TAT fair to help boost tourism in Northeast

By Suchat Sritama

The Nation

The Tourism Authority of Thailand will organise Amazing ISan Fair 2011 at the end of this month, which aims to boost the number of visitors into the Northeast yeararound.

The event is to take place at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre from January 27-30. More than 100 operators from the Northeast will join the event with special offers and disฌcounts of up to 50 per cent.

The fair is expected to attract 60,000 visitors, mostly locals, who will spend an estimated Bt2 million to Bt3 million at the fourday event.

Thawatchai Ayanyik, TAT's deputy governor for domestic markets, said Isaan would become a popular destination this year after tourism was hit by political chaos and flooding over the past year.

He said the event would help restore tourism in the region throughout the year, which would help fill up accommodations in the provinces.

"It is proved that the region has become a popular destination, as many places have drawn a lot of visitors, such as Chiang Khan in Loei, Wang Nam Kheow in Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani. Isaan should be the first option for holidaymakers and meetings this year," Thawatchai said.

TAT governor Suraphon Svetasreni said the Asian Highway project, which is under construction, would help link the region with Laos, enhance the transport infrastructure and boost the accessibility of the entire region.

Moreover, new flight connections are being established. Thai AirAsia has connected Phuket with Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani, while Nok Air operates daily flights to Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani as well as Buri Ram, Nakhon Phanom and Sakon Nakhon.

According to TAT, foreign visitors at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport totalled 1.19 million last month, 5.8 per cent more than in the same month in 2009 and up 19.1 per cent over December 2008.

The agency forecasts 16.4 million international arrivals this year and 97 million domestic trips.

-- The Nation 2011-01-08

More fantastical figures from TAT about increases in tourism. The East and North East needs visitors with money in their pockets to be able to boost income to the area but the main issue will be what is there to attract them and how is there going to be ongoing promotion to the area? Having 100 operators come to QSC in Bangkok may only fall on Thai ears not International although I suspect a few 'Farang' will creep in for a look. I guess it's a start to help the ailing area but sounds more like a PR stint by TAT.

More fantastical figures from TAT about increases in tourism. The East and North East needs visitors with money in their pockets to be able to boost income to the area but the main issue will be what is there to attract them and how is there going to be ongoing promotion to the area? Having 100 operators come to QSC in Bangkok may only fall on Thai ears not International although I suspect a few 'Farang' will creep in for a look. I guess it's a start to help the ailing area but sounds more like a PR stint by TAT.

Build up the infrastructure with local tourists first and then aim at foreign visitors? Not a bad plan I guess. I haven't been up to Isaan yet so not sure if there's much to see / do?

As a backpacker destination it could work since the North-East is on the way to Cambodia and it's a long bus/train ride that many might want to break up.

they are building in Udon Thani the place is growing but i do not see a large number of expats moving here I am not sure but it would be my guess that wealthy Thais are coming here I go to swenson ice cream in the complex & I see all Thai kids ordering ice cream which cost more than 50 baht & I am the only expat in there unless I have a friend with me so these kids have money when a working thai works for 200 baht a day he can not afford to buy ice cream for 50 baht for himself & his lady & that the low end price on ice cream most of the specialty are 99 baht & above this is why I have that opinion

on who is moving up here

" The fair is expected to attract 60,000 visitors, mostly locals, who will spend an estimated Bt2 million to Bt3 million at the fourday event."

More fantastical figures from TAT about increases in tourism. The East and North East needs visitors with money in their pockets to be able to boost income to the area but the main issue will be what is there to attract them and how is there going to be ongoing promotion to the area? Having 100 operators come to QSC in Bangkok may only fall on Thai ears not International although I suspect a few 'Farang' will creep in for a look. I guess it's a start to help the ailing area but sounds more like a PR stint by TAT.

All the bar girls are already doing this. They take their 'handsome' guy to their village, take the whole clan shopping, buy some cars and furniture. Pay for the sick brother's hospital bill 600,000 baht. And some gold around everybody's neck and and and...welcome to the Isan........................

In the whole article, not one word about Khon Kaen, like there's this great city to visit, but it doesn't exist. Been visiting there on vacation with my wife every couple of years for the last twenty four years, and just love the place.

In the whole article, not one word about Khon Kaen, like there's this great city to visit, but it doesn't exist. Been visiting there on vacation with my wife every couple of years for the last twenty four years, and just love the place.

Khon Kaen just had another bombing by red idiots so a great place to visit and a real tourist draw card now!

" The fair is expected to attract 60,000 visitors, mostly locals, who will spend an estimated Bt2 million to Bt3 million at the fourday event."

That is the equivalent of one love-struck farang paying too much for the building of a flashy house in a moo baan, plus overpriced lan for occasional rice farming, and a pick up truck for the "brother"....

Edited January 9, 201115 yr by bangon04

" The fair is expected to attract 60,000 visitors, mostly locals, who will spend an estimated Bt2 million to Bt3 million at the fourday event."

So that is between 35 and 50 baht per head, the price of an ice cream. How many millions will it take to put the show on the road?