Tat Wants To Buy Crystal Ball

[johnnort]

TAT seeks budget increase to strengthen crisis center

Sirima Eamtako, TTG Asia

The Tourism Authority of Thailand plans to seek a one billion baht (US$30 million) increase in the next fiscal year to strengthen capability and boost readiness in response to challenges of its Tourism Intelligence Unit and Crisis Communication Center.

The amount reflects a 20 percent increase in the budget for the current fiscal year, from October last year to September this year, of 4.56 billion baht (US$138.5 million) and a 1.9 percent increase over the previous period.

While half the amount is earmarked for tourism marketing, TAT governor Suraphon Svetasreni said the extra cash flow would be spent on IT investments and related crisis communication activities of the center, which was expected to be ready to provide crystallized tourism marketing analysis within two years.

He said the ultimate goal was for the centre to be a super-sensitive sensor that will be able to analyze past and present data to provide indicators for future tourism trends.

This article was found in The Pattaya Mail. Unbelievable!