TAT Sydney ensures that travel in Thailand becomes big downunder

The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) Sydney Office is organising a range of activities and events between April and June 2014, to promote Thailand’s many tourism attractions and attract high-end travellers from Australia and New Zealand.

Lamai Beach, Ko Samui, one of the most popular destinations for tourists from Australia and New Zealand.

To engage the lucrative Australian market, the TAT Sydney Office is staging an Amazing Thailand Roadshow 2014 this May, so that representatives from Thailand’s travel industry can meet with local travel trade partners in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. TAT will also take part in the annual Bridal Expo in Sydney on 17 and 18 of May as part of its plans to promote the kingdom as a venue for both weddings and honeymoons.

New Zealand, too, is a potential source of high-end tourists who would be attracted by the luxury offerings of the kingdom, so the TAT Sydney Office is planning a special travel trade function in Christchurch to update the market on new luxury travel products in Thailand. There will also be special promotional activities during the event to showcase different aspects of the tourism market; such as, golf tours, honeymoon packages and medical tourism.

Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik, TAT Governor said, “Our aim is to keep the market up-to-date with Thailand’s latest tourism offerings, especially the kingdom’s ever-increasing range of luxury tourism products and services. We hope our activities downunder will help to encourage high-end travellers to make trips to Thailand from Australia and New Zealand to travel or enjoy a more niche break in line with their interests.”

According to research carried out by the TAT Sydney Office, Phuket, Ko Samui and Khao Lak (Phang Nga province) – all in southern Thailand, remain the most popular destinations for tourists from Australia and New Zealand.

To expand the number of visitors from these target markets, TAT will also promote Thailand through social network platforms so people are kept constantly up to date with interesting developments and upcoming fun events in the kingdom.

TAT Governor, “Some examples of events promoted via online channels have been the Songkran Splendours 2014, which saw many fun festivals take place throughout Thailand, and the Thailand Grand Sale which will draw in shoppers from all over the world. These events show that social media promotions can really have an impact on what travellers choose to see and do.”

More traditional channels have also been deployed by TAT to keep visitors up to date and informed. TAT recently joined forces with the BTS Skytrain to co-promote tourist attractions along the BTS routes as well as give away free BTS cards to those planning to visit Thailand up until 14 July, 2014.

TAT also joined with Thai Airways International to advertise on the Melbourne City Train network to promote Songkran in Thailand while also supporting the Songkran activities of the Thai community. In this spirit, Thais living in Brisbane joined the Thai Embassy in Canberra to set up booths promoting Thailand’s as a golfers’ paradise.

Karon Beach, Phuket

Khao Lak, Phang Nga