Tsunami Fails To Deter Us Tourists

Tsunami fails to deter US tourists

BANGKOK: -- US tourists are continuing to come to Thailand as normal despite last month’s tsunamis, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), which this year will launch a marketing offensive to attract more American visitors.

Mr. Santi Chudinthara, Director of the TAT’s Los Angeles office, said that the US market had been largely unaffected by the tsunamis, with no visitors cancelling their holiday bookings.

Anxious to keep up visitor numbers at a time when the tourism industry is desperate for income to help it get back on its feet, the TAT has been liaising with the US government to ensure that the news it presents on the situation in Thailand accurately reflects the post-tsunami situation.

The TAT’s US marketing offensive this year will focus on middle to high income tourists.

A publicity campaign will concentrate on disseminating news and information about Thailand via electronic newsletters.

Television viewers across the US will also have the chance to learn about Thailand through the Travel Caf้ programme, which attracts 150 million viewers throughout the world via NBC and the Discovery Channel.

Documentary journalists from the US will also be invited to undertake study tours to Thai tourism destinations.

--TNA 2005-01-13