Thailand looks to boost industry and tourist confidence

In the wake of recent bombings at popular holiday locations, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has put together a raft of initiatives, including a Situation Monitoring Centre and a ‘We Care’ campaign, to ensure the safety of tourists in Thailand and reassure potential visitors that the country is still a secure and welcoming destination.

Introducing the initiatives, which include a number of special events and festivals, TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn stated “to boost industry and tourist confidence, TAT is putting initiatives in place to ensure that Thailand’s positive image as a safe and welcoming tourist destination remains intact. “We want to show that Thailand and the Thai people genuinely care for the well-being of all tourists and we want tourists to know that by visiting Thailand, they’ll make memorable travel memories and enjoy experiences that will entice them to return time after time.”

A Situation Monitoring Centre was opened on 12th August to ensure officials have the latest information from TAT local and overseas offices in order to measure the possible impact on the industry, and counter the situation accordingly.

The Centre is monitoring local and international news, collecting statistics on tourist arrivals, bookings and cancellations as well as data from airline and tourism-related companies.

In addition, the ‘We Care’ initiative aims to engage local communities in wearing special White-Yellow Ribbons – symbols of the peace and unity of the nation.

Supasorn suggested that based on reports from TAT offices nationwide, the recent incidents have not massively impacted on domestic tourism as people were determined to enjoy the weekend and the delights of the kingdom.

As for inbound tourism, while the international media has been reporting extensively on the recent explosions at popular destinations, these incidents have only had a slight impact on more sensitive markets.

With Thailand hosting this year’s World Tourism Day in Bangkok, TAT has sought an approval for the World Tourism Day (27th September, 2016) to be declared a public holiday in Thailand and the Monday prior (26th September), to be an extra day off.

It sees that a four-day break would encourage travel and spending nationwide while boosting confidence among tourists.

In addition, TAT is planning to organise a number of mega events and special tourism promotional campaigns to attract local and international visitors.

These include the Jazz Run Cycling Hua Hin Festival, scheduled for the first week of September, and comprising a jazz music festival, a food fair, a marathon along with a cycling event.

Another large-scale event, ‘Magnificent Thailand, will be held in Bangkok from 1st to 7th October and will comprise a street food festival, a local food fair, city street light decorations, mapping shows, and a shopping street. 

Images: Phi-Phi Island, Phuket (top) and Saranrom Park Bangkok (below).

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