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.

TAT Phuket Office Bangornrat Shinaprayoon said persuading TAAI’s committee to choose Phuket as their annual meeting destination was a real breakthrough for the destination.

Securing such an important trade conference involved a hosted site inspection in Phuket to confirm the city’s readiness to welcome delegates.

TAT will encourage delegates, mainly outbound travel agents, to join post conference tours to Krabi, Samui, Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

Phuket is likely to benefit in the lucrative weddings and incentives markets from India that favour visits during the off-peak months May to October. Large wedding groups from India were hosed on the island earlier this month and that trend will continue.

Another key event is the Asian Hospitality and Travel Show Phuket,1 to 3 October at Central Festival Exhibition Centre.

Organised by the Phuket International Academy Sports and Leisure Club, the event covers 3000 sqm of floor space and claims to be the first Asian exhibition to bring buyers and sellers together from both hospitality and travel.

There will be more than 100 exhibitors and professionally coordinated business appointments between buyers and sellers. Over 2,000 visitors primarily from the hospitality and travel in southern Thailand and neighbouring countries; namely Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia are registered. Participants are also registered from China, Korea and Hong Kong.

Offering a boost to retailers on the island, the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2010, runs until 15 August offering 10 to 8% discounts to attract domestic and international shoppers.

At the same time, the Phuket Food and Beverage Show 2010 will take place from 30 July to 1 August at Homework opposite Central Festival Phuket from 1100 to 2000.

The event is co-organised by Tourism Authority of Thailand Phuket Office, Thai Hotels Association – Southern Chapter and Thai Federation of Food and Beverage Management Clubs and Association. The event will showcase products, competitions and activities from the hotels in Phuket.

Other events include Laguna Phuket Triathlon 2010 at Laguna Phuket, 28 November, Phuket King’s Cup Regatta at Kata Beach 4 to 11 December, Laguna Ironman at Laguna Phuket, 5 December.

Report sponsored by The Village Resort and Spa.

The campaign is available from now until 31 October.

MBK Hospitality and Management operations and marketing deputy managing director, Supanit Vimooktanon said: “The 100% Pay Back Voucher is applicable at specified restaurants. Customers will automatically get a full refund cash voucher for the same amount of their bills including value added tax when they pay with KTC credit cards. The voucher can be used when they next visit the same restaurant.”

Participating restaurants are: Kayageum Korean Buffet Restaurant; LOOP Italian Restaurant; CiTi BiSTRo International Restaurant; and t@Lobby.

If customers do not want to use the voucher, they can donate it to  underprivileged children at Thanyaporn Home for Girls.

KTC Travel and Leisure Marketing Department senior executive vice-president, Staporn Sirisinha, noted that there are now 1.6 million card members of which 35,000 cardholders use their KTC cards for hotel purchases.

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.

Ms Jirapa, worked for Diethelm Travel for almost three years before joining Rail Europe  to provide support for the company’s general sales agencies in Thailand.

Her objectives are to develop sales through the GSA network, promote rail products, participate in trade or consumer fairs, and organise press trips to Europe by train.

Rail Europe is the official distributor representing all European railways and networks. In Thailand, tickets are issued by three appointed travel companies – Diethelm Travel (Thailand) at 02 660 7000 ext 7067 to 69; GTA (Gullivers Travel Associates) (Thailand) at 02 685 2300; and GM Tour and Travel at 02 676 2444

Rail Europe products include Eurail Global, Eurail Select Pass for three to five countries, Regional Passes for two countries, Regular pass for one country, Point to Point Ticket, High speed train TGV, Eurostar, Thalys, ICE , AVE, Raijet, X 2000, Night Train, Elipsos, City Night Line, and Artesia

Rail Europe Representative – Thailand is located at 45/124 Moo 7, Burilom Village, Soi Fueng-Far 18, Leab Klong Song Road, Klong Saam Waa in Bangkok.

For more information on Rail Europe, contact jsukkham@raileurope.fr  or s_jirapa@hotmail.com

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.

Partners are: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration; the Trade Exhibition Association; Thai International Convention Association; Thai Hotels Association; Thai Airways International; Siam Museum;  leading department stores and cultural attractions.

The goal is to rebuild international MICE visitors to 2009 levels. Last year, TCEP reported 628,000 event travellers generating Bt45,000 million revenue.

Special incentives:

• Stay two nights at participating hotels and get the third night free.

• Airport fast track with an events specific lane at immigration checkpoint counters.

• Free BTS SKY SmartPass along with the “InterSim” by Truemove for international calls.

• Cultural excursion discounts at Aksra Theatre and Siam Niramit.

• Shopping discounts at Emporium, Siam Centre, Siam Discovery, Siam Paragon, Central Chidlom, and King Power Duty Free.

