TAT, Thai Airways List Out Measures To Revive Tourism In Thailand

Madhavankutty Pillai - Phuket

The Indian delegation for the mega fam tour at the Thavorn Palm Beach Resort, Phuket

The Phuket Beach Festival at Patong Beach

Attentive Indian delegation at the presentation by TAT governor Juthamas Siriwan and Thai Airways president Kanok Abhiradaee at Hilton Arcadia Resort & Spa, Phuket

Thailand has embarked on a range of measures to revive tourism to its six southern provinces hit by the tsunami. As part of the recovery campaign, a mega fam tour of 800 media professionals and tour operators was undertaken recently to the Andaman coast provinces of the country. Organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), THAI Airways International, Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) and the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), it witnessed the participation of over 30 Indian tour operators and travel journalists.

At a presentation to assembled delegates in Phuket Hilton Arcadia Resort & Spa, TAT governor Juthamas Siriwan outlined five main restoration strategies to revive tourism to the tsunami affected areas. These included: recovery and development of tourism resources; marketing measures; revival and promotion of culture in tourism; safety measures and long-term measures to promote tourism in the Andaman region. A tourism committee will execute the programme. "The development of tourism resources will include reviving Patong and Kamala beaches of Phuket, redeveloping the harder hit areas of Khao Lak and Phi Phi Island, etc," said Siriwan. TAT also plans to develop new tourism products related to the tsunami. Siriwan further added that, "The Tsunami Memorial Spots Projects will be launched to capture and retain impacts of the tsunami on the area. Hence, fisherman's boats, homes, cars, and villages on the affected tracts will be conserved as tourist attractions. This will create lasting remembrance for this 'once in a thousand years' disaster. A Tsunami Memorial Museum has been planned for Phang-nga. It will consist of an interactive museum with a tsunami- generated simulation and real-time warning machine for a tsunami watch. Phuket International Convention Centre will be established later to stimulate MICE travel to Phuket and Andaman region."

The marketing measures following the tsunami are basically targeted at getting domestic tourists to start visiting affected areas again. This would include special packages and encouraging the business community to have conferences in the Andaman coast provinces. However, there will also be a simultaneous thrust on international markets. Siriwan said, "For international markets, TAT has been organising fam trips to bring back visitors from source markets and restore confidence for both tour operators and tourists and show that Thailand is ready to receive visitors again. TAT will organise road-shows to attract visitors to the tsunami affected areas. We will continue to work with the private sector and attend major travel trade fairs to offer special packages."

Among the long-term measures to promote sustainable tourism in the Andaman region, four projects will be completed over the next five years. These include the Andaman Corridor connecting the six provinces - Ranong, Phang-nga, Krabi, Phuket, Trang, and Satun; the expansion of the Phuket International Airport; upgrading of Krabi Airport to an international airport and implementation of the Comprehensive Andaman Tourism Plan.

Among the others to speak at the presentation were Kanok Abhiradaee, president, Thai Airways who reminisced about Thai's contribution following the tsunami devastation and highlighted the airline's share in reviving Andaman tourism, Abhiradaee listed sales promotion campaigns like Andaman Airpass Fares for Interline Partners and Star Alliance Members valid till June 30, 2005. The airline has also conducted advertising and public relations efforts to attract travellers to southern Thailand. These included joint cooperation with TCEB to promote Krabi, Phuket and Trang as MICE and tourist destinations, etc. The airline has also given financial support to the tune of 100 million baht to help the six affected destinations.

Ao Rai Le Beach, Krabi and (right) Ko Kai Beach, Krabi are luring tourists back to the Andaman sea-coast after the tsunami devastation