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An amazingly diverse and comprehensive programme of seminars, tours and networking opportunities awaits participants of the Thailand Travel Mart 2011 Plus Amazing Gateway to Greater Mekong Subregion (TTM Plus 2011) when it opens on 8 June at the Impact Muang Thong Thani Exhibition Centre, Bangkok.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s new “balanced strategy” is to be meticulously followed during the three-day event with a good mix of doing business sessions as well as a focus on environmental preservation under the theme of “Caring for the Earth”. Numerous tours are being organised for those wishing to get a first-hand experience.
Now in its 10th year, the TTM Plus is the region’s leading trade show for Thailand and the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and the People’s Republic of China (PRC, Yunnan Province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region). All these countries are linked by the common thread of the Mekong River, one of the world’s longest waterways.
TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni said, “We have worked hard to ensure that the TTM provides all participants with the opportunity to learn something new, make new contacts and be exposed to the many products and services emerging in the subregion’s tourism industry.”
As of 18 May, 2011, a total of 368 seller organisations had registered for the event, including 268 hotels and resorts, 36 travel agents and tour operators, 3 ecotourism and adventure operators, 2 wellness and spa, 2 airlines, 13 entertainment, theme park, culture products, 2 golf courses, 9 associations, 15 companies from the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), 7 other travel services and 11 from Chiang Mai Creative City.
They will have an opportunity to meet with 335 buyers from 54 countries. This year, the TAT has focused on inviting new buyers who do not operate tours to this part of the world. It has also paid particular attention to new and emerging markets; such as, Eastern Europe (Serbia, Slovenia, and Czech Republic), Baltic region (Estonia and Lithuania), South America (Peru, Argentina, and Brazil), as well as the Middle East and South Africa markets.
There is also a large contingent of media members from around the world.
Pre-tours (half-day) will be held for buyers and media on 7 June, followed by the business functions on 8-10 June at the IMPACT Exhibition Centre Challenger Hall 5-6. Additional post-tours for buyers and media will be held on 11 June 2011.
The official hotels are Centara Grand@Central World, Novotel Bangkok Fenix Silom, Novotel Impact, Pullman King Power Bangkok, The Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong, Siam City and Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok.
Several activities will be organised during the Mart to promote green tourism:
- Launching of 7 Greens Website: The website tourismthailand.org/7greens will be launched at TTM 2011. It is intended to popularize the demand for green travel through electronic media and online networking and encourage the supply of environment-friendly tourism products amongst tour operators.
Green Tourism Forum for Buyers: This will be held on 8 June 2011 with a keynote speech by Mr Suraphon on the topic of “Thailand Goes Green”. That will be followed by a panel discussion on “The Real Implementation of Green Tourism in Thailand.”
The panel will be moderated by Assistant Professor Dr Jutamas Wisansing, Executive Director and Consultant, Tourism and Hospitality Management, and feature Assistant Professor Dr Chirapol Sintunawa, Vice President and Secretary General of the Green Leaf Foundation, Mr Weera Bumrungsee, President of the Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association (TEATA) and Mr Frank Oostdam, Managing Director, the Netherlands Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (ANVR).
For sellers, a forum on the “Trend and Opportunity for Thai Tourism in the Future” will be held on 8 June, 2011. The panel discussion will be moderated by Assistant Professor Narudee Kristhanin, Executive Director and Consultant, Integrated Marketing and Customer Centricity and feature Mr Kris Lim, Director of the Strategic Intelligence Centre, Pacific Asia Travel Association and Mr Tommy Serban, Product Manager, TUI Nordic, Sweden.
“Caring for the Earth” Tours: TAT and related agencies have organised four routes of post-Mart tours with special discounts for buyers and media to visit and explore the green tourism products in Thailand during 11-13 June 2011. These tours will cover Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun, Samut Songkhram, Phetchaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima and Nakhon Nayok.
Another two special discounted packages will be offered to participants keen to explore the beautiful Thai beach resorts of Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi. One Mekong Gateway tour of three-days, two nights will take participants to Udon Thani, Nong Khai and the neighbouring Laotian capital of Vientiane, right across the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, the first to link the two countries.
Seven half-day complimentary pre-Mart tours are being organised on 7 June for buyers and the media to explore various highlights of Bangkok under the following themes:
- Ultimate Celebrity Experience
- Health and Wellness
- Shopping and Lifestyle
- Taste of Thai Cuisine
- Muay Thai (Thai boxing)
- Golden Buddha Image
- Smile Bangkok
In 2010, visitor arrivals to Thailand totalled 15,936,400, up 12.63% over 2009. During January-April 2011, international visitors totalled 6,831,790, an increase of 18.44% over the same period of 2010.
According to the Asian Development Bank, annual international tourist arrivals in the GMS have more than doubled from approximately 10 million in 1995 to over 26 million in 2009, with corresponding increases in tourism revenue. Although the bulk of these visitors are to Thailand, the other GMS countries are growing rapidly thanks to increased connectivity and stepped-up marketing activities.
In 2010 and 2011, the six countries are expecting to surpass the historic milestone of 30 million arrivals due to improving economic conditions and the rise in intra-regional leisure travel.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
