Thailand Elite Card To Be Relaunched In June

[webfact]

Thailand Elite Card to be relaunched in June


Elite Card, file photo

BANGKOK, 31 May 2013 (NNT) - The Tourism Authority of Thailand is planning a global relaunch of the Thailand Elite Card in June.

The TAT has instructed 18 TAT offices abroad and authorised sales representatives in 12 Asian countries to start seling the cards.

The Thailand Elite card project is revamped with a new marketing strategy aimed at attracting Chinese and Russian customers.

The agency expected to attract around 300 new members from China alone, out of the projected 650 members in total.

Under the new membership terms and conditions, cardholders will be able to sign up with an initial down payment fee of two million Baht followed by a 20,000 Baht annual fee over a 20-year validity period.

Cardholders will be eligible for a five-year Multiple Entry Visa to Thailand and a one-year stay privilege per visit.

They will also be entitled to use the Thailand Elite Personal Assistance service at Suvarnabhumi Airport and Phuket Airport.


-- NNT 2013-05-31

[webfact]

Thailand to Relaunch Elite Card

BANGKOK: -- The Tourism Authority of Thailand is planning a global relaunch of the Thailand Elite Card in June.

The Thailand Elite card project is designed to attract high net worth individuals and encourage them to make repeat visits to Thailand, whether for business or leisure.

TAT and Thailand Privilege Card (TPC) are projecting about 1,300 new members within the first year after the launch, with about half expected before the end of 2013. The countries targetted in the first phase of the membership drive are China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Russia, and the ASEAN and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries.

Under the revamped membership terms and conditions, cardholders will be able to join up for an initial down payment fee of two million Baht followed by a 20,000 Baht annual fee over a 20-year validity period. Cardholders will be eligible for a five-year Multiple Entry Visa to Thailand and a one-year stay privilege per visit.

They will also be able to avail of the Thailand Elite Personal Assistance (EPL) at Suvarnabhumi Airport and Phuket Airport, including a fast-track channel at the immigration counters and airport transfers by BMW series 7 limousines. They will also have a 24-hour call centre access for any special assistance.

One of the most important privileges is usage of high-standard, five-star golfing and spa facilities 24 times per calendar year.

Mr. Suraphon Svetasreni, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Chairman of the Board of the Thailand Privilege Card (TPC) said, “The Thailand Elite Card will go a long way towards helping TAT raise the level of visitor arrivals to new heights. It will certainly be good for our luxury hotels, boutique properties, shopping malls and the many niche-market products that we are now focussing on.”

Source: http://www.asiatraveltips.com/news13/315-EliteCard.shtml

-- ASIATravelTips 2013-05-31

[ratcatcher]

"Mr. Suraphon Svetasreni, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Chairman of the Board of the Thailand Privilege Card (TPC) said, “The Thailand Elite Card will go a long way towards helping TAT raise the level of visitor arrivals to new heights. It will certainly be good for our luxury hotels, boutique properties, shopping malls and the many niche-market products that we are now focusing on."

TAT and Thailand Privilege Card (TPC) are projecting about 1,300 new members within the first year after the launch, with about half expected before the end of 2013. The countries targeted in the first phase of the membership drive are China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Russia, and the ASEAN and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) (Ex Soviet union states).countries.

I can't wait. Global launch? 1300 new members? The west has no money, so they're not invited.

More hype. Ain't that darned horse dead yet?

Edited May 31, 2013 by ratcatcher

[thaicbr]

So before it was 1 million baht life time membership with no yearly fee and unlimited golf and spar.. and it DIDN'T sell. nOw 2 million baht and only 20 years with 20k a year fee and only 24 golf and spa... winner

Edited May 31, 2013 by thaicbr

[bigbamboo]

For some reason the words 'dead', 'flogging' and 'horse' spring to mind.

I think I'll give it a miss.... again. The idea of belonging to an elite club of unusally rich Russians and Chinese doesn't really appeal.

[sjjmmi]

Another Scam

[itchybum]

I think the chinese and russians will feel something missing in their life and buy one.

[Ianatlarge]

tsk tsk such negativity. I believe that this will be another TAT resounding success, one which will most likely exceed its targeted projection and bring in a new demographic of quality tourists, and not the usual riff raff.

[webfact]

Phuket News: Developers enlisted to resurrect Elite Card

BANGKOK: -- Yet another attempt is being made to get one of Thailand’s best-known dead ducks fly again.

This time, the Thailand Privilege Card Co (TPC), operator of the Thailand Elite Card, will enlist a property developer to help begin selling new memberships from next month.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), sole owner of TPC, is in talks with three major developers to select one as a partner.

TPC has set a target to sell at least 200 co-branded membership cards with the developer over the next six months.

The relaunched Elite Card will now be available in two flavours – regular and co-branded.
The membership fee for a regular card is B2 million for 20 years, while the fee for a co-branded card is B1 million.

