Thailand hosts Second Mega-Fam Trip to Promote Tourism Recovery

More than 270 tour operators and travel journalists from important visitor-generating countries in Northeast Asia and the Middle East are visiting the Andaman coast provinces of Thailand as part of another massive familiarization trip designed to show that Thai tourism is functioning normally.

The Mega-Fam Trip in the last week of July 2005 is the second of its kind, following the first one organized earlier this year for world-wide markets as part of the Andaman Recovery plans to promote and revive the six provinces affected by the December 26, 2004, Tsunami.

Organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Airways International (THAI) and the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), it is intended to give the visiting travel agents and media a chance to see for themselves the readiness and safety of the destinations to resume receiving visitors.

TAT Governor Mrs. Juthamas Siriwan said, "The world needs to know that most of the destinations are open and safe to travel.  We hope the agents and media, in their primary role as opinion-shapers, will reflect this in the their writings and sales efforts."

The groups will come from Thailand's hugely important visitor source markets of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Middle East.  The Chinese group will be the largest with a total of 150 travel agents and media, followed by Taiwan (52), Hong Kong (50) and Middle East (20).

Mr. Kanok Abhiradee, THAI's President, said " As the national carrier, THAI aims to further strengthen the relationships between Thailand and China, especially this year which marks the 30th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. In addition, THAI will expand its network in China by codesharing with domestic Chinese carriers via Beijing, Shanghai, Kunming and Guangzhou gateways."

By supporting the Thai government's policy to revive the Southern Andaman Sea areas, THAI is sponsoring all the air tickets for the Mega-Fam Trips.  The airline has closely coordinated its plans with TAT overseas offices to ensure the selection of productive and professional travel agents and writers.

TAT is arranging the accommodation, tour programs and ground transport.

Overall, visitor arrivals to Thailand at Bangkok International Airport during January - June 2005 totaled 3.85 million, an increase of 1.4% over the same period in 2004.  But visitors from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong declined by 19.94%, 15.36% and 14.57%, respectively.

Mrs. Juthamas said, "We're hoping the second Fam Trip will help to stimulate the market, so that it prepares the ground for a good response from dominant generators of volume visitors for Thailand."

It is hoped that events like the Mega-Fam Trip and other marketing promotions will produce good results and more than compensate for the effects of the Tsunami.

Another group of travel agents and media from Korea visited Thailand for a similar fam trip between 21-24 June, 2005 whereas travel agents and media from Japan will visit Thailand in August 2005.

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