Dubai, 7 November 2013 - Visitors
to Thailand over the upcoming year-end holiday season are set to enjoy a
truly spectacular atmosphere and some of the best shopping and dining
in Asia, thanks to a unique public-private sector cooperative campaign
being launched by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
To run all the way from 15 November, 2013, to 31 January, 2014,
the “Thailand Spectacular Year End" campaign will, for the first time,
see TAT join hands with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration,
Airports of Thailand and VISA International (Asia-Pacific) to ensure
that visitors have a wonderful time from arrival to departure.
Details of the
campaign were announced at a press conference today by Mrs. Vilaiwan
Twichasri, TAT Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business, along
with Mr. Sirote Duangratana, Senior Advisor 11, Airports of Thailand,
Mr. Amorn Kitchawengkul, Deputy Governor of the Bangkok Metropolitan
Administrator, and Mr. Somboon Krobteeranon, VISA Country Manager
Myanmar, Thailand.
Thai and foreign
tourists will experience the rich decorations put up around the country
for the festive season, enjoy a colourful welcome at all of Thailand’s
international airports, and equally vibrant and cheerful atmosphere at
their accommodation and tourist attractions and shopping centres
nationwide.
Decorative
lighting will be used to beautify the main tourist attractions in
Bangkok; such as, Ratchaprasong Road, Sukhumvit Road, Asiatique the
Riverfront, etc. Leading department stores and shopping centres like
Siam Paragon and Central Chidlom, CentralWorld, Siam Discovery, Siam
Centre and many others will support the campaign by offering attractive
shopping benefits to tourists during the year-end sale.
Mrs. Vilaiwan said, “The year-end holiday season in Thailand actually begins on 15 November
with the charming Loi Krathong cultural festivities, then continues
through to the first half of December with His Majesty the King’s
Birthday and Constitution Day holidays and then extends through to the
Christmas-New Year period with the spectacular countdown.
“This year, for
the first time, we decided to get off to an early start so that visitors
can have a good time regardless of when they come. The campaign is
built around the three most popular tourist activities: eat and drink,
shop and visit new places.”
Participating
department stores, shopping centres, supermarkets, and hotels in
Thailand will be offering gift baskets and accommodation packages for
tourists. Visitors will also be able to avail of extensive shopping
bargains and lucky draws.
"Drop in
Thailand” is another activity designed to enhance the visitor
experience. They can share their photos while travelling and shopping in
Thailand through social media; such as, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
with the hash tag #ThailandSpectacularYearEnd or #tourismthailand. In
addition, tourists can also share their photos through the Fanpage of
“Amazing Thailand”, and other partners; such as, the AOT, BMA, AirAsia,
True, and DTAC to get a souvenir at the end of the project.
A gift basket festival will run from 15 November, 2013 – 15 January, 2014,
with participating department stores and shopping malls including
Gaysorn Plaza, Siam Paragon, The Emporium, The Mall Department Stores,
Robinson Department Stores and Thai products shops; such as, Jim
Thompson, HARNN, Villa Market, and Gourmet Market. Hotels, for example,
Centara, Four Seasons, Renaissance, Siam Kempinski, Le Meridien,
Westin, Centre Point, Holiday Inn, etc. will offer gift sets and
accommodation packages with food
Finally,
tourists who spend over 5,000 Baht per person at participating hotels,
restaurants, tourist attractions and department stores can show their
receipts at the VISA card booth at the departure lounge of Suvarnabhumi
and Don Mueang International Airports and redeem one gift of their
choice (up to a maximum of two gifts per person). The booth will be
decorated in the shape of a large gift box and offer a choice of over
50,000 gifts.
Mrs. Vilaiwan
said, “We expect this project will increase tourist spending by 20% over
the average spending via VISA card in the past. Visitors can find lots
more information on the website www.tourismthailand.org”.
At the press
conference, TAT and VISA International (Asia-Pacific) also presented the
award for the lucky-draw winners of the “Amazing Thailand Grand Sale
2013” held in June 2013. The local winner is Ms. Chomphunoot AimSaad who
received a one-million Baht shopping voucher. The foreign winner of the
Amazing 30 days in Thailand package prize is Mr. Abdulla Habeeb of the
Maldives in Sri Lanka.
In 2012,
Thailand attracted 22.35 million international visitors, up 16.24% over
2011. Their expenditure generated a total of 983 billion Baht or
US$31.65 billion (based on the exchange rate of 31.08 Baht to the USD)
in foreign exchange revenue. Average daily expenditure in 2012 was 4,392
Baht per person (US$141) over an average length of stay of 10 days.
According to the
Ministry of Sports and Tourism figures, 30% (1,311 Baht) of the
average daily expenditure in 2012 was on accommodation, 24% (1,048 Baht)
on shopping, 18% (821 Baht) on food and beverage, 12% (522 Baht) on
entertainment, 10% (451 Baht) on local transportation, 4% (171 Baht) on
sightseeing, and 2% (66 Baht) on miscellaneous items.
In 2013, TAT is
confident that if the global, regional and local situation remains
stable, Thailand will receive 26.26 million arrivals, generating a
projected tourism income of 1.18 trillion Baht. For 2014, TAT has set a
target of 28 million visitors, expected to generate a projected a growth
of 13% for tourism income to 1.32 trillion Baht.
For more information on the The Amazing Tastes of Thailand Fest 2013, please contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand at:
Tourism Authority of Thailand, Dubai & Middle East Office
133 Sheikh Zayed Road, Apartment # 1804,
DusitThaniDubai,P.O. Box 450019, Dubai, U.A.E
Tel: +971 4 324 0184 Fax: +971 4 325 0187
