Bangkok, 5 August, 2013 – For the second year running, the beach resort of Hua Hin will host 40 Chinese couples who have chosen to get married in the traditional Thai style. Known as the “2nd Romance in Thailand 2013,” the event is being organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in cooperation with a number of industry partners, at the Dusit Thani Hua Hin Hotel in Cha-am district, Phetchaburi Province, on August 8, 2013.
The couples, dressed in Thai wedding attire, will take their vows in the traditional Thai style, have a group photograph taken and also attend a gala wedding reception with Thai cultural performances. They will then enjoy a honeymoon in Cha-am/Hua Hin and nearby attractions for 5 days 4 nights.
Mr. Suraphon Svetasreni, Governor of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said, “These days, people all over the world are looking to do something different in their lives. And there is probably nothing better than celebrating one of the most important moments in life, the wedding ceremony, in a truly memorable way. The Thai traditional wedding is known for its charm and uniqueness, and we are glad that it is proving to be extremely popular in China.”
He added, “We expect this ceremony to receive wide coverage in the Chinese media and stimulate further interest in the Chinese market about getting married in Thailand. At the same time, it will also help us promote destinations such as Hua Hin–Cha-am in the Chinese market.”
Two years ago, the TAT East Asia region and the five TAT Offices in China developed a marketing strategy to target quality tourists group from China. The weddings and honeymoon segment fits perfectly within this segment. It is aimed at Chinese young people, especially young professionals in the early stages of their careers. The TAT and its partners have set the target to attract 999 Chinese wedding couples to get married in Thailand by the end of 2013.
Most of the wedding ceremonies are held in Bangkok and the TAT is seeking to promote other destinations such as Cha-am and Hua Hin as well as Pattaya, Phuket, Rayong, and Chiang Mai.
In October 2012, a total of 160 couples from China tied the knot in the first such joint mass ceremony of its kind. That, too, was held at the Dusit Thani Hua Hin.
Weddings and honeymoons is a very specific niche market targeted at young couples and professionals in the early stages of their careers. With most of the basic costs pre-paid as part of the package, the couples and honeymooners are free to spend their discretionary funds on value-added products and services, such as spa treatment and shopping.
TAT plans to advertise new attractions and destinations to Chinese tourists so that Thai tour operators can diversify their package offerings to clients. This is also another way to promote “Thainess,” one of the primary themes of future marketing campaigns, as a traditional Thai wedding ceremony does allow participants to enjoy Thai customs in a unique setting.
According to the tourist statistics of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, in 2012, Thailand received a total of 2.76 million Chinese visitors, up 61.97% over 2011, generating an income of 105,943.91 million baht and its number has continuously increased by 103.16% in the first quarter of 2013 (Figure by Residence).
In January–June 2013, Chinese visitors totalled 2.27 million, up by 95.06% over the same period of 2012 (Figure by Nationality). The TAT is targeting 3.23 million Chinese visitors in 2013 and 5.4 million in 2014. Popular tourist destinations for Chinese wedding couples and honeymoon groups include Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Rayong, Hua Hin, Cha-am, and Chiang Mai.
Contact Information:
International Public Relations Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.tatnews.org
