CityNews – Tourism Authority Thailand has announced the Amazing Thailand Go Local campaign, aiming to distribute income people interested in tourism on a grassroots level.
The announcement was made on January 24th at Thailand Media Briefing during the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2018, Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre by Tanes Petsuwan, Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Tanes said that this years strategy will aim to follow the Thailand 4.0 Roadmap and the sufficiency economy philosophy. The project will target the international market, first time and returning visitors, senior citizens, sports enthusiasts, wedding honeymoon and women, under a new communication campaign called Amazing Thailand Open to the new Shades.
“Thailand crossed the 35 million visitor arrivals mark in 2017. This means that tourism arrivals exceeded the goal for the year, so we are anticipating tourism earnings from international tourists of 53 billion US dollars (1.81 trillion Baht). It is a truly remarkable achievement that all members of the Thai tourism industry can take pride in. The top five destinations for international visitors are: Bangkok, Phuket, Chon Buri, Krabi, and Surat Thani, respectively.
Tourists from other ASEAN countries are collectively Thailand’s largest visitor source market in Asia. Thailand welcomed more than 9 million ASEAN visitors in 2017, with Malaysia being the largest market with total arrivals of 3.35 million arrivals, followed by Lao PDR with 1.61 million and Singapore with 1.02 million.
Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second largest city and the economic engine of the Northern region of the country. It is also one of the Kingdom’s must-visit destinations, and over the years has received various awards and accolades, including the third best city in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Top 15 Cities for 2017, and ranked twelfth in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards’ Top 25 Destinations in Asia.
Chiang Mai continues to benefit from convenient air access. In 2017, a total of 18,101 international flights utilised Chiang Mai International Airport. Furthermore, in December 2017, Qatar Airways’ launched a direct non-stop service from Doha to Chiang Mai, bringing significant new sources of traffic by allowing visitors from Europe, the Middle East and Africa to connect to the Northern Thai city via the airline’s hub in Qatar. Chiang Mai also has approximately 38,000 hotel rooms in 843 accommodation premises, and in October 2017, Chiang Mai was declared a UNESCO Creative City for Crafts and Folk Arts,” said Tanes.
Recently, TAT has launched the campaign “Amazing Thailand Go Local” promoting 55 provinces across the nation, including Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok, Tak, Phetchabun, Nakhon Sawan, Sukhothai, Lamphun, Uttaradit, Lampang, Mae Hong Son, Phichit, Phrae, Nan, Kamphaeng Phet, Uthai Thani, Phayao, Udon Thani, Ubon, Ratchathani, Nong Khai, Loei, Mukdahan, Buri Ram, Chaiyaphum, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Roi Et, Maha Sarakham, Bueng Kan, Kalasin, Yasothon, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Amnat Charoen, Lop Buri, Suphan Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram, Chai Nat, Ang Thong, Sing Buri, Sa Kaeo, Trat, Chanthaburi, Prachin Buri, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang, Satun, Chumphon, Ranong, Narathiwat, Yala and Pattani.
“This campaign aims to increase the number of tourists in second-tier provinces to not less than 10 million visitors and create income of not less than 10 billion baht. Activities in this campaign are Enjoy Local, SET in the Local, Local Link, Eat Local, Our Local, Local Heroes – Towards Global Sustainable Tourism Council and Local Strength,” added Tanes.