same number next year as this year’s eight million.
The Tourism Ministry has declared it would promote Thailand as a weekend vacation to Asean markets.
“TAT will continue promoting Thailand as a weekend holiday and shopping getaway to neighbouring countries especially Singapore and Malaysia,” he said
Seven TAT offices in the region were assigned to work with travel operators and alliances to create a marketing strategy and events for next year as part of celebrations for the beginning of the Asean Economic Community.
Chutathip Charoenlarp, director of TAT’s Ho Chi Minh Office in Vietnam, said one of the mega events aimed at boosting awareness of attractions in Thailand was a TV reality show. TAT and AirAsia last week hosted a camping of a reality show called “Vietnam Next Top Model” in Bangkok.
The show is scheduled to be broadcast and to run on social media in Vietnam in January. Key tourism spots in Bangkok like the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Siam Square, Wat Pho, Asiatique and the Chao Phraya River will be featured in the show that is expected to be seen by about 90 million people in Vietnam.
This year, 700,000 Vietnamese are expected to visit Thailand, similar to last year’s total. They love to visit Bangkok and Pattaya.
TAT now plans to promote new destinations such as Phuket, Krabi and Hua Hin. A regional airline is set to operate charter flights between Danang and Udon Thani in February.
Thailand is facing tough competition nowadays as key rivals are placing new attractions to draw tourists. Singapore is promoting its magnificent magnets to Vietnam, Myanmar and Indochina as well as to Thailand, while South Korea is highlighting its cosmetic surgery and beauty products.
Vietnam Airlines plans to lead the private sector to promote overseas its new airport and emerging attractions. Myanmar is also expected to draw a lot of foreign tourists next year as many unspoiled areas are being promoted.