Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa’s Atta Lakeside Resort Suites
THIS year, the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association (TCEB) is heavily promoting Khao Yai as a new destination for international business events groups by organising more international fam trips to the region.
Despite Khao Yai’s distance from Bangkok – 200km north-east of the Thai capital and main gateway into the country for international travellers – a TCEB spokesperson feels that corporate groups have many reasons to desire the destination.
The spokesperson pointed out that accommodation options are aplenty in Khao Yai – numerous four- and five-star properties such as dusitD2 Khao Yai, U Khao Yai, and Kirimaya Golf Resort & Spa’s Atta Lakeside Resort Suites have sprung up over the past year.
The spokesperson added: “Khao Yai has eco-friendly and boutique accommodation, state-of-the-art event facilities, and both natural and man-made attractions that are ideal for corporate groups. Pre- and post-tour options include wine tasting, wildlife spotting, farm tours and hot-air ballooning.”
Khao Yai’s offerings will “give MICE visitors – both local and overseas – even more choice when it comes to organising their business events” in Thailand, the spokesperson opined.
Marcus Lee, co-chairman of International China Investment Forum, who took part in TCEB’s fam tour to Khao Yai, told TTGmice e-Weekly that while the destination “may not be the first option for Chinese MICE groups, but for those who have seen enough, this will be something new for them to discover”.
On the other hand, fellow fam tour participant, Ivo Van De Velde, professional travel planner with Belgium-based Advivos, felt that Khao Yai would be a harder sell for his European clients as they have similar activities in nearby destinations such as France and Italy.
In 2014, Khao Yai recorded a total of 3,808,476 Thai travellers and 359,953 foreign visitors, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
