HIGH-PROFILE THAI TOURISM FESTIVAL TO BE HELD IN NOVEMBER

Thailand’s rich cultural diversity and colourful traditions will be highlighted at the upcoming Thailand Tourism Festival 2000, to be held at the IMPACT Exhibition Centre at Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi province, from November 17 to 26, 2000.

Promoted as the country’s biggest ever tourism extravaganza, the upcoming “Thailand Tourism Festival 2000” will feature a variety of tourism-related activities from many aspects of life from all the regions of Thailand.

Jointly organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and tourism-related public and private sectors, this annual festival has been designed to promote a better understanding of the value of the Kingdom’s cultural and national resources and the significance of tourism for the people and economy of Thailand.

TAT Governor Pradech Phayakvichien said, “We will also use the exhibition to emphasise environmental conservation in the interests of all Thai communities and to stimulate the interest of Thai people to travel domestically in order to generate greater tourism revenue and employment.”

“In addition, our objective is to improve co-operation between the public and private sectors to promote a better quality of tourism to and within Thailand and to help raise the level of understanding of the roles and responsibilities of tourism,” the Governor said.

Throughout the ten-day tourism festival, there will be cultural performances, product demonstrations and exhibitions from all four regions of Thailand, plus seminars and a consumer trade show.

Non-stop demonstrations of performing arts and cultural events will be held on centre stage during opening hours, ranging from Thai classical music to jazz to contemporary Thai traditional string-instrument concerts.

Major performances include four-region Thai villages, a Khon (or Masked Dance) Festival, Orchestra by the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, Puppet and Shadow Plays, Thai Classical Concerts, Talk Shows and other local performances such as long drum dances, Likae (or Thai Opera), etc.

Some performances will also receive live TV coverage, bringing them right into the homes of Thai audiences all over Thailand.

An indoor pavilion will feature a number of tourism-related exhibitions on information technology and sustainable tourism. An Internet cafe and a three-dimensional cinema will also be operating.

The Festival is expected to be well attended by both Thai people and expatriates living in Thailand, as well as travel and tourism related companies and overseas buyers.

Exhibitors at the event will include airlines, local attractions/theme parks, hotels/exhibition venues, resorts/recreational products, food and beverage suppliers, tourist promotion agencies, transportation, travel companies, leisure and sports equipment and educational institutes.

A series of tourism conferences and seminars designed for both local and international tourism specialists as well as government agencies and academics will be organised along with the trade show.

Topics to be covered will include “TAT’s 40th Anniversary: Success or Failure”, “Roles of the Local Community in Sustainable Tourism Development”, “A Decade of Youth Travel Promotion” and “Standards of Ecotourism Management.”

Governor Pradech commented, “The festival is very much in line with our efforts to promote tourism in a sustainable way as well as to promote a frank and open discussion of the many emerging issues that will impact on the future of this top foreign-exchange earning industry.

“The main message we want to get across is that while tourism is a major generator of jobs and income, the preservation of our cultural and natural resources is going to be critical to its future growth.

“We therefore need to join forces with other related private and public organisations to encourage Thai people to appreciate our invaluable heritage, take care of our resources and become better hosts to visitors.”

TAT, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, has organised the popular Thailand Tourism Festival every year since 1981.

Tourism-related public organisations and private companies are now being invited for the Thailand Tourism Festival 2000.