TAT targets Tour de France for Thailand

[webfact]

Tour de France to be held in Thailand next year


TAT’s Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business, Mrs. Vilaiwan Twichasri (middle) and Mr. Jean-Etienne Amaury, Chairman of the Amaury Sport Organisation (4th, left)

Bangkok, 2 October 2014 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is in talks with Paris-based Amaury Sport Organisation for the possibility of staging the world’s biggest cycling race, the Tour de France, in Thailand in 2015, the year when the entire Southeast Asian region will integrate under the ASEAN Economic Community framework.

Thailand’s high-level delegation led by TAT’s Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business, Mrs. Vilaiwan Twichasri, held a preliminary talk with Mr. Jean-Etienne Amaury, Chairman of the Amaury Sport Organisation – the main agency organising the annual Tour de France – in Paris, France on 11 September, 2014, to seek ways of organising such prestigious sporting event in Thailand.

TAT Governor, Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik said, “More talks are underway, but we expect Thailand to play the perfect host to this esteemed and prominent cycling race as early as in 2015.”

The Tour de France is an annual multiple stage bicycle race, primarily held in France. The race was first held in 1903 originally just to increase sales for France’s L’Auto magazine. Following the inaugural event’s tremendous success, the race turned into an annual event and has since become so famous that riders from all over the world make it a must-participate race of a lifetime.

TAT Governor said, “The Tour de France, being the world’s oldest, biggest and most famous international cycling race, is the ultimate hope and dream for all professional cyclists to participate in at least once in a lifetime. Thailand has also become a destination that international tourists must visit at least once in their lifetime. This makes a perfect combination for the Tour de France, the world’s famous bicycling race, to be held in Thailand, the world’s famous tourist destination.”

It is a known fact that for cyclists joining the Tour de France, winning or losing the race is not their ultimate goal. But for the team to complete the entire three-week race, covering more than 3,500 kilometres in distance, is the biggest challenge. The competition also requires the teamwork spirit to achieve the goal.

The initiative to organise the Tour de France as part of TAT’s plans to develop cycling tourism, which has been around for decades in Thailand. It is also to promote eco-friendly travel and green tourism since cycling is energy-saving and harmless to the environment, as well as promotes good health for the riders.

Mr. Thawatchai added, “By playing host to a world famous cycling race as the Tour de France, we are saying that Thailand is ready to host any international sporting events of all types and sizes. We are saying that Thailand is the place to enjoy sporting events, to enjoy unique natural and cultural experiences, and to share the memorable travel moments with the world.”

Source: http://www.tatnews.org/tour-de-france-held-thailand-next-year/

-- TAT NEWS 2014-10-02

[CelticBhoy]

Do they all have to cycle over here from France?

Gonna need Lance's supplier's phone number to

tackle that jaunt, methinks.

[uptheos]

Tour de France Thailand.........ridiculous!!

I thought UK was bad enough, keep it in France

Thailand could organise it's own T de T in conjunction with TAT and sponsored by TOT.

[webfact]

Thai Govt Hopes To Host First Asian Tour de France
By Khaosod English


Car Free Day in Bangkok, 21 Sept 2014.

BANGKOK — In an effort to boost the Thailand’s struggling tourism industry, Thai authorities are reportedly seeking to be the first Asian nation to host the world-renowned Tour de France cycling competition.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is currently in talks with Paris-based Amaury Sport Organisation about the opportunity to stage the world's biggest cycling race in Thailand next year, according to a report on the TAT's website.

“More talks are underway, but we expect Thailand to play the perfect host to this esteemed and prominent cycling race as early as in 2015," TAT Governor Thawatchai Arunyik was quoted as saying in the report.

“By playing host to a world famous cycling race as the Tour de France, we are saying that Thailand is ready to host international sporting events of all types and sizes," he said. "We are saying that Thailand is the place to enjoy sporting events, to enjoy unique natural and cultural experiences, and to share memorable travel moments with the world.”

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1412236294


-- Khaosod English 2014-10-02

[speleo]

This is not going to happen in 2015 as the TdF will start in Utrecht next year.

And probably never will happen due to the logistics of moving the race back from Thailand to France in a sensible time frame.

What they may be talking about is having ASO organise a race in Thailand - not the same as having the Tour de France in Thailand.

[DP25]

Those mandatory tracking devices for tourists will prove useful after all

[deckape]

It is a known fact that for cyclists joining the Tour de France, winning or losing the race is not their ultimate goal.

