TAT lines up ‘We Love Local’ ambassadors

 The Tourism Authority of Thailand with help from the public and private sectors has a new campaign called “We Love Local” that’s designed to get more people visiting specific communities around the country. 
“Travelling to individual communities to share in local experiences is a popular tourism trend all around the world right now, with more and more companies and organisations becoming interested,” says deputy governor Noppadon Pakprot.
“This increasing corporate desire for experiences in lesser-known areas of Thailand is an excellent sign for local community tourism because of the greater purchasing power and fewer limitations in terms of the seasons to travel. 
“However, the size and dynamics of each company differ and so do the demands and interests. This is why the TAT is ensuring both variety and flexibility for this particular market, with 50 local communities to choose from. 
“These destinations have all been categorised in terms of their unique characteristics, identities and main tourist activities, making the difficult task of corporate tourism planning much easier and rewarding for organisations.”
The 50 communities are grouped in 10 categories – the King’s Wisdom, GI (Geographical Indications) Products, Culture, Highlanders, Agro-tourism, Thai Fabrics, Gastronomy, Eco-adventures, Homestays, and School and Family Outings.
TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn will personally promote communities devoted to His Majesty the King’s philosophy and Thosapone Dansuputra, director general of the Commerce Ministry’s Department of Intellectual Property, will represent the GI product communities.
Agro-tourism is in hand hands of Kessuda Raiva, CEO at S&P Syndicate, and Suphajee Suthumpun, CEO of Dusit Thani Group, will promote highland communities.
Cultural communities will be boosted by Piya Yodmani, former CEO of Nok Airlines, and Vana Bulbon, CEO of UOB Asset Management (Thailand), will take care of Thai Fabrics.
Chih-Hung Lin, director and COO of KGI Securities (Thailand), will oversee gastronomic communities, and Apisilp Trunganont, co-founder and CTO of Pantip.com, will promote eco-adventures.
Yod Chinsupakkul, executive director and one of the founders of Wongnai.com, will represent homestay communities, and Pimpat Yomnak, a board member of Bangkok Prep International School, will take care of school and family communities.
Noppadon says the We Love Local campaign aims to generate Bt1 million in revenue for each community within the first year.
Find out more at www.WeLoveLocal.travel.