Chiang Mai, 14 June, 2017 – A number of high-powered tourism and sports events to be held over the rest of 2017 and 2018 will keep Thailand in the global limelight and underpin the role of travel & tourism as a positive contributor to the national economy, H.E. General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand said today.
Presiding at the opening ceremony of the 16th Thailand Travel Mart Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion (TTM+) 2017 in the northern Thai capital of Chiang Mai, General Tanasak said these events were strong indicators of the Royal Thai Government’s commitment and support for travel & tourism.
Four of the upcoming events in 2018 are travel related. Along with the annual Thailand Travel Mart, which is to be moved to the sea resort of Pattaya, they include the UNWTO Conference on Tourism Gastronomy in May 2018, ASEAN Tourism Forum in January 2018 and the Mekong Tourism Forum in June 2018, to be held for the first time in the Northeastern Province of Nakhon Phanom.
Other sports events include the international badminton championships the Thomas Cup and the Uber Cup finals in May 2018 and the MOTO motor-racing championship in October 2018.
In addition, the Sport Accord Convention will also be held in Bangkok in April 2018.
These will be a logical follow on from the numerous events to be held over the rest of 2017, including the launch of the Michelin Guidebook, both in December, and the Air Race One and International Fleet Review and Asian Football Federation convention, both in November.
The Deputy PM said Thailand sees itself as an integral part of the entire ASEAN and Greater Mekong Subregion with its rich culture and heritage, including the 22 UNESCO Heritage sites.
Other speakers at the opening ceremony were H.E. Mrs. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, and Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
