Bangkok, 27 May 2014 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is hoping to attract more tourists from the emerging Latin America markets to the kingdom by increasing the awareness of Thai tourism products and services. This will be achieved through participation in major travel trade shows and by organising road shows and special events to showcase the best the kingdom can offer.
Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik, TAT Governor said, “Latin America is seen as having the potential to become a big source of high-quality tourists who could be attracted to what Thailand offers. To get the message out to them, we need to showcase our unique services and attractions using both traditional and online marketing activities. So we’re using events such as the World Travel Market Latin America 2014 to present Thailand’s tourism offerings to tourism agents and operators in that region.”
A TAT high-level delegation led by Governor, Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik, attended the WTM Latin America 2014, the largest travel trade show in Latin America, which was held from 23-25 April, at the Transamerica Expocentre in Sao Paolo, Brazil. This event, now in its second year, attracted more than 1,400 sellers and over 16,000 trade visitors. This represented an increase of 3 per cent over 2013.
As well as hosting an Amazing Thailand booth at the three-day trade show, TAT also held a breakfast meeting between its executives and some of the major tour operators in Brazil at the Pullman Sao Paulo Ibirapuera on 23 April. This was followed by a press networking lunch with editors and writers from the Brazilian media at the Tian Restaurant in Sao Paulo on 24 April.
The TAT Governor also had a one-on-one meeting with Mr. Marco Ferraz, President of the Brazil Tour Operators Association (Braztoa) to share updates on the tourist market situation in Brazil as well as broker the possibility of Braztoa arranging for its annual general meeting to be held in Thailand.
The TAT Governor said, “Brazil shows great potential as a source of tourists, being one of the BRIC nations, (Brazil, Russia, India and China) – all seen as emerging markets where higher levels of disposable income mean that tourists are now seeking out more exotic destinations. Of course, there are other markets with potential in Latin America we can’t overlook, and these include the nations of Chile and Colombia.”
To create greater market awareness of Thailand’s tourism offerings in Chile and Colombia, the TAT high-level delegation held an Amazing Thailand product presentation at the Radisson Plaza Santiago Hotel in Chile on 28 April, attracting 29 delegates, and at the JW Marriott Bogotá Hotel in Colombia on 2 May, drawing 25 delegates. All of the attendees are from the region’s major tour operators, who specialise in promoting Asia and Thailand.
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
