Bangkok, 20 September 2017 – Promoting more Japanese first timers and female visitors to Thailand will be a core theme of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s marketing presence at the Tourism Expo Japan 2017 (TEJ), the country’s largest trade event to be held between 21-24 September, 2017, in Tokyo.
Formerly known as the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) Tourism Expo, the trade show is attended by exhibitors from 150 countries and regions around the world, with over 1,180 companies. Nearly 50,000 trade visitors and 136,000 consumers visit Japan’s premier travel and tourism event.
This year will be an important year to promote Thailand as a preferred destination for Japanese travellers, as the two nations celebrate 130 years of diplomatic relations.
Japan is one of seven countries expected to generate more than one million arrivals this year. With the Japanese economy showing strong signs of recovering, TAT believes the number of Japanese travelling abroad will soon be rising significantly.
Thailand welcomed 1.4 million visitors from Japan in 2016, a 5% increase over 2016.
In January-August 2017, Japanese arrivals to Thailand totalled 890,317, up 6.07% over the same period of 2016. TAT expects the total number of Japanese arrivals to hit 1.5 million this year, generating tourism income of around 214 billion Yen (65 billion Baht).
At the TEJ 2017, the Thai team will organise a number of events to clarify the situation in Thailand to Japanese travel trade buyers, brief them on the marketing and promotion strategies in Japan, and introduce many of the emerging new products, services and activities of interest to the Japanese visitors.
The 108 sq.m. Thai pavilion will bear the theme of ‘Local Experience’ and ‘Women Travelling to Thailand’. The ten Thai exhibitors in the Thai pavilion include Asiatique the Riverfront, Blue Elephant Cooking School and Restaurant, Urbana Hospitality, Ramada Plaza Menam Riverside Bangkok, King Power International, The ASHLEE hotels – Patong Phuket, Thai Airways International, Olonade Travel Thailand, Mae Jo Golf Club and Resort, and the Duangtawan Hotel. Other Thai private sector companies are represented independently.
Trade and public visitors to the pavilion will also be treated to cultural performances including massage of anchorite, Thai classical dance, a demonstration of Thai boxing, Thai food, quiz games, and photo shooting with Happy Chan.
TAT will launch “Meet the NEW Thailand” campaign by changing the image of Thailand in the Japanese market as a destination for females, youth, working groups, and first visitors through Japanese idol group “Nogizaka 46”. A workshop on targeting the female market will also be organised.
TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said, “TAT is seeking to attract more middle to high-end visitors by targeting first-time visitors, as well as university students and newly working women. Also we are expanding the activities and range of Thai destinations of interest to repeat visitors.”
