Phuket out of TAT promotional campaign for 2014

[webfact]

Phuket out of TAT promotional campaign for 2014
Phuket Gazette


Phuket-TAT office Director Chanchai Doungjit says Phuket and other major tourist centers will not be marketed in 2014. Photo: Saran Mitrarat

PHUKET: -- Phuket is one of several main tourism destinations in the country that will not be promoted under the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) international marketing campaign for next year.

Instead, the focus will be on less-developed tourism areas, Director of the Phuket-TAT office Chanchai Doungjit revealed yesterday.

“We will not be promoting tourism centers that are already well-established. Instead, we will be promoting other popular destinations nearby, such as Phang Nga and Krabi. Similarly, we will be promoting Chiang Rai instead of Chiang Mai,” Mr Chanchai said at a meeting at Provincial Hall (map here).

“This will give popular destinations such as Phuket time to develop their infrastructure and fix some problems, such as water pollution, traffic jams and public transportation,” Mr Chanchai explained.

“Consequently, we do not expect the number of visitors to Phuket to increase next year, as any growth in the number of visitors to Thailand will be due to tourists visiting less well-known destinations instead,” he added.

The move to divert any potential tourism growth in Phuket is designed not only to promote other regions, but to allow the island to focus on “upgrading” the quality of visitors to the luxury market, he said.

“By doing this we can generate more income based on the same number of visitors. At the same time, nearby destinations can generate more income from visitors who travel there instead of coming to Phuket,” said Mr Chanchai.

“The main tourism centers will be promoted again during the 2016 campaign,” he added.

The slogans for the 2014 TAT promotional campaign are “Amazing Thailand: Happiness you can share” and “Fall in love Thailand”.

A plan to generate 2.2 trillion baht of revenue from tourism by 2015, when the Asean Economic Community (AEC) will come into effect, is based on developing the theme of “Higher Revenue Through Thainess”.

The target numbers for 2014 were set by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, with about two-thirds of the revenue being generated from foreign tourists and the rest created by the domestic market, said Mr Chanchai.

“The plan to hit those numbers focuses on Thai traditional culture, festivals, way of life and Thai experience,” Mr Chanchai said.

In 2014 the plan will target those interested in weddings and honeymoons, medical tourism and community-based tourism.

“At wedding fairs abroad, we will promote traditional Thai wedding ceremonies. We will also hold familiarization tours so travel agents can experience Thailand first-hand, ” Mr Chanchai said.

“For medical tourism, the TAT plans to promote traditional Thai remedies and treatments, as well as spa services,” he said.

Thailand’s main competition for the medical tourism market is India, Singapore and South Korea.

“We will contact insurance agents and companies in other countries, inviting them to come and inspect the facilities and services available in Thailand,” Mr Chanchai said.

Mr Chanchai explained to those at the meeting that he felt secure in Thailand’s footing for community-based tourism. Nonetheless, the TAT will promote homestay packages and tours that highlight village life in Thailand.

One of the domestic campaigns geared to bolster low-season tourism is “Fly Me To The South”, which is promoting discounted flights and hotel prices for Surat Thani, Haad Yai, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Krabi and Phang Nga from July to September.

Another campaign to be launched is the “Big Bike Riding South”, promoting road tours through Songkhla, Surat Thani, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Krabi, Phang Nga and Phuket.

The last campaign geared toward the domestic market highlighted by Mr Chanchai was “Let’s Go South”, which is an online campaign promoting cultural centers.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-out-of-TAT-promotional-campaign-for-2014-21840.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-08-02

[theblether]

Fix some problems

They should rename the article above......

" We're Ashamed Of The *ss We have Made Of Our Primary Tourist Centres "

" Please toddle off to the backwaters while we try to sort it out ".

What a state of affairs.

[GeorgeO]

"fix some problems, such as water pollution, traffic jams and public transportation".

Sorry, but these minor problems never really sprung to my mind, I was thinking more of " murder, robbery, assault, xenophobic business operations, exploitation, jet ski scams, taxi mafia, and so on". Perhaps all of these 'minor' problems had slipped Khun Chanchai's mind

[chrisbacke]

So, some bigwigs bought some property in Phang Nga and are looking to see the asset rise in value...

In the meantime, how's that oil spill coming? Will any of these tours be marketed in English, or just Thai and Russian?

