THE ANNUAL Thailand Travel Mart Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion (TTM Plus 2011), due to take place in Bangkok next month, will help drive the country’s recovery efforts, after a few years of faltering confidence in the destination due to domestic political woes, say some members of the Thai travel trade.
The mart will attract some 335 international buyers from 54 countries, who will meet and trade with 368 tourism suppliers from Thailand and neighbouring countries.
Furama Jomtien Beach general manager, Tatcha Riddhimat, said even though the country’s tourism industry was on the road to recovery this year, it was not yet at a stage to recoup all the losses suffered over the last few years. He added that he was expecting buyers at the mart to be more eager to promote Thailand this year.
The 75-key Sivatel Bangkok, which opened end-March, is planning to capture the inbound leisure market by targeting overseas buyers attending the mart. The hotel’s executive director, Apichan Sivayathorn, is hoping to fill up more rooms at the property, which now runs at about 30 per cent occupancy.
SI Tours CEO, Suwart Jitjomnongmate, said he expected India to be the market with high buying potential, albeit being the most price-sensitive. Russia would continue to be in a buying mood, while the UK market would be in recovery this year, he added.
Sansern Ngaorungsi, Tourism Authority of Thailand’s deputy governor – international marketing for Asia and South Pacific, said the number of Indian buyers attending this year’s mart has dropped from 70 last year to 20 this time round, as the Thai travel trade had already conducted a series of sales missions to India earlier in the year.
Meanwhile, in line with this year’s green tourism theme, the Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association has a quota to invite 20 buyers from the UK. Green tourism forums will be held for sellers and buyers at the mart.
By Sirima Eamtako
