Thailand set to gain from adventure tourism event

[webfact]

Thailand set to gain from adventure tourism event
SUCHAT SRITAMA
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THE PACIFIC ASIA Travel Association and the Tourism Authority of Thailand will stage the first adventure mart in the Kingdom next year, with the aim of promoting more destinations throughout the region and boosting arrivals from niche markets. The Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart will be held at Dusit Island Resort in Chiang Rai on February 17-19.

The event will lure buyers from around the world to meet sellers from Thailand and elsewhere.

"As of last Friday, we had received 30-40 per cent more [bookings] from buyers compared to this year's event in Bhutan. More sellers are expected to join the event," PATA chief executive Mario Hardy said.

Almost 60 per cent of those buyer bookings are from Europe, 14 per cent are from Asia, 11 per cent from North America, 11 per cent from Australia, 3 per cent from South America, and 3 per cent from Africa. Most of the sellers are from Thailand and Southeast Asia.

Hardy said adventure tourism had become more popular for tourists worldwide and would remain so for the next decade.

The regional adventure conference and mart aims to highlight more adventure attractions in Thailand and Southeast Asia for the global market and build awareness of adventure activities in each destination.

"Adventure tourism can create more jobs and also help small and medium-sized operators gain business," Hardy said.

Next year's event is expected to boost the number of adventure tourists travelling to the region, particularly those aged 20 to 30.

The TAT will provide five pre- and post-tours for the conference and mart, ranging from cycling trips along the Lao River to kayaking on the Mae Kok River.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Thailand-set-to-gain-from-adventure-tourism-event-30274406.html

-- The Nation 2015-12-07

[whatproblem]

Thailand is a good place for adrenaline the junky ,see if you can leave alive

[Oziex1]

Their "Luring" again.

[user82374298374]

All tourists in Thailand are 'adventure tourists', whether they realize it or not.

[Lupatria]

Think big! Declare the entire country an adventure park under a TAT slogan: "If life get's boring risk it in Thailand!"

[yellowboat]

It was just a few months ago the TAT was trying to fill the 4-5 star, elite owned, hotels with "quality tourists". Now it seems they have gone back to the Khaosan Road crowd, which are far easier to serve and better for the Thai economy.

[wabothai]

Think big! Declare the entire country an adventure park under a TAT slogan: "If life get's boring risk it in Thailand!"

"The plane" !!

[LivinLOS]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/823069-chiang-mai-unique-150-km-mountain-trail-run-in-north-banned/

Left hand.. Right hand..

[Cpkt8]

Before promoting new itineries whatsoever, the government should ensure building a strong foundation of safety for tourists first.

[NCC1701A]

so you get a "certificate of survival" and group photo after each mini van trip?

[phycokiller]

no way I would ever do that stuff in Thailand

[farcanell]

Lmao... I can already hear the staff members yelling " is ok, is ok, go, go, go

In a country with little to no accountability, this is akin to attempted murder... Or indeed, murder itself.

[Basil B]

I am just thinking of some adventures for those who like the near death sensation...

Well Thailand is the place to be, a road trip for starters, if that does not thrill enough take a 4x4 Off Road on Sumui, riding on the roof. If water is more your to your liking try the Pattaya to Kho Larn ferry, no sinking's recently so one or two are a long time over due.

You can always pick a fight with a bar door man or the local Hells Angles, you certainly will get the near death experience there,

[Benmart]

Think big! Declare the entire country an adventure park under a TAT slogan: "If life get's boring risk it in Thailand!"

"The plane" !!

Yes, even Herve Villechaize from Fantasy Island would have a good laugh at all this.

[Benmart]

The Hub of Hype.

[djlest]

yeah zip lining how many deaths this year? due to Thai (i dont care) standards and education

Oh - Bungee jumping? who died earlier this year? due to (i dont care) infrastructure...

Seriously keep dreaming Thailand...

[waldroj]

So, Thailand plans to attract more Adventure Tourists. Let’s hope these adventurous tourists get advanced warning of the risks they will be taking in this country!

While TAT aim to build awareness of adventure activities in the country, nobody here seems too interested in ensuring these activities include adequate safety standards to properly protect tourists from "avoidable" accidents and negligence.

For example, elsewhere (http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/873743-water-slide-in-hua-hin-goes-wrong/?p=10163566), we are being told of yet another incident at a local tourist attraction!

Add this one to the growing list of incidents (including death and injury by mis-adventure) where foreign tourists and locals have become victims of attraction-operator’s blatant disregard for proper safety standards and duty of care.

Not surprisingly, in above example, “the park’s management blamed the incident on a negligent employee”.

If Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, and TAT, were to devout as much attention to the enforcing the safety standards of tourist attractions in this country as they do trying to save face over the ICAO and FAA downgrades (see http://www.tatnews.org/thai-tourism-industry-addresses-travellers-concerns-over-aviation-safety-standards/), incidents like this one, and recent zip-line and scuba deaths, may have been avoided.

See also:

http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1444734610

http://www.thephuketnews.com/patong-dive-tour-operator-surfaces-in-chinese-tourist-dive-death-55201.php