TTAA trims booths at second show

BANGKOK, 29 May 2012: Thai Travel Agents Association will cut booths at the 11th Thai International Travel Fair,16 to 19 August, in response to slow booking trends, TTAA president Suthiphong Pheunphiphop told TTR Weekly Monday.

He confirmed  booths sales at the summer version of the annual fair were down forcing the association to reduce the size of the event to 700 from 900 booths last year.  About 500 booths are booked so far down on last year’s booking trends.

“It is quite slow this year,” said Mr Suthiphong. “I understand that companies are still suffering from last year’s floods so there is a tendency to cut promotions,” he added.

The February show performed well mainly because it is the traditional annual fair hosted by TTAA and also some companies decided to spend on just one show and they opted for the February event rather than the second edition later in the year.

“We have to admit there are just too many shows, while the market is shrinking as companies and airlines suffer economic setbacks,” he said. “But I am still very confident that it is still Thailand’s biggest event and also has more free premiums and activities.”

Despite sluggish sales, the TTAA president said he would be happy with bookings from 600 companies and that should generate about Bt300 million in business for those who have booths at the show.

Themed the Amazing Winter, the second fair will have two zones at the convention centre, Plenary Hall and C Zone (Upper and lower zones). The rental fees in the Plenary Hall are Bt35,100 for empty shells and Bt37,500 for booths. Rates for the C zone at the upper level are Bt25,300 for an empty shell and Bt30,800 for a booth.

Rates include a 7% VAT, but if booth are located at the corner the renter must pay an extra Bt4,200/block in Plenary Hall and Bt3,000/ block in C Zone.

For further information and booth reservations, visit http://www.titf-ttaa.com/titf11-index.php or contact 662 214 6175.

The first fair of this year, TITF 10th edition, featured 954 booths and it generated Bt167 million in revenue through the Krungthai Card PLC payment service and Bt900 million in cash from around 600,000 visitors. The original goal of the association was set at Bt1,100 million for revenue with more than 800,000 visits