TTAA mobile meeting

TTAA members travel to Phuket for their monthly meeting

Thai Travel Agents Association held its mobile meeting in Phuket earlier this month with more than 100 participants including members from central, northern, and southern chapters along with tourism representatives from Japan.

The meeting touched upon economic issues, the need for members to understand an SME Bank loan project and recommendations to improve tourism to southern Laos.

TTAA’s president, Charoen Wangananont, confirmed the next mobile meeting will be held in Chiang Mai to update members on northern travel products.

He advised outbound members to sell domestic tours to compensate for the decline in outbound travel. TTAA will assist members by sending them a list of domestic wholesalers that offer services to retail agents.

To help members to improve financial liquidity, the association will join a meeting with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports to discuss SME loan policy. The SME Bank offers Bt5 million low-interest loans to travel companies and related enterprises. TTAA has asked members to report on issues relating to the loan package.

TTAA southern chapter president, Charn Wongsatayanont, said hotel occupancy rates were down to 20 to 30% and about 50 to 60% on Patong Beach and on Phi Phi Island.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Phuket director, Sethaphan Buddhani, advised members to focus on niche markets such as “disability travel”, but to succeed better facilities were needed.

“For example, we have to adjust entrances at tourist attractions to allow easy access for disabled travellers.”

Mr Sethaphan said there was estimated 6 million disabled people resident in Japan alone.

The meeting also reported on Thai-Lao cooperation to build public convenience facilities in southern Laos.

“During our fam trip to Champasak province, in Laos, we saw plenty of development of four- to five-star hotels, resorts, waterfalls and golf courses. However, on the 152 km trip from Pakse to Khon Pha Peng waterfall, there were no restaurant pit stops or public conveniences so we recommend more toilets” said Mr Charoen.

Thai tourists represent 70% of all visitors to Pakse.

TTAA agreed to raise Bt450,000 for a joint project to build a 65×100 metre toilet area and later a One-Tambon, One-Product pavilion to sell local handicrafts. The first phase will be finished by 15 August. The association will arrange a fam trip for 500 people to Pakse costing Bt3,888 including meals and transportation.

TTAA also announced it will organise the Thai International Travel Fair 2010 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, 25 to 28 February, 2010, in cooperation with Association of Domestic Travel, Thai-Amadeus and Krungthai Card.