Reinhard Hohler
According to TAT latest news in
Bangkok, buyers from several countries are queuing up for registrations to
the Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2012 to be held during June 6-8, 2012, at
Exhibition Central Hall 5-6, Impact Muang Thong Thani Exhibition Centre.
As of January 25, 2012, a total of 212
buyers from 41 countries have registered for TTM Plus 2012: the top five
countries are India (53), United Kingdom (25), Australia (13), Russia (16),
and the USA (12).
TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni said,
"We are very happy to get such a good response so early. It clearly shows
the strength and popularity of Thailand as a tourism destination and sends a
continued vote of confidence to us in this ongoing recovery process from the
various crises that have affected us in recent months."
India is Thailand's biggest source
market for visitors from South Asia and one of the fastest growing markets
overall. Along with Russia, Indonesia and China, the so-called RICHI group,
India is part of a huge catchment area with significant demographic and
economic potential, all within medium-haul flying range from Bangkok.
The TTM+ is the country's premier
annual trade event designed to promote travel and tourism to Thailand and
its neighbours in the Greater Mekong Subregion. One of its primary
objectives is to provide a platform for the region's small and medium sized
entrepreneurs (SMEs) to cost-effectively promote their products and
services, especially as many of them cannot afford to go to foreign trade
shows.
The shows provides international tour
operators with opportunities to survey new tourist attractions and design
suitable packages for their markets, especially those which can combine both
Thailand and the neighbouring GMS countries.
TAT is expecting 400 buyers from major
markets (Europe, South Asia, East Asia, America and Australia) and new
potential markets (East Europe, CIS Countries, Middle East, South America
and South Africa). Buyers who have never offered a Thailand package and
those who plan to broaden the quality and content of existing packages will
be given priority.
Seller allotments provide for 425
booths which, in line with the theme of the 2012 event, will be zoned into
four niche markets: Ecotourism, Golf, Health and Wellness, and Wedding and
Honeymoon. The leisure group will be categorized into 7 groups such as
Associations/NTOs, Entertainment, Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), Hotels and
Resorts, Tour Operators / Travel Agents, Transportation, and other travel
services.
So far, 232 sellers have registered in
the following categories: hotels & resorts (192), tour operators /travel
agents (18), ecotourism (1), health and wellness (4), transportation (1),
entertainment / theme park / cultural products (8), golf (1), wedding and
honeymoon (3), GMS (4).
This year, the TTM Plus 2012 is
expected to attract a total of 1,000 delegates. For further information,
please visit http://thailandtravelmartplus.com
Reinhard Hohler
According to PATA Communications in
Bangkok, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has opened its three-day
Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart (AT&RTCM) in
Bhutan, one of the world's most secret and sought-after destinations. The
event is the first international travel trade event to be held in the
country.
Under the theme "High Value Tourism,
Low Impact Footprints," AT&RTCM, running February 4-7, will address key
issues facing responsible and sustainable travel. On February 6 a
buyer-seller mart takes place for companies specialising in adventure and
responsible tourism.
The AT&RTCM has attracted 232
delegates. Some 51 sellers from 35 companies have arrived from eight
destinations including Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore,
Sri Lanka and Thailand. Among 48 international buyers from 18 destinations,
88% are first time buyers. The event has drawn a strong presence from Japan,
Korea ROK, Singapore, USA and other destinations. Some 19 international
media are in attendance.
Mr Martin J Craigs, PATA CEO said:
"PATA is proud to be part of this historic event in Bhutan, Land of the
Thunder Dragon. Bhutan's ethos of high value tourism with a low impact
footprint is one that many destinations would like to follow. All of us can
learn from the Bhutan example and the high value-low impact debate it
attracts."
AT&RTCM started February 3 with a
complimentary tour of the Paro Valley and a full-day trip called the
"Pursuit of Happiness," to Thimphu, organised by the Tourism Council of
Bhutan (TCB) and the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators (ABTO).
An E-Tourism - New Media Boot Camp was
held February 4, the fourth E-Tourism Asia Boot Camp after Cambodia, Laos,
and Myanmar. Mr Jens Thraenhart, President of Dragon Trail, and organizer of
the boot camp session in Bhutan, said it was designed to help local tourism
businesses better leverage the Internet, mobile, and technology.
Mr Kesang Wangdi, Director General,
Tourism Council of Bhutan and Mr Hiran Cooray, PATA Chairman officially
welcomed delegates during the opening session in Bhutan on February 4.
On February 5, Ms Anna Pollock, CEO,
DestiCorp UK Ltd delivered the keynote address, "High Value Tourism, Low
Impact Footprints."
