Twenty TAT staff from Bangkok recently visited the north
to study the viability of promoting long stay tourism in Chiang Mai and
Lamphun.
Mati
Tungpanich, TAT Longstay Standard Investigation sub-committee chairman and
staff, shown here at the Northern Heritage Resort and Spa, visited the north
to study the viability of promoting long stay tourism in Chiang Mai and
Lamphun. The group received a warm welcome from Dr. Salai Sukphanphotharam
(front row 3rd right), representing the Northern Heritage Resort and Spa
executive committee.
Mati Tungpanich, TAT Longstay Standard Investigation
sub-committee chairman led the group and told Chiang Mai Mail that
they visited the north to investigate strong points and weaknesses, to
search out possible problems and to rate resorts in the area to possibly
award them with Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) standard long stay
certification.
“The basic long stay standard certification process is
based on tourist safety in both hardware and software,” said Mati. He
clarified that hardware means location, building and facility, and software
focuses on all kinds of services. Resorts passing the TAT criteria will be
awarded the TAT certification logo for display.
As part of the certification process, hotels and resorts
will be awarded with TAT stars, from 1 to 5, to help tourists choose
appropriate accommodation in relation to their needs and budgets.
Hotels and resorts’ management that want to be a part of the long stay
program can fill out an application, after which an inspector will be
dispatched to investigate and determine the appropriate star rating, and if
the hotel or resort passes at least the basic standard test, award the
relevant TAT logo.
