ATF 2018 is opening with a buzz of excitement as sellers and country booths put on final touches while buyers hustle to fill last minute appointments.
The ASEAN products booth is expected to prove popular for providing a platform for the selling and buying of regional tourism products and services by ASEAN member countries.
While ‘Thailand Prestige’ highlights Thai local experiences through the country’s rich culinary tradition in line with its marketing focus on Thai gastronomy tourism.
Country booths shine the spotlight on dazzling displays by Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia and Myanmar to name just a few, with each highlighting individual country tourism products and services that are poised for a busy three days during TRAVEX.
The biggest international brands in global travel are preparing corporate booths to impress and entertain clients as size does matter when it comes to making a good impression.
TAT highlights Thailands Unbeatable Geographic Advantage
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has highlighted Thailand’s “unbeatable geographic location” at the heart of ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region” as a major reason why visitor arrivals will continue to grow strongly in the years ahead.
Mr. Tanes Petsuwan, TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, said: “Thailand has the best connections within the entire region. There are approximately 30 overland border checkpoints open for travel by international visitors with Cambodia, Lao PDR., Myanmar and Malaysia, as well as four Friendship Bridges with Lao PDR., and one with Myanmar with more being planned.
Mr. Tanes noted that Thailand’s international airports serve 135 scheduled and chartered airlines. Low-cost airlines from Vietnam, China, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong are boosting their frequencies to Bangkok as well as other popular tourism destinations; such as, Phuket and Chiang Mai.
He added: “Phuket, Pattaya and Samui are now home to a number of cruise and yachting marinas. Ferry connectivity is growing with Malaysia and will grow in future with Indonesia, Cambodia and Myanmar.”
Mr. Tanes added: “As the host of the ASEAN Tourism Forum, TAT has organised post-tours that also include a number of ASEAN Connectivity itineraries further strengthening TAT’s commitment to promote ASEAN as a single destination.”
The 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 followed by Lao PDR. and Singapore.
ATF 2018 gala tribute to Thai gastronomy greatness
Delegates attending ATF 2018 enjoyed a fabulous feast showcasing Thailand’s ascending gastronomic greatness during a spectacular Gala Opening ceremony held at Royal Flora Ratchaphruek botanical gardens in Chiang Mai.
This stunning setting served as the perfect backdrop for an outstanding evening that was short on speeches and long on superb modern Thai cuisine. Chiang Mai northern Thai gastronomy served as the culinary inspiration for ten celebrity Thai chefs, who stole the show with an eclectic mix of artistic dishes that highlighted the diversity of locally sources ingredients.
It served as a fitting tribute to the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) marketing focus on Thai gastronomy tourism, which highlights Thai local experiences via the country’s rich culinary traditions.
The evening began with a dramatic flag procession of all ten ASEAN member states that welcomed respected tourism ministers and VIPs to the event. It reflected the regional solidary shared around ASEAN supporting the ATF 2018 theme of ‘Sustainable Connectivity, Boundless Prosperity’.
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