TOGETHER with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), global travel distributor GTA has launched a major short-term campaign to drive visitor arrivals to Thailand.
Set to run from September 22 till end-October, the social media-based #ThailandStrongerTogether campaign aims to increase awareness that Bangkok and Phuket are both safe and offer good value for money after arrivals dipped since the Erawan Shrine bombing in mid-August.
The campaign entails giving away 10,000 T-shirts at 32 partner hotels in both Phuket and Bangkok with guests encouraged to take selfies while wearing the T-shirts. The best photo and caption with the #ThailandStrongerTogether hashtag wins a return trip to Thailand.
“We believe that that these people will become social media warriors, helping Thailand fight back against its detractors,” said Darryl Lee, GTA’s regional vice president, sales and marketing for Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa during the launch event yesterday in Bangkok.
While the campaign is global in reach, it is especially targeted at “large-scale nearby markets”, said Lee. He also urged Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways to put on extra flights in anticipation for more visitors.
Pointing out that Thailand had received its 21st million visitor last week, Juthaporn Rerngronasa, deputy governor for international marketing at TAT, noted there was some weakness in markets such as Hong Kong and Japan, but said visitors numbers were “picking up”.
With this new campaign, TAT has expressed confidence that it will surpass its target of 28.8 million visitors by year-end.
