TAT explains DISCO strategy
June 8, 2012 by Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit
Filed under News, Thailand
BANGKOK, 8 June 2012: Tourism Authority of Thailand believes Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2012, that opened Thursday, will help to build confidence and interest in niche market tourism.
TAT International Marketing Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas deputy governor Juthaporn Rerngronasa said during a media briefing that the theme “Customise your experience in Thailand”, should help to generate more special interest visitors.
“We want TTM to open the door to new business channels so tour operators can sell to both group travellers and free independent travellers (FIT).”
Juthaporn Rerngronasa
The event focuses on four niche markets — golf, weddings and honeymoons, ecotourism and health and wellness. These markets were selected as theme niches for the show due to encouraging growth trends over the past few years.
“Weddings and honeymoons offer opportunities for Thai tourism operators to grow business in India, South Korea, Japan, France, the United States and the United Arab Emirates,” she said.
She quoted TAT governor, Suraphon Svetasreni, classic simplification called DISCO ( D for digital marketing, I for image building, S for sustainability; C for crystallisation and crisis management and O for organisation management).
TAT says it can drive international tourist arrivals in 2012 to reach 20.5 million visits increasing 6.6% from 19.23 million 2011 visits. Revenue should reach Bt766 billion.
This year, TTM fielded 44 booths from 42 businesses categories in the four niche markets: seven companies under the golf section; 11 companies under weddings & honeymoons; 19 companies under heath & wellness and five companies under ecotourism.
The event welcomed 380 sellers with 420 booths. They had an opportunity to secure business from 460 buyers from 60 countries which 47% are participated for the first time. There are new buyers from 11 countries: Albania; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Cambodia; Chile; Kuwait; Maldives; Nepal; Ukraine; Uruguay; and Uzbekistan
The event closes Friday evening while the annual consumer fair, Thailand Tourism Festival 2012, continues to 10 June.
