Wellness gets a fair
August 6, 2012 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News, Thailand
BANGKOK, 6 August 2012: Tourism Authority of Thailand has confirmed support for the first medical and wellness trade fair in Thailand with over 100 international companies, worldwide, due to participate in the 11 to 14 September event at the Centara Grand at CentralWorld Bangkok.
Last week, TAT Tourism Products and Business deputy governor, Vilaiwan Twichasri, said the Thailand Medical & Wellness Tourism Trade fair will have a B2B component on the first day followed by post tour for the remaining three days for trade visitors..
TAT will host a familiarisation trip that will bring medical and wellness travel producers to the fair on the first day.
“TAT is working on post tours on six routes lasting three days rather than the usual one –day tours. We want these tours to be the most beneficial and tailored to both buyers and sellers, so we will invest more in the content this time round,” said Ms Vilaiwan.
The show should attract 80 sellers and 150 buyer companies from over 20 countries. On the first day there will be a country briefing, exhibition, business meeting and networking followed by field trips (12 to 14 September).
Russian and Chinese markets are a top priority to expand medical and wellness tourism.
Right now Singapore gains most of the medical trips from Russia, while the Chinese market is driven by plastic surgery mostly in Taiwan.
High air fares are a challenge for both markets and in the case of Russia possibly language.
To get around the air fare quotes, Thailand has to sell a medical and leisure experience, where the person combines a medical checkup with a holiday.
The so-called CLMV markets (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam) can also deliver medical related travel to Thailand.
“We already have these markets, but we can do more,” said Ms Vilaiwan. “We will promote medical and wellness market to the high-end segment in these countries,” she added.
The Thailand Medical & Wellness Tourism Trade Fair and FAM Trip 2012 should attract sellers from hospitals, medical centres, specialist clinics, health resorts, wellness spas.
Buyers will come from Australia, CLMV, GCC (United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Omar), Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Germany, France, Scandinavian countries, United States, Canada, India and Bangladesh.
