Thailand to introduce new campaign

THAILAND’S tourism and sports minister, Chumpol Silpa-archa, said the country would be promoted under a Miracle Thailand campaign between 2011 and 2012.

He said the campaign would form part of the ministry’s upcoming four-year tourism plan, which is due to be presented to parliament on August 23 and 24.

The campaign, which will coincide with royal celebrations marking the Thai king and queen’s 84th and 80th birthdays, aims to boost both foreign arrivals and domestic tourism.

According to Chumpol, it will not affect the country’s existing Amazing Thailand campaign, which will be retained.

As part of the tourism plan, the ministry will also be extending its tourist visa fee waiver to markets such as China and Taiwan, retaining the tax deduction scheme for domestic travellers, setting up an investment fund for the private sector, and establishing a coordination centre for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

While declining to pin down any launch dates, Chumpol said: “(The initiatives) will come into effect before long, but the AEC centre will be opened immediately after the policy statement has been announced.”

He added that the overall goal was to more than double last year’s annual tourism income of 590 billion baht (US$19.71 billion) by 2015.

By Sirima Eamtako

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