THAILAND TRAVEL MART PLUS 2009 IS READY SET

THAILAND TRAVEL MART PLUS 2009 IS READY SET


The Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2009 (TTM+ 2009), the ninth annual travel expo encompassing Thailand and the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), is to be held in Bangkok between 3-7 June, 2009, at CentralWorld and IMPACT Muang Thong Thani.

The five-day event aims at connecting international buyers with sellers of tourism products and services from the Mekong destinations of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and Yunnan, southern China.

Tourism-related small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) of Thailand and the GMS will once again showcase their new products and services to a broad range of international buyers at the TTM+ 2009.

About 360 buyers from major markets world-wide will attend the event. Organisers have thoroughly screened the buyers to invite only those who are genuinely keen to produce business for Thailand and the GMS region.

Most of the buyers are from the traditional visitor-generating markets such as, India (42), USA (25), UK (24), Korea (16), Australia (24), Russia (26), Germany (15), Canada (13), Korea (16) and Malaysia (10).

At the same time, the invitee list includes a formidable line-up of buyers from new markets such as, Argentina (1), Brazil (3), Estonia (1), Mexico (3), Moldova (1), Mozambique (1), Romania (2), South Africa (12), Turkey (1) and Yugoslavia (2).

Mr. Weerasak Kowsurat, TAT Chairman said, “This is part of our strategy to broaden the sources of visitor arrivals and expose Thailand and the GMS region to new buyers from countries and regions which could deliver promising results in the future.

“Now that the tourism situation in Thailand is back to normal, there will be plenty of opportunities for delegates to discuss the latest market trends, introduce new products and offer creative packages at value-for-money-prices,” he said.

Designed to promote Thailand as a regional tourism hub, the TTM+ 2009 will be attended by about 405 sellers from Thailand and the Mekong region.

Sellers will be divided into ten specific categories — hotels and resorts (302), tour operators and travel agents (45), ecotourism and adventure (7), wellness and spa (3), airlines (3), entertainment/theme park/cultural products (11), golf courses (4), associations (5), other tourism services (9) and GMS countries (16).

A briefing for buyers and sellers, together with on-site appointments between operators and patrons, will be held on the opening day (3 June) at CentralWorld’s Bangkok Convention Centre.

The remaining days (4-7 June 2009) will take place at the Challenger Hall, Muang Thong Thani Impact Arena Exhibition and Convention Center — 4-5 June will be trade days, focusing on trade and business talks among operators and participants, and 6-7 June will be consumer days for the general public, as well as post-tour days for buyers and the media.

In the afternoon of 4 June, 2009, there will be an official opening ceremony of the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2009 which will also give the invited buyers a chance to check out this phenomenal shopping extravaganza. The ceremony will be presided over by the Minister of Tourism and Sports, H.E. Chumpol Silapa-archa.

The Grand Sale, to be held 1 June – 31 August, 2009, is a three-month shopping promotion in the country's principal tourist centres. On offer are a diverse range of products and services, with special discounts of up to 70% and promotional offers from participating department stores and retail outlets. For further details about the Thailand Grand Sales 2009, please check http://www.tourismthailand.org/thailandgrandsale09/

Additionally, TTM+ 2009 is being co-located alongside The Thailand Tourism Festival 2009 (TTF 2009), the country’s largest travel and tourism showcase event that includes a vast range of activities to promote the preservation of Thai culture, traditions and local way of life. Spectacular stage performances and live demonstrations of local arts and crafts add a colourful festive feel to the event. Given the popularity of the annual event with Thai travellers, especially families, as well as expatriate residents, travel and tourism operators and service providers, particularly small and medium enterprise (SMEs) which are noted for their unique one-of-a-kind niche product offerings, turn up in strength. This year, a total of 350 booths will be featuring quality tourism products and services offered by professional travel and tourism operators and service providers from all regions of Thailand. For first-time visitors to Thailand, TTF provides an excellent introduction to the Thai kingdom. A visit to TTF is also a quick and convenient way to get the latest updates on new tourism products and services, as well as to compare prices and shop for the best bargains and attractive deals — all in one stop.

For further details about the Thailand Travel Mart 2009 Plus,
please check www.thailandtravelmartplus.com
or contact the TTM secretariat, Tourism Authority of Thailand,
12th Floor, 1600 New Phetchaburi Road,
Makkasan, Ratchathewi, Bangkok 10400
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500

Contact information:
International Public Relation Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.th
Web site: www.tatnews.org