Thailand Travel Mart underway

[webfact]

Thailand Travel Mart underway

BANGKOK, 5 June 2014, (NNT) - Despite the Coup d’etat, Thailand’s two major tourism fairs are currently being held at Impact Arena Muang Thong Thani, proving to the international community that the junta’s political intervention posts no threats to the nation’s tourism sector.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Thai tourism industry are simultaneously organizing two major events: ‘Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+):Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Sub-region’ from yesterday to Friday, and 'Thailand Tourism Festival 2014 (TTF 2014)' from now to Sunday June 8th.

According to the TTM+ organizer, the event, first held in 2001, aims at promoting tourism and service businesses in Thailand and its Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) counterparts. Several Small- and medium- entrepreneurs (SMEs) have participated in the event, offering their best international-standard products to visitors.

This year's major target markets include Europe, Southeast Asia, Eastern Asia, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as emerging ones, such as the Commonwealth of Independent States countries, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, South America, and South Africa.

Four major products are being highlighted this tear: Eco-tourism, Health & Wellness, Wedding & Honeymoon, and Experience the Thainess, the organizer said, adding there are 9 tourism business categories presented in the event; ranging from hotel and resort, travel agent, entertainment, to transportation as well as other travel services.

Meanwhile, 'Thailand Tourism Festival 2014', the nation’s biggest tourism event for consumers, is also being held at the same venue.

The annual festival offers many activities aimed at promoting the preservation of the Thai culture, traditions and local lifestyle, as well as stage performances. It also features local art, crafts and food of the four regions in Thailand.

The organizer boasted the fair would present visitors with a golden opportunity to discover Amazing Thailand's destinations as well as a wide range of tourism products and activities nationwide.

The TTF 2014 event will be held until Sunday, June 8th, 2014. The door opens from 10 am to 9 pm.


-- NNT 2014-06-05

[webfact]

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[Snig27]

Aside from everything else, many insurers will no longer cover you in Thailand. Most travel agents won't recommend you travel to a place with a travel warning. So is the "junta’s political intervention a threat to the nation’s tourism sector"? It may not be fatal but it strikes a grievous body blow to something that is 7% of the economy.

[WhizBang]

Aside from everything else, many insurers will no longer cover you in Thailand. Most travel agents won't recommend you travel to a place with a travel warning. So is the "junta’s political intervention a threat to the nation’s tourism sector"? It may not be fatal but it strikes a grievous body blow to something that is 7% of the economy.

You can't bake a cake without breaking a few eggs.

[dinger]

Is it just me or is it a bit strange, but why do you hold an event meant to attract tourists in your own country. Also the organizers see this as a golden opportunity for visitors to discover Amazing Thailand's Destinations .

1. they are already here.

2 most people on holiday don't want to spend part of their holiday time on a travel fair selling the country they are already in

[LuckyLew]

Is this the same travel mart where last year 100's of packages were sold by an agent and when the travelers turned up at teh location the reservations were not honored?

I will pass

[toybits]

The number of posts on this thread really shows the massive interest in the topic.

[NongKhaiKid]

Is it just me or is it a bit strange, but why do you hold an event meant to attract tourists in your own country. Also the organizers see this as a golden opportunity for visitors to discover Amazing Thailand's Destinations .

1. they are already here.

2 most people on holiday don't want to spend part of their holiday time on a travel fair selling the country they are already in

TAT plus Thainess

[ChrisY1]

Is it just me or is it a bit strange, but why do you hold an event meant to attract tourists in your own country. Also the organizers see this as a golden opportunity for visitors to discover Amazing Thailand's Destinations .

1. they are already here.

2 most people on holiday don't want to spend part of their holiday time on a travel fair selling the country they are already in

It's a bit strange...

[CNXBKKMAN]

Is it just me or is it a bit strange, but why do you hold an event meant to attract tourists in your own country. Also the organizers see this as a golden opportunity for visitors to discover Amazing Thailand's Destinations .

1. they are already here.

2 most people on holiday don't want to spend part of their holiday time on a travel fair selling the country they are already in

It's a bit strange...

A lot of locals go on holiday. Domestically all over Thailand. Neighboring countries and long haul. People go to get ideas and also go for promotions and discounts offered at these shows.

