Tat To Promote Thailand As Medical And Wellness Hub In Asia

[webfact]

TAT to promote medical and wellness tourism

BAMRUNG AMNATCHAROENRIT

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand is promoting the country as the medical and wellness hub in Asia, against head-on competition from Hong Kong and South Korea, by organising the Medical and Wellness Tourism Trade Fam Trip.

The Bt10-million event from September 11-14 will be a platform for 150 company buyers from 27 nations worldwide to meet with 80 local operators of spa, medical, beauty and salon, and other services, Vilaiwan Twichasri, TAT's deputy governor for tourism products and business, said yesterday.

Thailand has advantages over rivals, such as strong medical professionalism, especially innovative technology in treatment. Traditional and Western massage services and the use of herbs are also recognised, while various tourism products are available as options for foreign patients and tourists undergoing treatment. Most importantly, prices are reasonable. The event is expected to be held annually as part of TAT's plan to increase foreign arrivals by tapping niche markets.

This year, TAT will offer three days for foreign buyers to visit medical and spa sites to get a real touch. They can choose the destination they are interested in. Trading will be on the first day of the event.

Many businesses have shown interest, such as Bumrungrad Hospital, because it is the first trade show in Thailand for the medical and spa business. However, TAT will select only those with high service quality.

The foreign target markets include Australia, China, Russia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. Especially Russia and China will be getting a big effort from TAT to attract them to come here for medical treatment and plastic surgery, he added.

-- The Nation 2012-08-02

[Notstupid30]

This week's local TAT news scare: porn trolls are coming for you ? Todays news we will be talking about death Hubs we will also bet starting off from Chang Mai and Phuket as they have been well publicized from around the world these past few years now ...

[jackr]

I think Prathet Thai should be renamed Hubland.

[Skywalker69]

Here we go again and again and again.

[clockman]

Clutching at straws! Wait till 2015 then we will see

[Pseudolus]

Here's a prediction. 5 years time and low and behold they are a hub. Lots of Farangs in town in need with pockets full of cash.

"Yes Farang, I know that we quoted you 10,000 for the operation, but now you are here, need it, and can't get on plane with out it, it is not 70,000 baht"

and

"Wake up farang. OK we are half way through your transplant operation. We want more money. Or we stop".

[LuckyLew]

Why not just say it "Thailand, the hub of everything"

or "Thailand, the hub of the world"

[jerrysteve]

I do believe that a Hub is the center of activity, interests, commerce, transportation, a focal point around which revolve.

TAT.

It is difficult for Thailand to qualify in absence of either Substance or Essence given their track record on human rights, where they spit

on the rule of law and the courts, , where convicted murderers go free, where police are on the take, where there is a history of

unsolved foreigner deaths, and where there is high levels of discrimination between cultures.

They cannot make one decision without fighting about it, while the rest of the world moves forward.

Despite the glamorous infrastructe with the Emporiums and Malls, they still only qualify for 3rd world status.

[jerrysteve]

Thailand is only a legend in their own childish minds.

[Reasonableman]

Hub of mental health... please go elsewhere...

[Thai at Heart]

Hub of mental health... please go elsewhere...

Jai yen yen krup.

[Soutpeel]

"This year, TAT will offer three days for foreign buyers to visit medical and spa sites to get a real touch"

I wonder if the "spa sites" referred to are on Cowboy, Nana or walking street in Pattaya ?

does a "real touch" infer that TAT will ensure the the "therapist" are real Thai ladies and not Katoys ?

[Pib]

I'm pretty sure all Thai govt agencies have a Spin the Hub Wheel in their top guy's office. Every few months he spins the wheel which has about a dozen different Hub names on it and where ever the pointer stops that is the Hub XYZ for agency news releases for the next several months. So simple (minded).

[slapout]

Thailand/TAT know the reasoning behind the "Hub". It takes grease to keep the whole thing turning. They have the grease down to a fine art, its the service (hub nut) that is destined to fail.

[Payboy]

Hubba Hubba

[Payboy]

Especially Russia and China will be getting a big effort from TAT to attract them to come here for medical treatment and plastic surgery, he added.

Would be quite useful actually, after the jet-ski mafia has beat them up.

[culicine]

Rename "Hub of" to "Crock of" and we are closer to reality...

