Events draw up-scale visitors to Phuket

EVENTS are returning to Phuket and promising to attract at least 4,000 high spending delegates by the end of the year, while boosting occupancy for the island’s up-market hotels

Demonstrating confidence in the island’s tourism, 2,000 delegates from the Travel Agents Association of India will attend their annual convention, 24 to 27 September, at Laguna Resorts and Hotels.

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Pathumwan Princess hands out vouchers

BANGKOK, 16 July 2010 – Pathumwan Princess’s sales team in co-operating with Krungthai Card  has launched “100% Pay Back” campaign to attract cardholders to enjoy benefits to mark the hotel’s 14th anniversary.

The campaign is available from now until 31 October.

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Rail Europe improves sales support

BANGKOK, 16 July 2010 – Rail Europe has appointed Jirapa Sukkham as its first full-time representative to look after the Thai market following her departure from Diethelm Travel, earlier this year.

Rail Europe is a joint venture between French and Swiss national railways (SNCF and SBB) promoting European rail travel in Asia, Australasia, Africa and South America.

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Bid to rebuild meetings

BANGKOK, 15 June 2010 – Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau has introduced incentives and discounts to rebuild the events business in Thailand.

Branded “Extra Night, Extra Smile” the campaign specifically targets 16 markets in Asia Pacific and valid until December.

The campaign will be promoted through road shows and participation in key trade shows in ASEAN Plus Six countries. The six countries outside the ASEAN bloc are: China; Japan; Korea; India; Australia and New Zealand.

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Chiang Mai centre faces delays

BANGKOK, 13 July 2010 – It is very unlikely that the Chiang Mai Convention Centre will be completed by September 2011 as stated in the contract terms, according to Minister of Tourism and Sports, Chumpol Silpaarcha.

Last week, a progress report confirmed that the building was only 11% complete when it should have reached the 20% mark to stand a chance of meeting the deadline next year.

Construction started at least 43 days behind the original schedule. The contractor blamed the delay on architectural design that failed to meet specifications in the blueprints.

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Surge in Thai travel to Singapore

BANGKOK, 13 July 2010 – Singapore enjoyed a 26.9% growth in the Thai market gaining 169,171 arrivals during the first five months of the year. During the same five months in 2009 the Thai outbound market generated 133,268 trips to Singapore.

According to Singapore Tourism Board’s statistical report, international arrivals in May registered a 30.3% growth with 946,000 arrivals, the highest ever recorded in May, while 38,915 trips made by Thai tourists represented an increase of 43.8% compared to 27,066 Thai arrivals in May 2009.

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Buy One get One Free deals

BANGKOK, 12 July 2010 – Thai Hotels Association will launch a Buy-One, Get-One Free promotion this month to match time frame of the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2010.

The Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2010 runs until 15 August and includes discounts at more than 2,500 shops, department stores and retail outlets, nationwide.

According to THA, the association has written to all members asking them to participate in the promotion. The association will act as the distributing centre for the promotion.

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TG gives wholesalers a discount

BANGKOK,  8 July 2010 – Thai Airways International is offering a 50% discount to overseas tour wholesalers, until the end of September,  to encourage them to launch low-season travel packages to Thailand.

The airline’s  Central, South, Southeast Asia, and Australasia Department director, Chris Chantalitanon said: “This special discount will be available in every market identified by the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s marketing plan.”

The offer is available only for a new tour series that a tour wholesaler brings into the market to support Thailand’s tourism recovery.

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Not wow, it’s the amazing factor

BANGKOK, 7 July 2010 – Tourism Authority of Thailand will continue to brand tourism promotions, “Amazing Thailand”, throughout 2011,  and will emphasise it even more with a new tag line “Always Amazes You” for the rest of the year.

In a presentation to the private sector on its marketing plan for fiscal year, 2010 to 2011, TAT confirmed that the Ministry of Tourism and Sports had set a target of 15.5 million tourist arrivals and Bt600 billion revenue for next year. Domestic tourism should generate 91 million trips and earn Bt432 billion.

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Emergency rule extended for 90 days

BANGKOK, 7 July 2010 –  The Thai Cabinet extended the emergency decree for another 90 days but involving 19 provinces down from 24 provinces in earlier announcements.

The extension was announced last night on the government’s official website which stated that provinces Nan, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Sawan, Si Sa Ket and Kalasin provinces were no longer covered by the decree.

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