Other travel professionals go to these shows to network, make new deals, see new suppliers and products etc. etc

[raybal5]

Aside from everything else, many insurers will no longer cover you in Thailand. Most travel agents won't recommend you travel to a place with a travel warning. So is the "junta’s political intervention a threat to the nation’s tourism sector"? It may not be fatal but it strikes a grievous body blow to something that is 7% of the economy.

...Aside from everything else, many insurers will no longer cover you in Thailand...

​I don't believe that to be the case at all. If you read the Product Disclosure Statement and go the Exclusions section you will find that most policies will say they wont cover if ... your claim arises because you did not follow advice in the mass media or any government or other official body’s warning:

• against travel to a particular country or parts of a country; or

• of a strike, riot, bad weather, civil protest or contagious disease (including an Epidemic or Pandemic); and you did not take appropriate action to avoid or minimise any potential claim under your policy (including delay of travel to the country or part of the country referred to in the warning).

or your claim arises from any act of war, whether war is declared or not or from any rebellion, revolution, insurrection or taking of power by the military.

So if you got injured in a riot or standing in the middle of a protest march or trying to run a roadblock then sure, you wont be covered. But if you tripped over one of the many uneven footpaths or got mugged at night by a bag snatcher, you would be covered because the injury was not related to the martial law.

Of course different companies have different wording but most ones I've looked at are similar to this. The point is, just because Martial Law is declared it does not necessarily invalidate travel insurance. It just means any claims will be scrutinised more closely as to the cause

[stevehaigh]

i checked, definitely not April 1st

[pantareiyingluck]

Jane's Defence Weekly starts offering package tours for their subscribers to Amazing Thailand.

[PBob]

I have been to a few of these events and this is far better than previous efforts. It is targeted at the domestic market with nearly all the information in Thai.

It has given my wife and I some new ideas for trips around the country e.g. OTOP train cycling excursions (seem very professional compared to SRT who left us behind when the excursion train left early and they did not check the number of passengers).

[DiamondKing]

Looks like it is PACKED real busy LOL

[Greer]

I have attended these shows in the past, and whist they may not always be totally packed out, they do provide a meeting and networking place in common for the industry, and also there are usually some excellent package deals available for domestic or regional holidays.

...I guess some will never be satisfied unless they have something to whine about though...

[techboy]

It is a good idea. Incentive and information to tourists that are here and of course great propaganda when they talk to acquaintances and friends. It would probably be fun even for expats to check out. Some Thai bashers could find that they like it- they might actually finally get to know something about this country.

[englishoak]

Aside from everything else, many insurers will no longer cover you in Thailand. Most travel agents won't recommend you travel to a place with a travel warning. So is the "junta’s political intervention a threat to the nation’s tourism sector"? It may not be fatal but it strikes a grievous body blow to something that is 7% of the economy.

You can't bake a cake without breaking a few eggs.

And many wont travel to a destination on holiday without holiday insurance, I think that was his point.

[sprq]

Is it just me or is it a bit strange, but why do you hold an event meant to attract tourists in your own country. Also the organizers see this as a golden opportunity for visitors to discover Amazing Thailand's Destinations .

1. they are already here.

2 most people on holiday don't want to spend part of their holiday time on a travel fair selling the country they are already in

Duh, it's not meant for foreign tourists, it's meant for Thai tourists. Geddit now?

[BSJ]

Last I heard Thai's couldn't leave LOS and foreigner's couldn't get in.....so all they are going to get is local folk!

[frankphuket]

Actually the Thai Travel Mart is not for the public. It is for overseas tour operators and travel agents which are invited to see inbound agents and hotels in one single place. Get info and negotiate to promote them in their brochures and to their clients. It is a bit more quiet then last year, but overall those tour operators understand the situation very well, as they work with Thailand since long. It however isn't as,easy for them to convince the general public to book holidays in Thailand at the moment...

[PBob]

It is very much for the public, with areas showcasing food, produce & crafts for the four regions of Thailand. Various stages offering cultural displays and old Thai crooners. A large food area (mandatory at all Thai events) and stalls selling beauty treatments/products, finance products, pottery and a couple selling garden plants. Many will be familiar faces to those that visit other events at the exhibition centre, unfortunately not the family from Min Buri who make the best flat breads in Thailand.