Thailand set to gain from adventure tourism event
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THE PACIFIC ASIA Travel Association and the Tourism Authority of Thailand will stage the first adventure mart in the Kingdom next year, with the aim of promoting more destinations throughout the region and boosting arrivals from niche markets. The Adven
The event will lure buyers from around the world to meet sellers from Thailand and elsewhere.
“As of last Friday, we had received 30-40 per cent more [bookings] from buyers compared to this year’s event in Bhutan. More sellers are expected to join the event,” PATA chief executive Mario Hardy said.
Almost 60 per cent of those buyer bookings are from Europe, 14 per cent are from Asia, 11 per cent from North America, 11 per cent from Australia, 3 per cent from South America, and 3 per cent from Africa. Most of the sellers are from Thailand and Southeast Asia.
Hardy said adventure tourism had become more popular for tourists worldwide and would remain so for the next decade.
The regional adventure conference and mart aims to highlight more adventure attractions in Thailand and Southeast Asia for the global market and build awareness of adventure activities in each destination.
“Adventure tourism can create more jobs and also help small and medium-sized operators gain business,” Hardy said.
Next year’s event is expected to boost the number of adventure tourists travelling to the region, particularly those aged 20 to 30.
The TAT will provide five pre- and post-tours for the conference and mart, ranging from cycling trips along the Lao River to kayaking on the Mae Kok River.
