London, 9 November 2009 — As the cold winter tightens its icy grip on the United Kingdom, Thailand’s travel sector is warming up for the approaching high season.

Thailand’s travel and tourism sector remains strong and is growing, despite the global economic downturn that has affected the industry worldwide.

The fourth quarter of the year is peak travel season. The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects that the improving global economy, plus its comprehensive partnership programme with tour operators, airlines and other travel-related businesses, will bring in an additional four million arrivals during the fourth quarter. The positive growth trend was clearly evident in September. There were 729,231 visitor arrivals through Suvarnabhumi International Airport during the month, which is 16.6 percent higher than September 2008. The increased number of arrivals anticipated throughout the fourth quarter will help Thailand to meet its target of 14 million visitors for 2009.

Mrs. Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing said, that Thailand is a globally-renowned destination that offers truly unique traditions, history and culture. We’re widely recognized as one of the world’s best value for money destinations. This year is a great time for visitors from the United Kingdom to come and experience all the amazing things Thailand has to offer.”

During the past year, the country has extended its positioning to “Amazing Thailand, Amazing Value.” This does not mean a low cost destination, but that Thailand offers visitors tremendous emotional value — the feelings of happiness and satisfaction that they enjoy during and after their stay.

The “Amazing Thailand, Amazing Value” campaign has resonated with travellers from the UK, a key market for Thailand. British travellers are careful about spending due to economic conditions, so are very value conscious and bargain hard.

In 2008, Thailand welcomed more than 758,576 British visitors, generating tourism income of some 49.5 billion Baht, or around 907 million Pounds. Thailand’s target markets from the UK remain the pre and post family sectors with the 45+ age group still providing the largest and most affluent group of visitors from the UK and Ireland.

During the first seven months of 2009, almost 472,000 travelers from the UK came to Thailand. Compared to 2008, the number of UK visitors to Thailand declined slightly during the first two quarters of this year. This trend reversed in the third quarter. August 2009 showed almost a 10 per cent increase in arrivals from the UK, representing around 5,000 people. The Tourism Authority of Thailand expects this positive trend to continue through the fourth quarter, with a 12 to 15 per cent increase in visitors each month. It is targeting 695,000 visitors from the UK and 64,000 visitors from Ireland for the whole of 2009.

While, in the past, visitors from the UK represented the upper end of the economic spectrum, there is a clear trend towards visitors from middle and lower income groups. This year has seen an 18 percent increase in British travellers making their first visit to Thailand.

Tourism Authority of Thailand surveys show that Thailand’s sea, sand and sun are tremendously appealing to British visitors. With over 1,500 kilometres of coastline on both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, there is a large variety of beaches ranging from hot spots for younger travellers to quiet and secluded bays for romantic getaways. Some of the more popular destinations for British visitors include Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui, Koh Chang, Krabi and Hua Hin.

An increasing number of visitors from the UK also come to Thailand as health and wellness visitors. Thailand is a medical hub for Asia, with state-of-the-art medical technology, experienced doctors and medical specialists, reasonable medical costs and excellent hospitality for patients and their families. For preventive medicine, Thailand has hundreds of facilities ranging from top-of-the-line spas to holistic natural treatment centres.

Wellness visitors can choose from relaxing mountain retreats to sunny and warm seaside spas all offering a range of traditional and natural therapies.

As Thailand is a long-haul destination, almost all visitors from the UK arrive by air. Four airlines run 32 scheduled flights per week between London and Bangkok. Thai Airways operates its direct flights from UK to Thailand, twice daily. There are over 20 connecting flights per week by British Airways, EVA and Qantas.

The Airport Rail Link, which will carry passengers between Suvarnabhumi and a terminal in the center of Bangkok in 15 minutes, is currently undergoing trials. It will officially open for service in April 2010.

Thailand’s other transportation links are also expanding. The BTS Skytrain has started service to Thonburi and the Sukhumvit line is being extended. The State Railway of Thailand recently introduced a new train service that crosses the Mekong River into Laos. Several new lines covering both Thailand and the Greater Mekong Subregion are in the planning stage.

Thailand has something to offer all visitors, from the lush mountains of the Northern provinces to the inviting beaches and islands of the south. The country’s well-established attractions are being bolstered by trend-oriented products for the new generation of young travellers. This includes stylish boutique hotels, shopping centres, restaurants and more nightlife and entertainment options. From the bustling capital of Bangkok to some of Asia’s hippest beaches, Thai tourism is bringing in younger travellers who want to enjoy the coolest places in a hot climate.

To keep Thailand top-of-mind among potential visitors from the UK, the Tourism Authority is investing heavily in initiatives such as its “Partner on Demand” market stimulus campaign. Under this tactical campaign, the Tourism Authority works closely with 14 leading travel agents and five major airlines to conduct intensive, proactive marketing promotions. Activities include injecting funds to offer special tour packages, advertisements in local media, joining in seminars and exhibitions and even encouraging overseas Thai residents to come back and visit. The Partner on Demand Programme is playing a key role in bringing British visitors back to Thailand, especially in increasing traffic during the last three months of 2009.

Thailand still presents great opportunities for the UK market. Many tour operators offer Thai travel products, while airlines and hotels feature special package deals. Thailand is well positioned to address the growing trend in niche travel, such as honeymoons, green tourism, cultural immersion and sustainable eco-travel. The country is highly appealing to the “Pink Pound” market segment, which tends to indulge in luxury travel. The online boom in late booking for travel deals also attracts Internet-savvy travellers to Thailand.

Mrs. Juthaporn said, “We wish to thank our long-term partners who are helping the Tourism Authority to encourage visitors from the United Kingdom. Thailand has long-established relationship with the people of Britain. Thai people love all things British, from the latest music to premier league football. Even the Liverpool team visited us in July for a sold-out friendly match against the Thai National Team.

We are grateful to the people of the United Kingdom for supporting Thailand during good times and bad — and invite everyone from Britain to come and visit us this winter to enjoy sea, sand and surf.”

Contact information:
International Public Relations Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.th
Web site: www.tatnews.org