Bangkok – For the first time, the idyllic Southern Thai island resort of Phuket is to be the venue of the annual B2B trade show, the 19th Thailand Travel Mart Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion (TTM+) 2020.
To be organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) between 1-3 June, 2020, at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa under the theme of “New Shades of Responsible Travel”, the event will upgraded with a broad range of qualitative improvements to minimize its ecological impact while maximizing its economic and commercial impact for both buyers and sellers.
“The 60th anniversary celebrations of the Tourism Authority of Thailand will usher in a new era for Thai tourism. So, it is appropriate that our flagship TTM+ event should follow suit. As our second most important aviation gateway city after Bangkok, Phuket is the perfect venue to launch this new era.”
Mr. YuthasakSupasorn, TAT Governor
In line with the TAT strategy to focus on sustainable and responsible tourism, this year’s edition will be an entirely “green meeting” and help position Phuket as a Responsible Tourism destination, with zero waste and total environmental protection.
TAT is projecting attendance by 350 quality international buyers and 370 quality sellers. Preference will be given to buyers specializing in Responsible Tourism, Health and Wellness, CBT and DMC.
Mr. Yuthasak said that Phuket was chosen as the venue of the TTM+ 2020 because it has all the requisite facilities and services for hosting such an event. It also has necessary support systems in place by both the government agencies as well as the private sector.
A 3,000-square-metre marquee will be installed for use as a business negotiation area. This is similar in size to the 2018-2019 TTM+ events in Pattaya, Chon Buri province.
The business appointment process has been streamlined by segmenting the appointments into three special niche groups: Responsible Tourism, Health and Wellness, and DMC Tour Operators.
To enhance the quality of exhibitors, first-time sellers are being give special privileges. Entrepreneurs who give importance to environmental protection are being prioritized along with DMCs, tourist attractions and entertainment venues. Entrepreneurs from emerging destinations and former winners of the Kinnari National Tourism Awards will get a 50% discount.
The buyer selection has been streamlined to prioritize high-potential and first-time buyers, especially from emerging markets; such as, Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe, etc. Repeat buyers will be evaluated on the basis of a positive appointment fulfillment record.
All buyers will then be further scrutinized and approved by a special Buyer Committee
Although it has been mostly held in Bangkok, TAT has relocated the events to Chiang Mai (2016-17) and Pattaya (2018-19) as part of the strategy to promote provincial destinations.
The TTM+ has proven to be very popular for exhibiting the many creative new travel products and services emerging all around the country and the Greater Mekong Sub region (GMS). It is an especially useful platform for Thai tourism small- and medium-sized enterprises to showcase their products to international buyers.
Winner of numerous awards, Phuket is one of the world’s most popular international beach resorts, famous for its many beautiful, sandy beaches, world-class golf courses and marine sports, high standard hotels and resorts, as well as excellent health and spa facilities.
