TAT launches Academy to enhance market research and tourism studies

BANGKOK – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has inaugurated an Academy Centre to help the Thai travel and tourism industry better understand global market trends, the wider forces of change affecting the way the industry operates, and how Thailand can respond to them.
 

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, presided over the opening ceremony on 30 September, 2015. The ceremony was attended by nearly 200 Thai tourism academics, former TAT Governors and officials of TAT, Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the private sector.
 

In his statement, Mr. Yuthasak said, “The Academy Centre has been set up as part of the TAT’s strategic vision to develop a centre of knowledge for the travel market and disseminate knowledge through academic networks and experts both nationally and internationally. Its main objective will be to upgrade and build the capacity of personnel in both TAT as well as the Thai tourism industry at large.”
 

The opening ceremony featured a special lecture on “Unleash the Power of Knowledge towards Excellence” by former TAT Governor Mr. Suraphon Svetasreni. He gave a powerful historical perspective on how Thai tourism has evolved over the years, dealt with crises, and taken advantage of opportunities.
 

A discussion was also organised on “knowledge transformation” featuring Mr. Tomorn Sookprecha, Mr. Sarawut Hengsawad and Mr. Teepagorn Wuttipitayamongkol.
 

A detailed package of material prepared by TAT for the event included country profiles of all the ASEAN member countries. Other publications outlined how the Thai tourism industry has performed over the years, especially in the face of local, regional and global crises.
 

In his speech, Mr. Yuthasak noted the new Academy will play a leading role in converting the data and research of the TAT Intelligence Centre into specific strategic and policy measures for decision makers across the board.
 

“The Academy has gathered a large database of knowledge about the travel market over the last five decades and developed it with various scholars and leading academic institutions. It is now important to make use of this to strengthen our leadership in tourism and ensure a systematic transfer of knowledge through networking, research and innovation.”
 

TAT will also provide educational courses via “Learning from Excellence Programmes” for both the public and private sectors.

 

Photo caption: Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor (sixth from right), and TAT executives during the launch of the TAT Academy Centre.