Tourism panel plans to reach out to foreign firms to push two-way travel
Thailand's most updated English news website, newspaper english, breaking news : The Nation
THE Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) is set to organise “Thai International Travel Fair Business Matching” aimed at boosting two-way travel between Thailand and other nations.
Suparerk Soorangura, president of TTAA, said more than 200 travel agencies who are buyers from Thailand out of a total of 700 members of TTAA would meet with travel operators from overseas who are now invited to join the event.
“The business matching is very necessary for further deals and it needs some arrangements. We hope this event will play its part in furthering expansion and increasing opportunities in creating relations with travel agencies in Thailand,” said Suparerk.
This time, the fair will be a part of the 16th Thailand International Travel Fair (TITF), to be held from February 25 to March 1 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC).
According to Suparerk, six million Thai tourists travelled abroad last year. The number is estimated to increase by 15 per cent per year over next three years. Japan was the most popular destination for Thais.
In November last year, TTAA hosted the Asean Tourism Business Matching, with 130 agents from Thailand meeting about 50 sellers from nine nations within the region.
Myanmar emerged as the biggest group with 17 companies at the event, followed by the Philippines and Indonesia with 9 and 8 firms respectively. Others came from Vietnam, Singapore, Laos, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Brunei.
He said Thailand would explore new opportunities when meeting foreign operators. In turn, operators from abroad could learn about the situation here from local partners and could also push marketing for Thailand.
Operators in Thailand expect inbound and outbound business will bounce back as the political situation has improved.
They said tourists from overseas would feel more confident and return to visit Thailand when more Thai people take vacations overseas.
