Thailand welcomes Omani tourist as its 17 millionth visitor

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Thailand welcomes Omani tourist as its 17 millionth visitor



BANGKOK: -- Thailand welcomed its 17 millionth visitor for this year with warm welcoming ceremony for the surprised Omani at the Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday.

According to TAT News, The Omani tourist Mr AL Shaqsi Yaqdhan Hamad Khali was greeted by TAT executives as he emerged from the arrival lounge at the airport.

He was given two economy-class return air tickets from his international port of origin to Thailand along with a five-night accommodation voucher, a “Thailand’s Luckiest Visitor” certificate as well as other prizes from TAT’s project partners. The trip has a validity period of one year.

As part of a “Green Season” marketing strategy, every millionth visitor to the country is being welcomed at Thailand’s international aviation gateways until 30 September, 2015.

The lucky visitors are given the same privileges.

The activity is designed to support the “2015 Discover Thainess” umbrella campaign, which aims to highlight the endless charm of Thailand, the diversity of destinations, the flavours of Thai cuisine, fascinating uniqueness of the traditions and culture, as well as the friendliness of its people.

Thailand welcomed the 13 millionth visitor on 13 June, 2015, followed by the 14 millionth visitor on 21 June, the 15 millionth on 5 July, the 16 millionth on 15 July, 2015, and now the latest 17 millionth visitor on 28 July 2015.

Mr Sugree Sithivanich, TAT’s Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications said, “We are extremely happy to see visitor arrivals to Thailand going up by a million every 10-15 days on average, especially during what is supposed to be an off-season period. This marketing gimmick to reward the millionth visitor generates positive publicity over social media.”

According to the preliminary figures released by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Thailand welcomed a total of 15.81 million visitors between January to 12 July, 2015, a 30.31 percent increase over the same period of 2014. This generated tourism income of 741.12 billion baht, a 30.43 percent growth over the same period of last year. TAT is projecting 28.8 million visitors in 2015.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/thailand-welcomes-omani-tourist-as-its-17-millionth-visitor

-- Thai PBS 2015-07-29

[DLang]

Wow.

Flew in on Thai Airways, again?

[tomacht8]

The TAT projecting numbers i do not read.

But two economy-class return air tickets and a five-night accommodation voucher.

That is nice.

[DLang]

The TAT projecting numbers i do not read.

But two economy-class return air tickets and a five-night accommodation voucher.

That is nice.

You didn't see the taxi fare he had to pay to get from the airport to the hotel.

[Somtamnication]

Great. Oman will now fund more mosques in Thailand. Just what the TAT wants.

[NongKhaiKid]

The 17th million visitor, by TAT's figures !

[DirtyDan]

He better hurry up and use those flight vouchers within the next 65 days before all Thai registered airlines loose their ability to fly internationally.

[SABloke]

How do they determine this?

[jerojero]

Row 89. Middle seats. No recline. Next to toilet.

[deckape]

He better hurry up and use those flight vouchers within the next 65 days before all Thai registered airlines loose their ability to fly internationally.

Beat me to it.

[exbikey]

Things are definitely looking good for tourism in Thailand. Only 13 days ago Thailand welcomed its 16th million guest...wow

[simon43]

How do they determine this?

You mean who exactly is the 17th million visitor?

Easy, the Thai big wigs watch the line of passengers getting off the plane...

'That one?'

'No way Somchai, wifebeater shirt'

'Howabout that guy - he has a Thai wife'

'Are you joking? Look at the colour of her skin'

'Him then?'

'Too fat'

'Whatabout him? Nice tidy suit?'

'Nope, he looks like an English teacher'

'OK, I see the guy - him'

'Oh yes, looks Arab, fits in with our marketing brief, let's get him before the taxi guys fleece him'

'

[DLang]

The 17th million visitor, by TAT's figures !

To be fair, 12 million of those were degreeless TEFL teachers doing a border-run to Cambodia and back.

They all count, Sir.

[ginjag]

The 17th million visitor, by TAT's figures !

1 million migrants---1 million Malays shopping cross border---1 million Laos workers--` million visa runs-----1 million in transit----- laugh of the day they were waiting for him at arrivals ha ha ha just sounds like a Thai OTT publicity stunt, tell me why not a back packer from Mongolia ( doesn't have the same class feel does it )........................TAT get real and get real jobs.

[upena]

1,000,000 tourists in 13 days during rainy season. Right

[thaiduncankk]

I feel sorry for the one who was in front of him, but decided to go for a piss before entering the arrivals hall !

[KamalaRider]

He better hurry up and use those flight vouchers within the next 65 days before all Thai registered airlines loose their ability to fly internationally.

That was in their (Thai aviation and TAT's) plan from the start.

Make sure no Thai airlines are able to fly to and from any destination, hence, they don't have to fulfill their prizes for the "winners".

"Not our fault, Mr Suxxxx Sxxxxxxxxxx reported to have said"

[SOTIRIOS]

...didn't they just announce a different winner a few days ago.....???

[Doc46]

Is this taken from all country entries or only from the Airport and than selected at a CHOICE

[seancbk]

The TAT projecting numbers i do not read.

But two economy-class return air tickets and a five-night accommodation voucher.

That is nice.

He's an Omani, he probably flew First Class with his family entourage with First Class return tickets (the rest of the entourage not shown in the photo).

I'm sure he was thrilled to get 2 cattle class tickets.

[thhMan]

Getting freebies and having them honored are 2 different things

[Estrada]

99% to have been a fix. But they could hardly have given the award to the dregs of humanity that appear on the BBC documentary about Suvarnbhumi Airport.

[Saan]

He only received the prize because Thai officials thought he could be a poster boy for the new, dry Thailand proposals.

[retarius]

Yesterday's Thai Visa had an article about rising tourism with this quote: During the first six months of the year, the country main gateway Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport welcomed 26.75 million passengers followed by Don Mueang with 14.43mn and Phuket 6.43mn. Chiang Mai Airport handled 4.04mn passengers.

How can Mr Omani be the 17millionth visitor through Swampy if 26.75 million came in the first 6 months of the year?

[chickenslegs]

Yesterday's Thai Visa had an article about rising tourism with this quote: During the first six months of the year, the country main gateway Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport welcomed 26.75 million passengers followed by Don Mueang with 14.43mn and Phuket 6.43mn. Chiang Mai Airport handled 4.04mn passengers.

How can Mr Omani be the 17millionth visitor through Swampy if 26.75 million came in the first 6 months of the year?

In addition to "visitors", Suvarnabhumi airport also receives a lot of transit passengers and domestic flights.

Maybe that is the explanation (or part of it).

[ElisabethA]

He wouldn't have been travelling TAT, Omani nationals get awesome rates with Oman Air which also has several flights has a day into BKK (although the F and B standards have gone down as a result of cost cutting). All a P R stunt, but it could have been worse and been a Saudi, he would have needed 4 tickets for his wives alone.

[Colabamumbai]

Well good it was not the Thai cop deported from Japan for smuggling a loaded gun out of Thailand in his hand bag.

He would have got a free ticket back to Japan.

[Deli]

Will be fleeced by Katoeys on beach road, when trying to cheat on this wife, sleeping in the hotel

[AlQaholic]

And they gave him a monkey class ticket, that's really cheap.

[magnacarta]

Was it Barack Omani?