The annual fee is B20,000 for both types.

Wilaiwan Tawitsri, a board member and acting president of TPC, said the company will relaunch the Elite Card with a “Money Can’t Buy” campaign on May 30.

Regular cards will be sold through the network of TAT offices and sales agents around the world.

The target for the Elite Card’s regular flavour is set at 1,300 members by the end of next year.

Marketing and sales for the co-branded card will begin next month. Co-branded cardholders must be individuals and are required to invest in Thai properties.

Once the hold the card they will be entitled to a five-year visa – good for up to one year’s stay following each arrival – and accelerated immigration services at airports.

They will not, however, get all the other golfing and spa discounts applicable with the regular card.

“The property developer chosen to be the TPC partner will receive no commission from selling Elite Card memberships,” said Ms Wilaiwan, “But the card will become an interesting new marketing tool to attract foreign investors to invest in the property business.”

The Elite Card was launched in 2003 on the orders of the then-PM, Thaksin Shinawatra, who foresaw a million cards being sold. In the past 10 years, however, only 2,534 people have bought them and lawsuits are pending after the validity of the cards was reduced from lifetime to 20 years.

Last year the government earmarked B100 million in a “last chance” attempt to revive the card.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/developers-enlisted-to-resurrect-elite-card-39814.php


-- Phuket News 2013-2013-05-31

[COXYATCITY]

For some reason the words 'dead', 'flogging' and 'horse' spring to mind.

I think I'll give it a miss.... again. The idea of belonging to an elite club of unusally rich Russians and Chinese doesn't really appeal.

[Moo2cm]

I just can't wait not to buy it!

[ratcatcher]

Please,please buy our super Thailand elite card, please.

[Moo2cm]

tsk tsk such negativity. I believe that this will be another TAT resounding success, one which will most likely exceed its targeted projection and bring in a new demographic of quality tourists, and not the usual riff raff.

Insert flame here.

[Somtamnication]

Wrong pricing.

If you charge the Chinese 9,999,999 thb, they will buy it faster than 2,000,000 thb.

[khunPer]

So this news will close all the treads with 90 days non-im visas and edu-visas etc. – just become an elite member

[ratcatcher]

Wrong pricing.

If you charge the Chinese 9,999,999 thb, they will buy it faster than 2,000,000 thb.

I guess you are being facetious or?

Why would even the Chinese pay nearly B8,000,000 over the odds?

[tingtongfarang]

This master scam must have worked for them the first time else they would,nt be trying it a second time

[mikebell]

Wasn't this card Thaksin's baby? Does this mean his return is imminent?

[Jimi007]

Yes it worked so well the first time for less, try it again for more. The typical Thai business model... Just brilliant!

[tomyummer]

Suckered the west. Now it's the Chinese and russians' turns. The biggest government backed scam!

[johnlandy]

For some reason the words 'dead', 'flogging' and 'horse' spring to mind.

I think I'll give it a miss.... again. The idea of belonging to an elite club of unusally rich Russians and Chinese doesn't really appeal.

At least if you were fraternizing with the Russians and the Chinese you would be in better company than being with the local 'bottom feeders'

[AloisAmrein]

Never use a credit card in Thailand, also when it's called Elite Card. No securitiy for card holders, pishing very common.

[ratcatcher]

tsk tsk such negativity. I believe that this will be another TAT resounding success, one which will most likely exceed its targeted projection and bring in a new demographic of quality tourists, and not the usual riff raff.

Insert flame here.

No flaming, this is a fire free zone.

I think Ian was using class A sarcasm. Don't you?

[Suffinator]

they are simply not capable of learning from the repeated mistakes. The Thai ethos appears to be if you don't success the first-time in scamming people simply re-vamp it. <deleted>!

[Robby nz]

They have refloated the Titanic and are about to launch it for its second voyage.

Look out iceburgs

[SteveReilly]

Classic thai selling behavior - if it does not sell well, raise the price

[Moo2cm]

Wasn't this card Thaksin's baby? Does this mean his return is imminent?

If it was imminent you couldn't have posted that. I remember.

[upena]

Wanted to sell 1 million at 1 million baht apiece - sold just over 2,500. Now, the price has doubled, annual fee, fewer privileges, can't buy land (initial card could buy 10 rai), and only good for 20 years versus lifetime. Lost over 1 Billion baht so far.

Should sell 2 or 3 would be my guess.

[jimbeam1]

Ha, Ha. The TAT the hub of stupidity. I do hope they publish the amount of mugs they actually catch. Still no Rai of land?

jb1

[Misterwhisper]

This already was a blunt scam and a miserable failure the first time it was launched.

It will certainly become a tremendous success now that the card's price has been DOUBLED (not even mentioning the annual "renewal fees") while its benefits have been HALVED.

But hold it: The sheer fact that this dead horse continues to be flogged surely must mean there is substantial money in it for "somebody".

Edited May 31, 2013 by Misterwhisper