Off the wire
• Dutch PM calls for open, secure internet  • China to support equipment export, cooperation: MOC  • Urgent: Pilots missing after two Su-22 fighter jets collide in central Vietnam  • China discovers more oil, gas deposits  • China targets fugitive officials' money laundering  • Kenya's Chelengat eyes success in Rabat Marathon  • Indian stocks close lower  • Across China: New chapter for antiquarian bookstore  • FLASH: TWO SU-22 FIGHTER JETS CRASH IN CENTRAL VIETNAM WITH TWO PILOTS MISSING -- LOCAL MEDIA  • Roundup: Singapore stocks end down 0.24 percent  
You are here: 　 Home

Interview: Thailand to launch roadshows to attract tourists during low-season period

Xinhua, April 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Thailand will, beginning next month, launch a series of roadshows in the Middle East, South Africa and Australia as part of the country's campaign to attract foreign tourists during the low-season period.

In a bid to promote Thailand's tourism industry following the nationwide Songkran festival which has just ended, the Thailand Tourism Authority (TAT) will join the Arabian Travel Market scheduled early next month in Dubai to lure Arab tourists to visit the kingdom and stay for a longer period of time, said acting TAT Governor Jutaporn Rerngron-asa in an interview with Xinhua on Thursday.

The tourism agency will also hold roadshows in South Africa and Australia later next month to promote Thai tourism which normally slackens after the Songkran festival.

During the planned South Africa roadshow, the agency would try to attract travelers from Johannesburg and Cape Town to visit Thailand for the first time and enjoy the kingdom's varied tourist attractions, according to the acting TAT governor.

Jutaporn said that the Australia roadshow will cover New Zealand where a number of travelers might consider making repeat visits to the country.

"The campaigns in the Middle East, South Africa and Australia are designed to make up for a loss in the Russia market primarily due to the falling ruble. Besides, we will keep the western Europe markets as our major target in addition to the China and ASEAN markets," Jutaporn said.

Given its relative geographical proximity, many Chinese visitors now consider tourist spots throughout Thailand as their weekend destinations, she added.

Jutaporn said that there are now signs that the sluggish Russian market might gradually pick up in the near future with large numbers of Russians visiting favorite Thai seaside spots such as Pattaya and Phuket while those from other parts of Europe including Britain, Switzerland, Germany and France might be convinced to visit the country during the low-season as well.

The low season in Thailand's tourism usually starts from May until September during which the number of visitors from abroad would normally dwindle. Tourist arrivals would gradually pick up starting October and would last up to April.

Jutaporn said that her agency is promoting Thailand as "dream destination" for newly-wed couples or honeymooners from abroad. " We're stepping up efforts to attract newly-weds from around the globe to visit and spend their honeymoons in our country," she said.

She said that Thailand is still the top destination for foreign tourists in the whole of Asia.

Jutaporn added that this year the country could draw as many as 28 million tourists from around the world with revenues reaching an estimated 66 billion U.S. dollars. Endi