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Dusit Thani Pattaya joins Dusit International at the ITB Berlin 2012
Chatchawal Supachayanont and
Sukseree are seen with HRH Princess Ubolratana during her visit to the Dusit
International booth at the 2012 ITB Berlin Convention.
Dusit International, one of Asia’s leading hospitality
groups, was led by its managing director and CEO, Chanin Donavanik and was
among the 10,644 trade visitors and exhibitors from 187 countries that
attended the 46th ITB Berlin Convention held from 7-11 March 2012.
The annual event reported a successful turnout with
higher attendance compared to last year and positive indications for
continued growth in the travel and tourism industries. Among the wide range
of topics covered at the event were business, politics, health, corporate
social responsibility, current trends on travel technology, tourism
sustainability, present global economic situation and its impact on travel
and tourism as well as social and ecological issues.
Dusit Thani Pattaya was represented by its general
manager, Chatchawal Supachayanont who shared Dusit International’s objective
of keeping up with the trend in the hotel industry as it continues to expand
its business portfolio in and outside Asia.
The Dusit International booth was graced by the royal
visit of HRH Princess Ubolratana in a show of support to the Thai
hospitality brand and other Thai participants in the world’s largest tourism
convention.
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TAT targets families, big spenders to propel eastern foreign tourist growth
(L to R) TAT Pattaya Director
Athapol Vannakit, TAT Eastern Region President Borisut Prasopzup, and
Eastern Region Marketing Director Kritsada Rattanapong.
Phasakorn Channgam
The Tourism Authority of Thailand hopes to attract 22
million foreign visitors to the Eastern Seaboard by 2019 with families, big
spenders and long-staying visitors the prime targets.
At a March 6 planning meeting at the Zign Hotel, TAT
officials from its four eastern offices - Pattaya, Rayong, Trat and Nakhon
Nayok - also began mapping out marketing plans for 2013.
After years of political strife that depressed tourist
arrivals, the TAT is optimistic again, buoyed by sequential growth in the
two last quarters of 2011 due to relocation of flood evacuees to the region
and Pattaya’s parade of holiday events.
TAT Eastern Region President Borisut Prasopzup said the
organization’s new goal is to make the Eastern Seaboard one of the three
most popular tourist destinations in Asia. More of Pattaya’s traditional
western “cheap charlie” tourists, however, is not what it’s after.
By 2019, he said, TAT wants to see a 9 percent increase
in international tourists but a 15 percent increase in international tourist
revenue. The domestic-market target is a 4 percent increase in visitors with
a 7 percent increase in their spending. The 2019 target calls for 22 foreign
tourists and 105 million Thai visitors. TAT wants a 7 percent increase in
overall tourist revenue in 2013.
Eastern Region Marketing Director Kritsada Rattanapong
said the agency will begin reaching for those goals in 2013 by focusing on
“increasing the value” of the tourist market. Marketing and promotion, he
said, should target tourist groups with the highest spending power,
particularly families and long-stay visitors.
“The eastern region is considered ideal for family
vacations and is a convenient connection point with Thailand’s central and
Issan regions,” Kritsada said. “The east also has many natural tourist
attractions and is fully capable of accommodating guests for events,
seminars and academic research.”
At the same time TAT is targeting big-money tourists;
however, it needs to create “emotional value” for tourists, Borisut said.
That comes from working with partners, forming networks, strengthening
relationships and coordinating with international tourism groups to “convert
crisis into opportunity by turning rivals into partners to increase
marketing opportunities as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
prepares to unify the market in 2015.”
Initial promotions for 2013 include the “Tasty, Crisp,
Sweet and Shiny Town of Fruits” campaign in April to June of next year, the
“Colorful Adventures” campaign that begins in October and runs through
September 2013, and the “Swing Duel Golf” event running from March to May of
next year. The TAT Eastern Region also launched a website to promote its
activities at TravelEastThailand.org.
Of course, plans for 2013 also include the usual trade
shows, “road shows” and travel agent trips. Regional tours and environmental
tourism will also play large roles in next year’s plans, officials said.
Borisut said the key to the near- and long-term plans,
however, will be the cooperation of the private sector. While public-sector
entities like TAT can lay out guidelines and act as the “commander” for the
tourism industry, hotels, tour operators, travel agents and others in the
private sector must take up the challenge if the east’s tourism industry
wants to improve its economic prospects, he said.
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Upbeat prediction for Thailand tourism from new Skål Thailand national president
Andrew Wood
Thailand’s tourism is set for a bumper year. That’s the
view of Andrew Wood, the newly-elected national president of Skๅl in
Thailand. Skๅl is a global tourism industry organization with almost 20,000
active members in 450 clubs across 85 countries worldwide.
Andrew Wood, new Skål
Thailand national president.
Andrew, formerly general manager of the Chaophya Park
hotel in Bangkok, is confident that the tourism and aviation sectors in
Thailand can bounce back from recent man-made and natural disasters.
“The signs are looking good, with encouraging numbers of
business and leisure travellers opting for destinations in Thailand. Hotel
rates in Thailand remain remarkably competitive but hoteliers need to
maintain higher levels of occupancy throughout the year to regain, and then
maintain, profitability.”
Andrew Wood, a former Skๅl International councillor, was
speaking after the Skๅl International Thailand AGM at the Rembrandt hotel in
Bangkok. He was elected unopposed as president. Brian Sinclair-Thompson, who
heads up the influential Board of Airline Representatives in Thailand,
stepped down as president after serving two consecutive two-year terms.
Skๅl’s regional representation in Thailand remains strong
with flourishing organizations providing a wide range of industry networking
events in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, Phuket and Koh Samui.
“Our own challenge in 2012 is to retain members and to
attract more representatives from the travel and tourism fraternity to join
our organisation. Young Skๅl in Thailand offers tourism and hospitality
students to meet with young professionals and we are fortunate to enjoy the
support of top universities such as ABAC,” adds Andrew. “Our members work at
the heart of the nation’s tourism industry. Together we continue to support
Thailand’s efforts to restore faith and confidence in the leisure and MICE
sectors.”
Andrew Wood also paid tribute to the work of Malai
Sakolviphak - considered by many as the ‘father’ of Skๅl Thailand. “Khun
Malai, who recently passed away, left behind a powerful legacy and a
following of dedicated and committed members”, he said.
Other Skๅl members elected to serve on the national
committee for 2012/14:
* Vice President: Robert Lee (Skๅl Bangkok)
* Honorary Vice President and Government/Trade Liaison:
Somsak Kiratipanich (Skๅl Bangkok)
* Secretary: Brinley Waddell (Skๅl Bangkok)
* International Skๅl Councillor & Director for Young
Skๅl: Scott Smith (Skๅl Bangkok)
* PR and Communications: Dale Lawrence (President - Skๅl
Bangkok)
* Directors: Annette Kunigagon (Skๅl Chiang Mai); Boris
Blobel (Skๅl Hua Hin); Michael Biedermann (Skๅl Koh Samui)
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THAI’s first A380 makes maiden flight from Toulouse
First THAI A380 takes off from
Toulouse for its maiden flight
The first A380 for Thai Airways International (THAI) took
off for its maiden flight on March 6 following completion of the airframe
assembly and system tests in Toulouse, France.
After a successful flight of more than four hours, the
aircraft landed in Hamburg, Germany, where it is entering the next phase of
production, covering cabin installation and painting.
THAI will become the ninth operator of the A380 when it
takes delivery of its first aircraft in the third quarter of 2012. The
airline has firm orders for six A380s and will operate the aircraft on its
premier routes from Bangkok to Europe.
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