TAT TO HELP BOOST BANGKOK TOURISM FORTUNES

The Tourism Authority of Thailand ( TAT) is to step up co-operation with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, to boost services and facilities for international visitors.

Senior officials of the two government agencies, one responsible for promoting tourism to Thailand and the other for the welfare and administration of the Bangkok municipal area, met on June 3 for a day-long seminar to discuss a series of tourism projects, plans and activities.

The seminar allowed TAT and BMA officials to update each other on trends in global tourism, changes in consumer travelling patterns and efforts being made by the city authorities to promote tourism.

TAT Governor Pradech Phayakvichien said he was particularly happy to see that representatives of 50 Bangkok districts had participated in the seminar.

“While it is TAT's job to promote tourism to all of Thailand, especially in the rural areas, the fact remains that Bangkok is the country’s tourism gateway, through which 80% of all visitor arrivals pass. It is thus very important for the city to do its utmost to improve its visitor arrivals and facilities, and for all the officials to realise the importance of doing this,” the governor said.

TAT figures show that international visitors spent a total of 20.56 million room-nights in Bangkok in 1998 and 21.44 million room-nights in 1999. However, the average length of stay dropped from 2.96 days to 2.89 days in the same period.

Both organisations are now working hard on improvement plans to increase the average length of stay. As a result of initiatives taken by the outgoing Bangkok Governor Bhichit Rattakul, the BMA has established a full-fledged Tourist Centre, initiated a number of new projects and activities, and vastly upgraded the quality of its visitor literature, brochures, guidebooks and collaterals.

“All these efforts will go a long way to boosting the city’s average length of stay for visitors,” said Governor Pradech.

At the joint seminar, two keynote lectures were presented; namely, “Planning for Bangkok’s Tourism Development” by Prof. Dr Manus Suwan, Chiang Mai University, and “Bangkok’s Tourism Directions for the New Millennium” by Governor Pradech and BMA Deputy Permanent Secretary Pol. Sub. Lt. Kriengsak Lohachala.

According to Governor Pradech, “The seminar offered TAT staff a great opportunity to consult with various BMA executives to meet their actual needs and develop practical ideas. It will also help TAT and the BMA to efficiently allocate budgets and better plan the direction of the city’s tourism industry for the coming years.”

After the lectures, executives of the BMA and TAT also discussed the fields of co-operation and future joint projects. Several joint activities have been initiated to commemorate various occasions including a Carnival Parade on Ratchaprasong Road (International New Year), Around-the-Clock Food Festival on Yaowarat Road (Chinese New Year), Songkran Festival on Khaosarn Road and Ratchadamnoen Avenue in April and Loy Krathong Festival at Khlong Lord in November.

Future projects include the establishment of a City Gate at Khaosarn Road, additional lighting to enhance the nighttime beauty of the Temple of the Reclining Buddha as well as a riverside walkway to link major tourist piers along the Chao Phraya River.

The two agencies have already worked together on other projects such as the bi-annual Shopping Festivals and the launch of the city Sight-Seeing Bus tour around Rattakanakosin Island, the city’s most important cultural and historic area.

The efforts are part of the city administration’s desire to well position Bangkok as a strong contender for the 2008 Olympics.