A record
15,000 establishments in seven of Thailand’s most important tourism
cities are participating in the “Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2014”, which
will be held between 15 June – 15 August, 2014, making it the biggest
ever.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has
launched a special website to promote the grand annual shopping event,
which will be held in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai, Pattaya, Hua
Hin and Samui. Participants include department stores, shopping centres,
accommodation, spa and beauty, golf courses, entertainment centres and
restaurants.
The website (www.thailandshoppingparadise.com)of
this year’s Grand Sale includes a Shopping Tips feature to help visitors
get better deals, understand the VAT refund process and avoid buying
sub-standard products.
A special section has also been created to promote
the locally-made OTOP products, income from which goes a long way towards
boosting rural income and supporting local artisans.
As in previous years, the Grand Sale is designed to
boost tourism and visitor expenditure, further building the image of
Thailand as a major shopping destination, and contributing to job
creation and distribution of income nationwide.
TAT Governor, Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik said, “This
year’s Grand Sale has a special meaning because it will be an important
part of our tourism recovery strategy for 2014. This campaign will help
provoke an income to tourism sectors and entrepreneurs in the
participating areas and we hope visitors will take full advantage of the
great discounts.”
There are two activities during “Amazing Thailand
Grand Sale 2014” as follows:
1.
Up
to 80% discounts at
department stores, shopping centres, shops, spas, hotels and other Grand
Sale participants.
2.
Amazing
Thailand Grand Sale Shopping Challenge; On June 18, 2014, well known celebrities in various
fields from Asian countries will have a shopping competition in
participating complexes and centres.
A total of 15 teams from Malaysia,
Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar,Taiwan,
China, Japan and Korea are competing this year. The winner team will
receive a cash prize of 100, 000 Baht.
This year’s Grand Sale has been enhanced by two
lucky-draw prizes of “Travel 365 days in Thailand” for two couples (one
from abroad, one local) to enjoy a trip within Thailand. Visitors will
get a couponfrom participating partners, which upon expenditure of every
500 Baht by cash or any credit card at any one place. However, if they
pay by VISA card, they will get two coupons.
The coupons can be dropped into the lucky draw drop
box. The winning couples will get free Thai Airways’ return air-tickets
and Centara’s hotels & resorts chain. As for the prize, the winning
couples can take their trip any time within 365 days.
TAT estimates that tourist spending on shopping via
credit cards alone will grow by 20% over last year.
In 2013, Thailand attracted 26.5 million
international visitors, a good growth of 27.03% over the 2012.
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TAT to strengthen partnership
with Middle East Big Three Airlines
Friday 16 May, 2014
Bangkok -16 May, 2014 - The Tourism
Authority of Thailand (TAT) is to collaborate with the Middle East big
three airlines to help maintain a steady flow of visitor arrivals from
some of Thailand’s highest-spending source markets.
During the recent Arabian Travel Market, TAT
Governor Thawatchai Arunyik and a team of senior executives held
back-to-back talks with executives of Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways
to explore collaborative ways of maintaining the flow of visitor arrivals
from these Gulf States.
Over the last few years, these airlines, along with
others; such as, Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways, Royal Jordanian, and Turkish
Airlines have played a major role in providing much-needed seat capacity
via connections through their respective hub cities to Bangkok.
Mr. Tanes Petsuwan, Executive Director of the
Europe, Africa and Middle East Region, said, “TAT officials had been told
by the Gulf airlines that they would maintain this capacity, in spite of
the current political situation.
“Our main focus of attention at the Arabian Travel
Market was to help the travel trade better understand the reality on the
ground and stress the fact that the overwhelming vast majority of
Thailand, including tourism attractions and transportation facilities, are
open for business and operating normally.
“The TAT team personally visited all the airline
pavilions to meet their senior executives and find ways of helping each
other. All the airlines told us that Bangkok was one of their most
important points in Asia, and that it was important for them to maintain
their route profitability.”
He said that the main problem faced by the Thai
tourism industry was the continuing travel advisories issued by various
governments.
To combat this perception, Mr. Tanes said TAT and
the Gulf airlines had agreed to undertake a series of familiarisation
trips for media and travel agency representatives in the Gulf countries
to help them see the situation for themselves and make their own
decisions.
These trips will be operated over the rest of the
year with each airline bringing in one group every quarter.
He also mentioned that although there had been a
decline in visitor arrivals from the Gulf countries, TAT was hoping to
make up for the shortfall in the coming months and end the year with the
same number of arrivals as last year.
“Our main focus continues to be on the niche
markets; such as, health and wellness, weddings and honeymoons. Gulf
visitors are among the highest spenders per capita with an above average
length of stay.”
As of the summer schedule 2014, there are 98
scheduled flights per week between Thailand (Bangkok and Phuket) and
Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha. This comprises Emirates (35 flights), Qatar
Airways (35 flights), and Etihad Airways (28 flights)
Visitor arrivals from the Middle East countries
totalled 171,323 in January – April 2014, tabulated by country of Egypt,
Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E. and others.
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