[Suffinator]

So basically they are now going to attempt to turn yet another area in Thailand to a complete s***hole - shouldn't be too difficult

Thailand a Polluted and Toxic Dumping Ground

[amykat]

"... developing the theme of "Higher Revenue through Thainess ..."

So many sarcastic things to say about this, I don't know where to start!!!

I think it could make a very good new topic on TV.

Edited August 2, 2013 by amykat

[deecee10]

TAT never considers what tourists want (and don't want), only how to exploit them.

They ought to be embarrassed by jet ski scams and tuk tuk rip offs etc, but it appears that they don't care.

[tingtongteesood]

All these big tourist numbers they are quoting all the time, I bet at least 50% are the poor falang buggers who live here who are forced to cross borders repeatedly by the dumb laws...

[bigbamboo]

So by reducing the revenue at tourist hotspots they think this will result in the upgrading of their facilities. Yet when numbers are down isn't the Thai way just to put up their prices?

Edited August 2, 2013 by bigbamboo

[Krabi King]

Dear TAT,

No need to promote Krabi... nothing to see or do here. Very ugly surroundings too. Not a good destination for mass tourism.

Thank you.

[mancub]

Nice try....but I'm afraid you've been rumbled and it's sadly already too late .

[Neilly]

The last campaign geared toward the domestic market highlighted by Mr Chanchai was “Let’s Go South”, which is an online campaign promoting cultural centers.

And get blown up ....yerp, that'll go down well

[lemoncake]

Surin sounds like a great place to promote, no doubt all the less known place are ready to accept tourists

[Songhua]

The much sought after high-value tourists may be too well aware of the existing hotspots. Better to shunt them off to somewhere else.

[skorchio]

these places are fked up beyond repair, best we start over somewhere else ......

[ableguy]

So the less people visit Phuket the more money they will make ? visit the oil slick instead and hey they will make a fortune, amazing Thailand, I am sure if it was not for our GFs most of us would leave,

[BrianCR]

All these big tourist numbers they are quoting all the time, I bet at least 50% are the poor falang buggers who live here who are forced to cross borders repeatedly by the dumb laws...

Can you explain if that is the truth, why do they live here?

[shawndoc]

Oooh, my wife has family in Krabi. Time to buy them a few jetskis

[kimamey]

All these big tourist numbers they are quoting all the time, I bet at least 50% are the poor falang buggers who live here who are forced to cross borders repeatedly by the dumb laws...

I don't know how the tourist figures are arrived at so I can't say how accurate they are. I've always wondered how many are actually tourists.

[LivinginKata]

I don't know how the tourist figures are arrived at so I can't say how accurate they are. I've always wondered how many are actually tourists.

I am convinced that number of tourists arrivals is grossly inflated. Last year I tried to research some of the data pubished and it looked like double to me, ie they count arrivals and departures as tourist numbers.

[NamKangMan]

I don't know how the tourist figures are arrived at so I can't say how accurate they are. I've always wondered how many are actually tourists.

I am convinced that number of tourists arrivals is grossly inflated. Last year I tried to research some of the data pubished and it looked like double to me, ie they count arrivals and departures as tourist numbers.

I can guarantee you they don't count the departures that will never arrive again to Phuket. :)

[Tiffer]

All these big tourist numbers they are quoting all the time, I bet at least 50% are the poor falang buggers who live here who are forced to cross borders repeatedly by the dumb laws...

Oh dear. Another malcontent... ...and those dumb laws would be what? Visa regulations that some none Thai nationals exploit in order to remain in the country rather than seeking a the appropriate visa.... ...because they can't get a proper, long term visa?

For the record, farang (with an 'r') only applies to caucasians.

[Tiffer]

All these big tourist numbers they are quoting all the time, I bet at least 50% are the poor falang buggers who live here who are forced to cross borders repeatedly by the dumb laws...

I don't know how the tourist figures are arrived at so I can't say how accurate they are. I've always wondered how many are actually tourists.

According to standard practice, they should only be counting border crossings which include an overnight stay, however they are entitled to count day visitors if they so choose. This would help to explain why France used to record 70 - 80 million a year.

[Tiffer]

I don't know how the tourist figures are arrived at so I can't say how accurate they are. I've always wondered how many are actually tourists.

I am convinced that number of tourists arrivals is grossly inflated. Last year I tried to research some of the data pubished and it looked like double to me, ie they count arrivals and departures as tourist numbers.

If you were looking at border traffic that would be correct.