January 2008 will set the new year off with a bang. Over 1,000 delegates will be in Bangkok for the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) between 18-26 January 2008. This is the annual meeting of the ASEAN governments and private sector. Readers may wish to check out more about the member countries and programmes of ASEAN at this website: www.aseansec.org

Tourism plays a very important in the economic, cultural, social and environmental profile of the ASEAN countries. The key component of the ATF is the Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) to be held from 21-26 January.

It is open to all suppliers of ASEAN tourism products and services as well as buyers from around the world and such other tourism-related establishments promoting tourist traffic to, among, and within the ASEAN region. ATF Buyers include travel wholesalers, retailers, agents, convention and incentive organizers, and other establishments dealing in outbound.
For more details and on-line registration, please check out http://www.atf2008thailand.com

It is befitting that I begin with a tribute to His Majesty the King, our beloved monarch. Just a few days ago, the entire Thai nation came together to commemorate His Majesty’s 80th Birthday on 5 December. His Majesty is now the world’s longest reigning monarch and within two years, will become the longest reigning monarch in world history.

His Majesty’s various anniversaries have played a major role in helping us to galvanise the Thai travel and tourism industry to higher levels. It was exactly 20 years that we celebrated the 60th birthday with the first Visit Thailand Year. That fabulous event catapulted Thai travel and tourism to new heights and gave it respectability.

This year, TAT paid special tribute to His Majesty in a “different” way. We took a group of 600 destitutes children for a trip to Kanchanaburi, the province in which the famous Bridge over the River Kwai is located. It was a really happy day for the children and the look on their faces, as they enjoyed themselves, made it certainly worthwhile for all of us who accompanied them.

Moreover, I would like to thank all those who joined us in celebrating His Majesty’s birthday this year including  the Tourism Council of Thailand, The Association of Domestic Travel, the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), Thai Hotels Association (THA), Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association (TEATA) who have been participating in many projects attribute to His Majesty. I hope all those who love Thailand will join us in wishing His Majesty a long and healthy life.

Incidentally, I would strongly recommend visitors to go to see at least one of the nine “Royal Initiative Discovery” projects which include the Royal Agricultural Station Angkhang (Chiang Mai), Mae Fah Luang Art and Cultural Park and Hall of Opium (Chiang Rai), Doi Tung Development Project, The Thai Elephant Conservation Centre (Lampang), Ban Kut Na Kham Arts and Crafts Centre (Sakon Nakhon), Bangsai Arts and Crafts Centre (Ayutthaya), College in the Court (Nakhon Pathom) Wat Yansangwararam (Chon Buri) and Mrigadayavan Palace (Phetchaburi). These projects are a part of His Majesty’s socio-economic development principles, the “sufficiency economy” concept which we are gradually incorporating into our tourism development strategies.

We believe the “sufficiency economy” concept has global applicability, especially in an era of global warming and climate change. This sufficiency economy concept stresses the moderate practices in Buddhism and strives to merge technical knowledge with the principles of wisdom and morality.

On 8 December, I was honoured to join the travel and tourism industry of North Thailand in holding the first Chiang Mai Travel Forum, organised at the initiative of the Chiang Mai Tourist Business Association. It was truly a pleasure to see the private sector step forward in this way. I would like to compliment Chiang Mai Tourism Business (CTBA) for its support especially CTBA’s president Khun Songwit Itthipattanakul for his kind cooperation.

TAT invited over 100 buyers from Australia, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Korea to meet 46 local sellers representing golf courses, spas, boutique hotels, shopping plaza, hospitals and restaurants in Chiang Mai and surrounding areas in the north of Thailand. 

Chiang Mai is the economic, communications, cultural and tourism centre of Northern Thailand. In recent years, it has undergone considerable economic development but still retains its historic heritage of hilltribes, wood-carving factories and the country’s largest village of traditional handicrafts, Thai textiles such as silk and cotton, as well as the famous umbrella painters. It is also becoming increasingly well-known as a centre of traditional Thai massage, meditation, spas, health and wellness.

All the major components to help you visit Chiang Mai are in place.

Firstly, there is excellent accessibility. Today, Chiang Mai is served by numerous airlines, including Thai Airways International, Nok Air, PB Air, Lao Airlines, Tiger Airways, Silkair, Thai Airasia, One-Two-Go Airlines, SGA Airlines, Hong Kong Express Airways, Korean Air and Air Mandalay. Furthermore, the operation of direct flights to Chiang Mai is  requested from buyers and mostly welcomed.

Secondly, the accommodation sector is vastly improved, with a range of new properties across all sectors – from specialist boutique hotels to health and wellness retreats to deluxe resorts.
Thirdly, the city is gaining prominence on the world map. In 2006, the city won a number awards by readers of both Travel + Leisure Magazine and Conde Nast Traveller. Last year, it hosted the International Horticultural Exposition known as the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006. Over three million people visited the colourful flower festival which was designed to highlight Thailand’s deeply agricultural traditions.

Some recommendations about Chinese and Japanese speaking guides have been requested. Local guides have to be fluent in story telling in order to sell more convincingly. Moreover, there is a mention about more restaurants with Halal food.
In future, I can promise you that Chiang Mai will become a very important city, including a business hub and MICE destination. One of the major factors will be road transport. The Asian Highway network is rapidly taking shape throughout the Southeast Asian region. One of its key components, the North-South corridor will, in the not too distant future, link Singapore with Kunming, running via both Bangkok and Chiang Mai.

The World Travel Market 2007 held in London between 12-15 November 2007, is always an important event for the Thai tourism industry. It is the world’s second biggest travel trade show after the International Tourismus-Börse (ITB) in Berlin.

This year, I was proud to be part of the contingent of a record 107 Thai tourism companies, including 90 hotels and resorts, 14 tour operators, 2 spa operators and 1 Thai cultural theme complex.

The UK is Thailand’s most important source of arrivals from Europe. In January – September 2007, arrivals from the UK at Suvarnabhumi International Airport grew 2.42% to 495,973. Total arrivals to Thailand in that period were 7,476,331, up 4% over the same period of 2006.

UK visitors do not need visas to come to Thailand. There has been phenomenal growth in women travellers, retirees and MICE delegates. As of October 2007, there were 34 direct scheduled flights per week between Bangkok and London being operated by four airlines – THAI Airways International, British Airways, Qantas and Eva Airways.

This year, our focus was on promoting “Green Tourism.” We are aware that tourists worldwide are expressing growing concern about nature and the environment to the point of choosing destinations and companies based on their commitment to environmental preservation.

Thailand boasts a lot of unique products that fit perfectly within the concept of “Green Tourism”, such as the UNESCO World Heritage sites, national parks and coastal regions. These natural assets as well as the many TAT environmental awareness projects and activities such as the CBT SPRING Partnership Project, Green Leaf project, etc., were highlighted at the WTM.  This year, for the first time, we supported Thai tourism associations by inviting the Association of Thai Travel Agents  (ATTA) and Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) to have their own stands at WTM 2007.

A Press conference was held during which the Minister of Tourism and Sports, Dr. Suvit Yodmani, gave a detailed briefing to travel journalists. Princess Ubol Ratana also presided at a cocktail reception “Happy Green Hour” at the Thai pavilion and also conferred the Green Awards on UK tour operator partners who have helped to promote Thai ecotourism.