[Thaddeus]

I'm pretty sure all Thai govt agencies have a Spin the Hub Wheel in their top guy's office. Every few months he spins the wheel which has about a dozen different Hub names on it and where ever the pointer stops that is the Hub XYZ for agency news releases for the next several months. So simple (minded).

Can't wait for the day it lands on 'hub of penis reattachment'

[Pib]

I'm pretty sure all Thai govt agencies have a Spin the Hub Wheel in their top guy's office. Every few months he spins the wheel which has about a dozen different Hub names on it and where ever the pointer stops that is the Hub XYZ for agency news releases for the next several months. So simple (minded).

Can't wait for the day it lands on 'hub of penis reattachment'

Oh, I forgot to mention a new Spin the Hub Wheel with different Hub names on it is provided to each govt agency yearly and when ever a new party comes into power. The "hub of penis reattachment" was on the board provided for 2010. But I'm sure with such a great need for it in Thailand, it will reappear as one of the choices on the 2013 wheel.

[Thai at Heart]

Do they actually know what hub means?

Maybe they are misinformed. Maybe the nations spell checker is wrong. Maybe they mean hut, or hurt, or hum, or......

Edited August 2, 2012 by Thai at Heart

[Sayonarax]

We know its not the hub of porn.

Edited August 2, 2012 by Sayonarax

[Misterwhisper]

What is it with this country that it needs to announce yet another hub of some sort every other week? Has any of these hubs ever materialised? Of course not. It's all hot air.

Perhaps it's like: if you think about something all the time, if you just believe in it enough, if you announce it loudly and often enough, it eventually will come true without you having to do anything for it.

Or maybe it's just that these officials take themselves much too seriously, honestly believe their country to be the center of the world and that the world really, really, really is just waiting impatiently until they all can flock to Thailand for some exhaustive "hubbing".

In other words: a lot of hot air without substance, self-delusion, self-aggrandising, gross overestimation of Thailand's importance, capabilites and abilities.

[sjjmmi]

[Thaddeus]

In other words: a lot of hot air without substance, self-delusion, self-aggrandising, gross overestimation of Thailand's importance, capabilites and abilities.

Also known as, using just one word. Hubris.

[jaltsc]

Right now, adequate medical services are beyond the reach of many Thais. So, the way to solve this problem is to pimp out quality medical services to the highest bidder, thus watering down the existing pool of qualified medical professionals? If, and that's a very big IF, this scheme comes to fruition (Don't hold your breath), then any decent medical professional will not work for 80,000 THB a month when they can get the same for one medical procedure on a medical tourist.

As far as "spa, ..., beauty and salon, and other services", plenty of that to go around. Especially "other services".

Edited August 2, 2012 by jaltsc

[Mosha]

What is it with this country that it needs to announce yet another hub of some sort every other week? Has any of these hubs ever materialised? Of course not. It's all hot air.

Perhaps it's like: if you think about something all the time, if you just believe in it enough, if you announce it loudly and often enough, it eventually will come true without you having to do anything for it.

Or maybe it's just that these officials take themselves much too seriously, honestly believe their country to be the center of the world and that the world really, really, really is just waiting impatiently until they all can flock to Thailand for some exhaustive "hubbing".

In other words: a lot of hot air without substance, self-delusion, self-aggrandising, gross overestimation of Thailand's importance, capabilites and abilities.

Every other week my backside. This is the 2nd Hub of... announcement this week.

[Lingba]

I'm reading all of these comments and they are just hysterical....but the truth!....The only thing this country is the hub of is the Hub of Big Balls...for having the audacity to think they are the hub of anything, especially medical and spa services....what a joke

[E1717007]

"BANGKOK: -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand is promoting the country as the medical and wellness hub in Asia, against head-on competition from Hong Kong and South Korea, by organising the Medical and Wellness Tourism Trade Fam Trip."

I wonder why they omitted mentioning Singapore & Malaysia which really their real competitors, especially so after 2015 when asean is a single market!

[SABloke]

Didn't even bother reading this one. Just saw "hub" in the headline.

Here's an idea: Set realistic goals. "Thai government aims to promote Thailand as hub of smoke and mirrors"

I'd believe this if I read it.

[Screws]

Hub of orchiectomy - in more ways than one.

;-)