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Buyers and sellers give Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2015 the thumbs up

Bangkok, 5 June, 2015 – Buyers and sellers attending the Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2015 have given the show the thumbs up in a series of surveys taken by the Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in cooperation with the independent research company, ACORN Marketing and Research Consultant, with the objective of improving the experience of the show’s delegates and ensuring that their business time is filled with fruitful knowledge of Thai tourism products and services.

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Mrs Juthaporn Rerngronasa delivered speech during the Thailand Media Briefing held on 4 June 2015

The surveys have included the evaluations on the scale of one to five on the pre-tour activities, which have achieved a rate of 4.64; the buyer’s forum has been rated at 3.98, and the seller’s forum was scored 3.57.

A total of 49 buyers and media have joined the pre-tour activity on four routes in Bangkok including 18 participants on the experience the slow life of old Bangkok, 16 on the experience street food tour, 11 on the Bangkok night ride (biking tour), and four on experience Muay Thai. Of all participants, 90 per cent entered into the survey.

The Bangkok night ride biking tour was rated the highest at 4.70 with participants describing the tour as a ‘creative’ way to experience Bangkok at night. The experience Muay Thai activity was scored 4.67 with participants expressing interest to include the offer in their tour programme. Rating on a score of 4.65, participants on the experience the slow life of old Bangkok tour labelled this as a morning activity. Last but not least, participants on the experience street food tour rated the trip at 4.57, but the trip would be better without a visit to flower and vegetable gardens.

The buyer’s forum was attended by about 250 delegates. Of these, 91 per cent completed the survey, rating the session at 3.98, while 82 per cent said they would join the event again next year. The respondents were pleased with the forum’s duration and organisation, rating both points at 4.12 and 4.10, respectively. However, some of the buyers suggested that a free WiFi service, supporting documents, notebooks, and simultaneous translation should be provided. Participants also recommended that the session should address how the tourism products highlighted in the forum could be further promoted in the international tourist markets.

The seller’s forum attracted up to 70 participants, who scored the session at 3.57, with 79 per cent expressing interest to join next year’s session. While voting an overall satisfaction of the session, the respondents commented that the show should not be held during the similar period as the ILTM Asia 2015 (International Luxury Travel Market Asia Shanghai 2015, from 1-4 June) and that a free WiFi service should be provided. Same as the buyer’s forum, participants at the seller’s forum also recommended that the session should address how to further promote Thai tourism products and services in the international tourist markets.

Mrs Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT Acting Governor and Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas) said, “We are very pleased with the survey results, which are testament to our 14 years of experience in organising the TTM, Thailand’s largest B2B travel trade show. Under our 2015 Discover Thainess campaign and the show’s ‘Experience with Us. theme, the pre-tours and the forums for buyers and sellers highlighted elements that would familiarise the participants with TAT’s current marketing promotion activities surrounding Thainess and creative tourism concepts.”

TTM+ 2015 has attracted a turnout of 362 buyers from 50 countries and 374 sellers from Thailand, Lao PDR., Cambodia China, Vietnam and Myanmar. Of these 167 (46.13%) are first-time, and 195 (53.87%) are repeat buyers.

The exhibitors’ line-up is dominated by hotels, especially the many exquisite boutique properties coming up nationwide. The buyers’ contingent is dominated by tour companies from China, India and the UK as well as emerging markets; such as, Belarus.

Mrs Juthaporn said, “The increased number of buyers reflected the confidence of the international tourist markets in Thailand while the number of buyers from China at 43 from 15 cities would open more opportunities for us to penetrate this important market. At the same time, the ratio between buyers and sellers would allow the TTM to maintain its positioning as one of the most important B2B travel trade platforms in the international markets.”

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TAT Newsroom

The TAT International Public Relations Division works with traditional and online media channels to promote Thailand as a tourism destination for travellers worldwide.

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