TAT woos more visitors from Japan, Spain

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) hopes Japanese tourists will be encouraged to return to the Kingdom following Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's recent visit to the country, and is also making a concerted effort to lure Spanish travellers.

TAT officials have been travelling to foreign shores and conducting road shows in an effort to restore confidence among international tourists, whose numbers have dropped off in the wake of the worldwide economic meltdown. The state agency began its efforts some months ago with China, and most recently has focused its efforts on Japan - long one of the country's biggest tourism revenue sources - and Spain, an emerging source of tourist dollars.

TAT governor Phornsiri Manoharn said Thai officials have met with representatives of Japanese travel companies, tourism associations and government bodies to discuss a plan to restore tourism traffic between the two countries.

The TAT apologised to Japanese travellers for the many problems that have disrupted tourism in the Kingdom, Phornsiri said, and expected the effort to pay off with a rise in arrivals from Japan within the year.

The TAT expects the Japanese market to stay above the one-million tourist level this year, keeping it among the five biggest markets.

Last year, 1.2 million Japanese visited Thailand, generated revenue of Bt42 billion, the second-largest source of foreign tourism income following the United Kingdom. The top five destinations for Japanese travellers were Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Ayutthaya and Pattaya.

Japanese tourists spend an average of 7.5 days in Thailand, and 64.1 per cent of them return to the Kingdom at some point.

Many countries are vying for a slice of the Japanese tourist pie as Tokyo is encouraging its citizens to travel abroad under the Visit World Campaign, which was launched last year and will end in 2010, Phornsiri said.

The Japan Association of Travel Agents expects more than 20 million Japanese to travel as part of the campaign this year, up from 17 million last year.

To take advantage of the campaign, the TAT is focusing on three target groups; wealthy and middle-aged tourists; families; and youth travellers.

On February 24-26, the TAT will hold the Thailand Mega Familiarisation Trip, bringing 450 international travel agents, writers and reporters to Thailand for a briefing on the tourism situation.

The event follows the TAT's participation in Feria International de Turismo 2009, a tourism trade show in Spain held earlier this month. Four Thai hotel operators and 12 travel companies participated in the show.

The agency has taken its Seven Wonders of Amazing Thailand campaign to Spain, which is emerging as a valuable market for Thai tourism.

Tourist arrivals from Spain - particularly to Phuket - are increasing due to a rise in the number of direct charter flights, Phornsiri said.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) hoped that Japanese tourists would return to Thailand following a recently visiting of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva while Spain also expected to recover soon.

TAT has been taking overseas trips and joining international road shows to restore tourist confident as part of dealings with worldwide economic meltdown. Starting with China some months ago, the state run TAT now returned from Japan , where is one of the biggest market for tourism, and Spain which is one of new emerging markets.

Phornsiri Manoharn, governor of TAT said that the group has met with Japan 's representatives of travel companies, tourism associations and well as government bodies to discuss tourism rebuilding plan between the two countries.

Phornsiri said TAT has expressed apologies to Japanese over many problems and issues happened in the kingdom earlier. The move is expected to reclaim number of Japanese into Thailand this year.

TAT expected that it could maintain Japan market with more than 1 million tourists this year, remaining top five biggest markets.

Last year, 1.2 million Japanese visited Thailand and generated revenue of Bt42 billion. It was second largest tourism income from overseas fallowing United Kingdom . Top five favorite destinations for Japanese are Bangkok , Phuket, Chaing Mai Aydhya and Pattaya.

Japanese is spending average of 7.5 days in Thailand . 64.1 percent of them are repeaters.

According to Phornsiri , Japan market is one of potential markets for all countries as Japan government is encouraging its citizen to travel abroad under campaign Visit World Campaign (VWC), which start last year and will be end 2010.

Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) projected more than 20 million Japanese would join the campaign this year, up from 17 million movements last year.

To tackle the promotion, TAT will be focusing on three targets; wealthy and middle age, family and youth travelers.

The agency planned to held Thailand Mega Familiarization Trip during February24-26, 2009 to bring 450 travel agents and tourism medias and writers including Japan into Thailand to get latest up dated tourism situation.

Early this month, TAT has joint a tourism trade show, Feria International de Turismo (FITUR) 2009, hold in Spain . 4 Thai hotel operators and 12 travel companies have joint the event.

TAT has promoted its Seven Wonders of Amazing Thailand products to Spain where now became one of emerging markets for Thailand 's tourism.

Phornsiri said more tourists from Spain would come to Thailand particular Phuket Island due to more direct charter flights.
from:http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/02/16/business/business_30095770.php