TAT, BA TO HOST FAM TRIP FOR AUSSIE TRAVEL AGENTS

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and British Airways are jointly organising the TAT/BA Mega Familiarisation Trip to showcase the best of Thailand to 60 top wholesale and retail travel agents from Australia.

The familiarisation trip between August 8- 15 is designed to give the Australian travel agents updated information on new tourist destinations and niche products to help them better promote Thailand to their customers and clients.

British Airways is sponsoring the Bangkok- Sydney return airfares for all participants while TAT is handling all ground arrangements including accommodation, transportation, food and beverage, etc.

The event is being organised by the TAT’s Sydney office headed by Regional Director Mrs. Phornsiri Manoharn.

Between them, participants can choose between four tour circuits which have been specially highlighted as a result of the new marketing plans initiated in the May 2001 Tourism Marketing Workshop to attract more visitors from new and traditional markets.

The four routes will start from Bangkok. Participants will then branch off to one of the following four circuits: 1) Ayutthaya - Cha-Am/Hua Hin, 2) Kanchanaburi - Ayutthaya, 3) Ubon Ratchathani - Nakhon Phanom or 4) Phitsanolok - Sukhothai - Lampang - Chiang Mai.

Along these routes, they will visit hotels and tourist attractions, meet local suppliers and experience popular niche products and services such as eco-tourism and soft adventure activities, health and spa facilities as well as cultural and historical sites. They will also have opportunities to study the possibility of linking the Thai tours with extensions to the neighbouring countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

On August 10, 2001, the TAT will host a welcome reception presided over by TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Mrs. Juthamas Siriwan at the Radisson Hotel Bangkok.

Deputy Governor Juthamas commented, “Thai-Australian relations have always been close and cordial, as both people are friendly and hospitable. Close contact through tourism will help strengthen these ties.

“All participants who are taking part in this familiarisation trip will no doubt return home with greater knowledge of many Thai attractions which will prove beneficial to help us promote the Thai tourism industry, for which we are greatly appreciated,” Mrs. Juthamas added.

In 2000, Australia generated 323,275 visitors for Thailand, the 11 th biggest source market. The growth rate in 2000 was 6.40% over 1999. The rising trend continued during January-May 2001 when visitors from Australia totalled 140,385, up 13.17% over the same period of 2000.

In 2000, 85.27% (or 275,642) of Australian visitors travelled to Thailand independently while 55.87% (180,623) were repeat visitors. Female visitors showed an above-average growth of 13.55% (142,225). Young visitors aged 15-24 years were among the fastest growing market segment with a rise of 27.22% (42,395).

Also in 2000, Australian visitors stayed an average of about 11 days and spent an average of US$97 per person per day. This contributed about US$340.88 million in tourism revenue to the Thai economy. Shopping was the highest expenditure item (36% of the total) followed by accommodation (24%) and food & beverage (15%).

Australian business travellers and tourists to Thailand can obtain visa-free facility at major international checkpoints, and stay in Thailand up to 30 days without visa.

In 2001, the TAT is projecting about 345,000 Australian visitors to Thailand, an increase of 6.7% over 2000.