THE TOURISM Authority of Thailand (TAT) has decided to focus on promoting its niche tourism offerings as it adjusts its marketing strategy in anticipation of a slowdown in longhaul demand.
Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT deputy governor international marketing – Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas, said the NTO would look to work closely with travel professionals specialising in the medical, honeymoon, golf and green tourism sectors during its various roadshow and tradeshow activities.
“We will kick start our mart-within-a-mart project at ITB Berlin, where niche tourist market specialists will be hosted to participate in a special table top session,” she said. “Sellers wanting to join will be charged an extra fee on top of the normal participation cost under the TAT pavilion.”
TAT intends to deploy a similar strategy at Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, World Travel Market in London and Leisure Travel Fair in Russia.
According to Juthaporn, niche tourism is expected to suffer less of an impact from a number of upcoming developments affecting travel cost, such as an eight per cent hike in the UK’s Air Passenger Duty in April, and the implementation of the European Union Emissions Trading System carbon tax.
The upcoming elections in Russia, France, the US and China might also dampen travel demand from these markets, Juthaporn added.
Reporting by Sirima Eamtako
