THAI TOURISM-RELATED AGENCIES MOVE TOWARDS UNITY

About 300 delegates from tourism-related public and private agencies nationwide convened at the Asia Hotel in Bangkok on July 27, 2000, for a unique seminar designed to build unity and co-operation within the Thai travel the tourism industry.

Organised by the Thailand Tourism Society and the Thai Chamber of Commerce, the seminar was attended by representatives of provincial and municipal administrations, chambers of commerce, private tourism companies, hotels, educational institutes and government agencies.

The event was presided over by Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office and Tourism Authority of Thailand Chairman H.E. Mr. Adisai Bodharamik. In his opening remarks, Mr Adisai briefed the gathering on the significance of a sustainable tourism industry to the Thai economy and stressed the importance of forging stronger partnerships between TAT and both the public and private sectors.

Mr Adisai commented, “The seminar has offered a great opportunity for both sectors to exchange their points of views, hear existing problems, find the best solutions and develop stronger co-operation amongst themselves.”

He also urged all private companies and local agencies to play a major role in developing the tourism industry in a sustainable manner for the benefit of the country as a whole.

The one-day seminar was divided into two sessions -- co-operation amongst the private sector in the morning and amongst the public sector in the afternoon.

The morning session panelists were specialists and top executives of related private sector groupings such as the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association, Thailand Tourism Society, and Thai Chamber of Commerce.

TAT Governor Pradech Phayakvichien commented, “Though the private sector is less burdened by bureaucratic redtape and probably has more practical experience and brighter ideas, its lack of unity and true representation can affect its growth.”

He added, “The private sector should therefore get together and develop a new form of grouping which is truly representative of all members and industry stakeholders. Private companies can have different ideas, but they still need to be united under the same goal of developing ‘Unity Through Diversity’.”

“If the private sector has a strong representative grouping, it will be able to better negotiate with the government and compete with other foreign companies,” the Governor said.

Mr Pradech promised that TAT would follow up the issues raised by both panelists and seminar participants. He praised the initiative of TTS and urged that more such seminars should be held.

In the afternoon session, public sector panelists included representatives of the Ministry of Interior, Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board, TAT and former Chairman of the Senate Meechai Ruechupan. The TAT’s Director of Planning Department, Mr. Auggaphol Brickshawana informed the gathering that TAT is always working to develop strong partnerships with related public sector agencies, on whom it depends for help in solving tourism-related problems, such as security and environmental degradation.

Such agencies include the Forestry Department in supervising all natural and marine parks, Department of Fine Arts in maintaining historical attractions, Interior Ministry in co-ordinating with local communities, Transport and Communications Ministry in developing tourist infrastructure and Royal Thai Police in developing tourist safety standard.

He also explained the details of the National Tourism Development Plan and noted the importance of ensuring that it is properly implemented, which can only be done with the understanding and proper co-operation of both the private and public sectors.

TTS President, Mr. Wichit Na Ranong said the seminar had been very positive in the sense that it allowed all the various participants to better understand each other’s points of view. He said TTS would analyse all the suggestions and recommendations and then report back to the various industry groupings.