Thailand all set for APEC 2003

Thailand is all set to host two of the Asia Pacific region’s most important public and private sector summit conferences between October 17-21, 2003.

Heads of state of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) grouping are to meet between October 20-21, 2003, while their counterparts in the private sector, the chief executive officers of the region’s top companies, are to convene for their own summit between October 18-21, 2003.

An APEC Investment Mart will also be held between October 16-21. All three events will be held in Bangkok.

APEC members include 21 countries and territories: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the U.S.A. and Vietnam. Among the dignitaries expected are US President George Bush, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, and Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Altogether, about 10,000 delegates, spouses, media and security officials are expected for the various meetings, generating an estimated 1,500 million Baht in visitor revenue, according to the Kasikorn Research Centre Co., Ltd.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has been planning for the past year to capitalise on the tremendous value the event will generate in both international media exposure as well as the first-hand opportunity for some of the world’s most important decision-makers to experience Thailand as a destination for holiday, meetings and conventions.

TAT Governor Mrs. Juthamas Siriwan said, “This event is a wonderful opportunity for the people of Thailand to showcase the best of our exotic kingdom.

“We will leave no stone unturned to ensure that all the APEC delegates have a really good time, so that they may come back themselves and also recommend Thailand to their business colleagues, friends and relatives.”

TAT will operate a special APEC Call Centre (Number 1399 with 10 parallel lines) at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC) during October 12-21, 2003.

TAT has been heavily promoting APEC to the Thai public via TV, radio, print and outdoor ads. It has also lit up historical places along the Chao Praya River to show the beauty of Thai architecture as well as to support the “Sri Suphanahongsa” Royal Barge Ceremony that will be specially organised for the APEC delegates on October 20, 2003.

APEC leaders, their spouses, members of the official delegation and the media will be able to visit some of the country’s most famous tourism spots, courtesy of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA).

The tour programmes will take delegates through the best of Bangkok city sights and allow them to enjoy a round of golf, experience a relaxing spa, visit some of the best temples and heritage sites or visit heritage Thai homes.

Post-tours will focus on provincial Thailand, taking in the beach resorts of Phuket, Krabi, Samui, Pattaya and Hua Hin. Delegates will be able to enjoy cruises down the famous Chao Phraya River, visit the archaeological highlights of Northeast Thailand, tour the northern Thai capital of Chiang Mai and see the famous Golden Triangle, the confluence of the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos.

TAT will arrange free tours for the media, every day during October 16-23, 2003, except during October 19-20, which are the days of the APEC Investment Mart. Bookings can be made at the Press Tour desk at the QSNCC from now until October 21, 2003 between 08.30hrs and 18.00hrs.

On October 21, the media will be hosted to a TAT farewell party at the QSNCC featuring Thai traditional cuisine and souvenir gift-sets.

According to the Kasikorn Research Centre, all the APEC delegates are expected to spend about 500 million baht on shopping, especially on OTOP products that will be displayed wherever the events take place as well as in delegate hotels. Another 240 million baht is expected to be spent on tours.

The summits will cap a year of APEC meetings related to trade, finance, tourism, information technology, the environment and other subjects that have been held in Thailand throughout 2003.

They began in February 2003 in the northern city of Chiang Rai and have covered the Northeast Thai city of Khon Kaen, the beach resorts of Pattaya, Hua Hin and Phuket. Other meetings have been held in Chiang Mai and Chanthaburi.

Many host Bangkok hotels have carried out major renovations and undertaken a number of service and product improvements to ensure total guest satisfaction.

The national airline, Thai Airways International, which will be flying in most of the delegates, has gone all out to impress the visitors with its traditional Thai hospitality.

Security authorities are on maximum alert, with thousands of military and police details deployed throughout the country’s transportation systems, hotels and all public facilities. Strict checks will be in force at all hotels.

A national holiday has been declared between October 17-22, 2003, for government officials and state enterprise workers in Bangkok and the surrounding provinces of Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan to ensure security and prevent traffic jams. However, state financial enterprises, hospitals, courts and traffic agencies will remain operating normally.

During this period, TAT is encouraging Thais and expatriate residents of Thailand to take a domestic tour and capitalise on the heavy promotions that were held during the Thailand Travel Mart last September.

Mrs. Juthamas said that after the APEC events are over, TAT and the Association of Domestic Travel will offer weekend tour programmes, called "Following the APEC Leaders’ Footsteps”, between November 2003 - January 2004 to retrace the places visited by some of the world’s most important heads of state.