Council election hots up

BANGKOK, 25 September 2012: Tourism Council of Thailand re-elected Piyaman Tejapaibul as its president for a second term, last week.

The election was originally scheduled for 11 September, but was cancelled over a squabble between the two candidates.

The race to lead the country’s most influential private tourism body attracts considerable interest because the council works closely with the government and has a high media profile locally.

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ASEAN NTOs back Thai fair

BANGKOK, 20 September 2012: National Tourism Organisations in ASEAN, with just the except of Singapore, have all agreed to participate in the 12th Thai International Travel Fair, 14 to 17 February 2013 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.

Thai Travel Agents Association president, Suthiphong Pheunphiphop, told TTR Weekly after a visit to the 8th International Travel Expo 2012 in Ho Chi Minh City and a trip to Phnom Penh, national tourism organisations in ASEAN, had confirmed participation in the TITF next year.

“Since beginning my term as a president, I and other association officials have travelled to member countries of ASEAN to build partnerships,” said Mr Suthipong.

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Krabi adopts ecotourism

KRABI, 7  September 2012: Krabi, a southern resort destination on the Andaman Sea coast, needs to demonstrate caution in adopting the right tourism model and learn from the mistakes of popular destinations, the deputy governor told travel agents attending a seminar earlier this week.

Speaking at an Association of Thai Travel Agents seminar, AEC 2015: Opportunity or Threat for Krabi Tourism, Sunday, Krabi deputy governor, Weera Chantaratipparak, said the province had to fully embrace ecotourism to distinguish it from major destinations such as Phuket and Pattaya.

“Due to its abundance of land and marine natural resources, the province can become a nature and ecotourism destination. However, we have to be wary as we can see the how tourism impacted on Pattaya, Phuket and Samui and caused serious damage to culture and environment.”

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WTTC calls for award entries

LONDON, 7 September 2012: The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is inviting tourism businesses, organisations, and destinations, worldwide, to apply for its prestigious Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.

Each year, the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards recognise global leadership in sustainable tourism best practices.

Evaluation of entries is carried out by 22 independent judges from around the world, and includes an on-site evaluation of all award finalists.

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ITE to sell Mekong travel

HO CHI MINH CITY, 31 August 2012: International Travel Expo HCMC 2012 is expected a solid turnout of 200 buyers this year. The show is scheduled 13 to 15 September at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre with around 30 countries participating.

Around 200 buyers are confirmed from Australia, USA, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia with a strong representation from Southeast Asia, and Europe still to be finalised..

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PATA warns of slowdown

BANGKOK, 31 August 2012: International visitor arrivals into Asia Pacific destinations during May, showed a collective gain of 3% year-on-year according to preliminary results released Thursday by the Pacific Asia Travel Association, but the association warns there are signs of a slowdown.

This was the second consecutive month with a declining growth rate and heralds the impact of the various economic contagions, worldwide, the monthly report stated. For the first five months of the year, the average growth in international arrivals was 6%  year-on-year, double the growth in May.

North America is showing a similar, but more volatile growth pattern. After registering a solid 12% increase in foreign arrivals during March, the growth trend reduced to just 0.5% in April and then contracted by1% in May. Canada and the USA managed to sustain positive growth of 2% and 1% respectively during the month but a contraction in international arrivals into Mexico for both April and May (-6% each month) has affected the overall sub-regional performance. A slowing of intra-regional travel demand was the major negative factor along with a 4% drop in UK arrivals.

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TEATA to fight park fee hike

BANGKOK, 30 August 2012: Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association is preparing to a letter to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation requesting a postponement of higher entrance fees at 29 national parks.

Following the announcement, last week, that the confirmed the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation would raise entrance fees, 1 October, by 150% at 29 popular national parks, tour operators have raised a  hue and cry.

They claim the increases were  announced without giving travel agents advance notice. Agents have signed tour price contracts with its foreign partners that will be in force until October next year.

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Association opens to serve SMEs

BANGKOK, 23 August 2012: The Association of Thai Tourism Marketing registered as a trade association since January this year officially launched yesterday with an aim to increase the competitive edge of Thailand’s tourism SMEs.

Association of Thai Tourism Marketing president, Minkwan Metmowlee, said the association was founded after talks between inbound tour operators who identified problems and ever-increasing challenges that face their enterprises.

“The association will help them find new products through familiarisation trips, keep them in the know about training courses as well as organise training courses. It will also be a channel for the members to share their problems and discuss them with related government agencies.”

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Tourism needs leadership

BANGKOK, 20 August 2012: Tourism Council of Thailand says the country tourism industry needs a lead organisation to develop the industry and strengthen human resources.

TCT president, Piyaman Tejapaibul, said the tourism and services sector lacked a catalyst to develop the industry clearly.

“Unlike general  industry that can look to the  Ministry of Industry’s Bureau of Entrepreneurship Development for leadership and  support, the tourism service sector lacks a leader to develop human resources.”

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TITF attracts bargain hunters

BANGKOK, 17 August 2012: The 11th Thai International Travel Fair opened yesterday attracting consumers who snatched up airline deals valid through the last quarter of the year and some into January 2013.

The 11th TITF continues to Sunday, 19 August at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, but consumers in the know had snatched up the big discounts on airline travel  as soon as the doors opened. More than 400,000 consumers are expected to visit the show by Sunday.

Despite the rush to grad bargains on Friday there are still plenty of discounted tourism services valid for use until December under the theme Amazing Winter.

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