• Sightseeing using free tram tickets to ride around Rattanakosin Island and a discount on the entrance ticket for the first national discovery museum.

To get these privileges, individual international exhibitors and visitors participating trade fairs in Thailand must register at www.tceb.or.th/exhibiition/enes to earn a special privilege of the third night complimentary stay at partner hotels and other offers.

The campaign is applicable to international delegates attending trade fairs and staying in Thailand for the period of two consecutive nights or more at participating hotels.

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.

“I don’t think the centre will be ready by next September. Though, if the contractors worked really fast, the job could  be completed by the end of next year,” the Minister told local news reporters during a visit to Chiang Mai.

He warned that the project owners, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, would ultimately face a Bt6 million per month fine if the project overran its deadline. In turn, TAT would fine the contractor to recoup its losses.

TAT is the official owner of the project, which was created to boost high revenue events and help the northern city become a meeting hub for the North and Mekong Region neighbouring countries.

The government is financing construction to the tune of Bt1.8 billion.

The Minister is concerned that the convention centre that is supposed to be fully operational to host the high profile flower show, Royal Flora Ratchaphruek in December 2011, might not be ready in time.

The overall construction cost is Bt1,867.15 million of which Bt457.45 million is for landscaping, Bt1,112.82 million for construction of the convention building, and Bt296.9 million for a new Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Centre for the northern region.

The site located on 326 rai of land at Nong Hor, Chang Puak, Muang district in Chiang Mai, close to the 700th Anniversary Stadium and Chiang Mai University.

The centre’s plenary hall will be able to accommodate up to 3,000 people.

Later this year, the TAT will need to decide how the convention centre will be managed. One option is to assign a private company such as the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre to manage, or TAT may decide to enter into a joint-venture with the private sector.

It was originally scheduled to open in 2008, in time to host the Asean Tourism Forum and kick-start Chiang Mai’s drive to become an event hub.

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.

Overall, international arrivals from January to May increased by 21.8% with 4,579,112 arrivals.

STB forecasts 11.5 to 12.5 million visitors and S$17.5 to S$18.5 billion in tourism receipts this year. It plans to achieve its target by attracting repeat visitors through lifestyle and signature events such as the Asia Fashion Exchange, the Youth Olympic Games and LIVE! Singapore, the Singtel Singapore Formula One Grand Prix, F1 Rock, and Singapore International Water Week.

Like Macau, casinos are now playing a role in attracting Thai visitors. A strong improvement was measured right after the opening of the Universal Studios Singapore and casino at Resorts World Sentosa.

A second casino opened at Marina Bay Sands, last April, but that is pitching at up-scale gamblers by keeping hotel and venue rates at a higher level.

Thai tour operators sell a three-day/two-night package to Singapore at Bt12,000 for three-star accommodation and Bt17,000 to Bt18,000 for four-star accommodation.

Prices also depend on airline partners, but the popular tours use THAI, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific Airways, or low-cost carrier, Jetstar.

Most packages are inclusive of a Universal Studios day-pass and a city tour. If the package includes the giant observation wheel, Singapore Flyer, the cost increases by another Bt1,000.

Singapore Tourism Board Tourism Focus 2010 indicates that in April, Thai visitors stayed for three days. Their average age was 36. In April, a peak month for outbound travel, Thais registered highest growth rate at +57.5%, followed by Malaysians +50.8%, and Indians +30.8%.

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.

THA president, Prakit Chinamourpong acknowledged the hotel industry needed to make an effort to attract business.

“This month, Bangkok hotels, will average a 40% occupancy, when July usually delivers 65 to 70%. We need to be proactive on rates and also take into consideration that the city is still under an emergency decree.”

The Buy-One, Get-One Free promotion replaces an earlier plan to launch a single rate across a variety of hotel categories. It proved impractical and the association fell back on the well tried strategy of a room night free based on the first night paid.

The annual Grand Sale is in its 12th year and discounts range from 10 to 80% plus special offers from spas, hotels, travel agents, airlines, restaurants, hospitals, golf courses, duty-free shops, and jewellery shops.

The festival is held in eight major tourist destinations: Bangkok; Chiang Mai; Phuket; Pattaya; Hat Yai; Hua Hin; Samui Island; and Udon Thani.

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.

While technically the discount is available, worldwide, for practical purposes it will fit  markets such as Australia, Japan and Korea where it is easier to organise tour groups at short notice.

Currently, THAI cabin factor stands at around 72 to 74%, while last April it was as low as 50%. The wholesaler discount is part of a strategy to recover bookings and take the cabin factor back to the mid-70s zone.

The airline is also promoting internet fare sales and hopes to increase the proportion to around 15% of all sales, up from around 10% at present.

THAI will increase services to Japan with a daily flight using a 305-seat A330-300 on the  Bangkok-Haneda (Tokyo) route this winter, which will start around 28 October. Currently, the airline operates three daily flights to Tokyo’s Narita airport.