What? I wonder if they write this stuff after a 4 cocktail lunch.

[robertthebruce]

Yes nothing nicer than Cycling around Thailand, safe as anything ????

[Soutpeel]

and when I thought lets charge a fee for security on KT was the daftest news story on TV, along comes this one

Well TAT you can always be counted on to give everyone a laugh or shake their heads in disbelief

Will the Tour de Thailand be before or after the Thailand F1 Grand Prix ?

Edited October 2, 2014 by Soutpeel

[arunsakda]

How long would it take top pros to do the climb to Wat Doi Suthep from Hauy Kaew arboretum?

[Soutpeel]

How long would it take top pros to do the climb to Wat Doi Suthep from Hauy Kaew arboretum?

I dont know, but I am sure one of TV members who has had a top BG who has climbed up to Wat Doi Suthep before may be they can answer

[NongKhaiKid]

Yes nothing nicer than Cycling around Thailand, safe as anything ????

Would the riders be exempt from wearing bracelets or being tagged and not having to pay a security fee wherever they go plus triple entry charge if the route goes through a national park ?

Of course the fees would stand, Thais don't allow money to slip away.

[Fred Flinstone]

Its just endless propaganda - Thais consider Mars landing-

Host World Cup.

Endless silly stuff-

The idea is to take peoples minds of their lives being taken over.

[SoFarAndNear]

They want to do the Tour the France in a country where probably 95% of the citizents couldn't point where France is.

[micky plumb]

Maybe Paris Roubaix would be a better target given the state of the roads here in Thailand

If it does come here I hope it passes by my vicinity so that we get a deck of tarmac...

[Pib]

Tour de France (FDF)

Tour in Thailand (TIT)

[Mango Bob]

Will they give each cyclist a wristband so we can monitor them?

[CobraSnakeNecktie]

All hat and no cattle

This is extra extra ambitious claim even for Thailand.

How about starting a Tour of Thailand and building it up over many years to get a shred of credibility first?

Yeah I know there is a Tour of Thailand now but it's not on many international teams radar or priority list now.

[dom samui]

Mythos

[jucel]

I've never heard such ridiculous piffle in my life!

Btw, in other sporting news Thailand have been assured of the 2022 world cup, as Qatar has been unable to convince Sepp Blatter that their weather changing machines will be ready in time.

A TAT spokesperson stated that their weather changing machines were in a far more advanced stage and could guarantee temperatures of 15 degrees celsius at every ground.

[AGareth2]

fanciful

[jucel]

You can just imagine a stage being held up as a farmer crosses the road with 100 cows

[eldragon]

This will go over like the last FIFA event that never happened.

[CiaranO]

its a shame TAT didnt bother to check the tour de France schedule for next year - they might have noticed that it has already been decided where it will be.

TAT seriously need to get a grip - they are the absolute laughing stock. Maybe they are planning to lure the Tour here.

[Fab5BKK]

Of course!

And the bicycles would have to be tandem bicycles!

1 rider, 1 companion

Yes nothing nicer than Cycling around Thailand, safe as anything ????

Would the riders be exempt from wearing bracelets or being tagged and not having to pay a security fee wherever they go plus triple entry charge if the route goes through a national park ?

Of course the fees would stand, Thais don't allow money to slip away.

Edited October 2, 2014 by Fab5BKK

[ChrisY1]

Oh great....36c....humidity 85%.....2000+kms........yeh...they'll be rushing here to compete!!.........(if they don't get robbed or mugged on the way)!

[Songhua]

You can just imagine a stage being held up as a farmer crosses the road with 100 cows

.... and forty soi dogs snapping at the heels of the peloton.

[RJF]

Please stop it! I had not even recovered from the whole wristband tagging claim and then they follow it up with this one. The 2015 course has pretty much been decided upon, it will start in Utrecht about a 12 hour flight from here and Thailand will not be part of it, period. I saw the original press release by TAT which literally had the subject line: Tour de France to be held in Thailand next year. It's scary to think these people are responsible for one of the biggest sectors of the Thai economy.

[Bluespunk]

Hmm, that reminds me......how's the F1 bid coming along?

[jucel]

Can you imagine the original and ongoing correspondence. I would love to hear/see that, it would be an absolute pisser!

At least half a dozen frenchies got an all inclusive (probably 5 star) visit on the Thai Tax payer!!