Bangkok, 1 October, 2015 – The Thai tourism industry had a prominent presence at the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) Tourism Expo 2015, the country’s largest trade event which was held from 24 to 27 September, 2015, at the International Convention Centre Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo.
The event was attended by H.E. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, together with Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Mr. Sugree Sithivanich, TAT’s Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, and a number of Thai private sector participants.
TAT has been attending JATA to promote Thailand for more than 30 years. This year’s JATA Tourism Expo was a record event with attendance of 173,602 delegates, well above the 157,589 delegates recorded in 2014. The trade exhibition attracted 1,161 organisations from 141 countries and regions.
Japan is a very important source market for Thailand, one of seven countries expected to generate more than one million arrivals this year. In January-July 2015, Japanese arrivals to Thailand totalled 787,152, up 17.06% over the same period of 2014, generating an estimated 32.6 billion Baht in tourism revenue (+27.55%).
At the JATA Expo, the Thai team organised a number of events to clarify the situation in Thailand to Japanese travel trade buyers, briefed them on the marketing and promotion strategies in Japan and introduced many of the emerging new products, services and activities of interest to the Japanese visitors.
On 25 September, H.E. Kobkarn attended the opening ceremony of the JATA Tourism Expo Japan 2015 and presided over the Thailand Pavilion at the event as well as attended the Japan Night, organised by JATA Tokyo at Marunouchi.
The 90 sq metre Thailand pavilion at the Tourism Expo 2015 was held under the theme of ‘Discover Thainess’ and ‘Amazing Thailand’. This year, five Thai exhibitors joined TAT in the pavilion including JTB (Thailand) and H.I.S Tours. Other Thai private sector companies were represented independently.
Trade and public visitors to the pavilion were treated to cultural performances include Khon and demonstration of Khon characters, games with partner agencies, and a photo shoot against the backdrop of Thailand’s popular Floating Market.
According to TAT Governor Yuthasak, “We were very encouraged by the very good response and support from the Japanese travel trade. There is widespread realisation that Thailand is a safe and welcoming destination, as it has always been, and Japanese visitors will be travelling as usual during the upcoming high season.”
Contact Information
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Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
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