Haneda airport is almost in the centre of Tokyo and will be reopened for international flights this October to relieve pressure on Tokyo’s main gateway, Narita, which is 50 km outside the city. Both ANA and Japan Airlines are planning services out of Haneda to Bangkok.

From now until October, THAI will offer four weekly flights Tokyo-Phuket using a 300 seat B777-200. However, it will reduce the service to two flights a week during winter.

THAI is also working with TAT to support a mega fam trip “Thailand Today” to showcase Thailand’s destination and products.

About 500 travel agents and journalists, who TAT considers to be influential players in the travel decision chain, will visit Thailand, 12 to 16 July. TAT and THAI are sharing the costs, with the airline providing air transport and TAT arranging land, accommodation and entertainment. Of the invited list, there are 205 participants from East Asia, ASEAN and South Asia.

The welcome reception will be held 12 July at the Centara Grand Hotel in Bangkok and the farewell party 15 July at the InterContinental Hotel in Bangkok.

Participants will  stay in Bangkok, before choosing one of 12 routes covering the North, Northeast, and the eastern seaboard of Thailand.

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.

In 2009, Thailand welcomed 14.15 million international tourists, while the target for this year has  been increased from 13 million to 14.5 million based on positive indicators. They include an improvement in the political situation and China, a  key source market for tourism,  has lifted its travel warning on the country.

TAT is making no changes to its brand image, sticking with the popular Amazing Thailand theme that was dusted off by Phornsiri Manoharn when she was the TAT governor in 2007. It had served as the main campaign slogan a decade earlier.

However, for the new fiscal year,  a new tag line “Always Amazes You” will reinforce the concept of “Thainess,” which will be promoted via traditional and social media channels.

The “Amazing Thailand – Always Amazes You” campaign will focus on specific activities popular in Asian markets. On-going promotions will be worked around Thailand’s strength as a shopping destination.  TAT will work with major department stores to offer discount coupons to distribute to tourists and tour companies that offer shopping packages.

Traditional channels such as TV commercials and vignettes print advertising, out-of-home media, brochures, and posters will be used.

TAT will increase the use of celebrity marketing, inviting popular actors and sports personalities to major events in Thailand, while encouraging the film industry to consider Thailand as a shooting location.

For youth travellers, TAT will use social media such as Youtube, E-Books, E-Brochures, an iThai application to get Thai tourism updates on iPhone, and an Internet Call Centre that visitors can contact via their laptops. TAT will also build a member network called Thailand Fan Club particularly in Europe and Middle East markets.

TAT governor, Suraphon Svetasreni said: “There are 1.8 billion people using the internet, worldwide, and online media has become a part of our daily lives, so we have to concentrate on those selling channels.”

He believes that Chinese tourists will have greater buying power and will travel more as the currency is stronger and this could also be the case in other Asian markets as their currencies improve against the US dollar and the Euro

“Europe countries are still suffering an economic downturn,” he noted. “The Euro has decreased by 16% when compared to Thai baht.”

He added that it would have a negative impact on prices quoted in Euro making a Thailand holiday more expensive during the up-coming peak season.

“2011 will be a challenge for us. The depreciation of the Euro is one factor and concerns over climate change and the issue of carbon credits is another,” he said.

To attract environmentally-conscious travellers, TAT will introduce the “Go Green, Go Thailand” campaign. It will bring travel agents and media to the survey green destinations, check out green label products, and join conservation activities such as planting trees and preserving coral reefs. They will also be invited to join the Thailand Eco and Adventure Travel Mart 2011.

According to the TAT governor positive indicators are:

1.Asia Pacific economies continue to grow, particularly India and Australia;

2. Airlines are showing confidence in Thailand by adding more flights from key markets such as Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, and Vietnam.

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.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said that the decree needed to be extended to maintain peace and stability in the country as there were still some elements attempting to disrupt unity.

The extension made the top story on the BBC news channel, yesterday evening , a day after the BBC interviewed the Thai Prime Minister on criticism that the emergency decree impeded freedom of expression. In the television interview, the Prime Minister maintained the emergency decree was needed in certain provinces to maintain law and order. However,  but his view was not shared by the travel industry, which  maintained the measure would hinder a full economic recovery.

The 19 provinces still under the emergency decree are:

Central Region

Bangkok; Nonthaburi; Samut Prakarn; Pathumthani; Ayutthaya; Chonburi;

Northern region

Chiang Mai; Chiang Rai; Lampang;

Northeast region

Khon Kaen; Udon Thani; Chaiyapum; Nakhon Ratchasima; Ubon Ratchathani; Nongbua Lampu; Maha Sarakham; Roi Et; Sakhon Nakhon; and Mukdahan.