She said: "Adventure travel operators
will survive and prosper over the next decade if they understand and harness
the powerful forces for change occurring throughout the world. Achieving
higher yields and making less negative impact requires a shift in the
operating model of tourism. The industrial model on which tourism is based
is collapsing. As it matures, it produces diminishing net returns to all
participants, and relies on volume growth to compensate for yield declines."
Ms Pollok added: "As visitor volume
increases, so do the costs associated with resource depletion, pollution and
wealth concentration. A positive, viable alternative model is needed that
focuses on place rather than product, puts purpose before profit,
understands that it is about personality as opposed to brand, focuses on
value (yield) over volume (price discounting) and learns to pull in
customers rather than push or promote to them."
During the Plenary Session panel debate
on February 5, Mr Rick Antonson, President and CEO, Tourism Vancouver, said:
"Success with low impact tourism that brings high value requires shared
attitudes of 'good guests and good hosts'. Visitors that offer high value
and low impact are becoming among the most treasured guests in our industry.
As tourism becomes the world's largest industry, there will be ever more
respect placed on those visitors who offer high value and low impact."
In the same session, Mr Thuji Dorji
Nadik, Director (Specialist), Tourism Council of Bhutan said: "By targeting
high value tourism, tourism benefits are being distributed more equitably.
In Bhutan, our challenge is to spread the benefits equitably and ensure
regional balance in tourism development."
Ms Isabel Sebastian, Sustainability
Advisor, Yangphel Adventure Travel & Zhiwa Ling Hotel, Bhutan said: "Many
visitors to Bhutan can attest to the fact that this is a country of 'happy
coincidences'. Tourists to Bhutan are woven into the daily flow of people's
lives, rituals and landscapes with very little staged experiences. The
Bhutan experience will only keep attracting high value/ low impact tourists
as long as tourists continue to meld into life in Bhutan and only as long as
the authenticity of this experience is protected. Herein lies the greatest
challenge for all involved tourism industry players. We all need a lot of
courage and wisdom to ensure that the Bhutan experience is protected."
Mr David Wilks, Director, Commercial
Business, Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai, New Zealand,
addressed Plenary Session II on best case studies from New Zealand, "100%
Pure You". He said: "From a tiny country at the bottom of the world has
emerged one of the most recognized tourism brands globally. 100% Pure New
Zealand wasn't just clever marketing; it was also a bit of good luck. In an
increasingly well wired world, delivering on an aspirational brand promise
can be tough. For New Zealand to do this our tourism operators must face the
challenges and opportunities that come from understanding that conservation
is good for business -- and business is good for conservation."
The ribbon cutting ceremony on February
5 was presided over by Mr Kesang Wangdi, Director General, Tourism Council
of Bhutan, Mr Hiran Cooray, PATA Chairman and Mr Martin J Craigs, PATA CEO.
Local and international journalists from China, India and Nepal attended the
event.
Mr Costas Christ, President, Beyond
Green Travel LLC/Editor and Columnist, National Geographic
Traveler/Chairman, World Travel and Tourism Council -Tourism for Tomorrow
Awards, USA delivered the closing address on "experiential and
transformation travel".
He said: "Sustainable tourism may be
the most significant transformation in the history of modern travel, as it
continues to redefine the global tourism industry as we have known it. It
also transforms the way people travel, emphasising meaningful experiences
that both enrich the individual traveller and help to safeguard cultural and
natural heritage in destinations around the world."
He added: "This is not a trend or a
fad, but rather, an evolution of travel and tourism. We are living in a
remarkable time of new and inspirational innovation in sustainable travel
that is rewriting the way tourism businesses operate. It is also sparking a
growing awareness among today's travellers about giving back to people and
the planet. Those businesses that understand this sustainable tourism
transformation that is underway and become part of it, will be the
businesses that prosper in the emerging global green economy.” For more
information, please visit www.PATA.org.
Shangri-La Hotel, Chiang Mai was chosen as the top luxury
hotels in Asia and top five in Thailand by TripAdvisor in its 2012
Travellers’ Choice Awards. TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel site
with over 60 million first-hand travellers’ reviews and opinions.
“We are very proud of these awards. The
awards are testament to the passion, dedication and care that our associates
demonstrate daily at Shangri-La.” said George Baird, the hotel’s general
manager.
Reviewers recognised the services
provided by the hotel’s colleagues, facilities and location.
“Stayed at this hotel in 2010, it is
one of the best. From check-in to check-out, the service was great, the
food very competitively priced, when back to Chiang Mai will definitely stay
here again.” said one reviewer.
Another reviewed said, “Shangri-La has
shown itself to be one of the best hotel groups; the staff were very
friendly and helpful, and the hotel was, as we expected, simply the best.”
As TripAdvisor has continued its growth
globally, featuring sites in 30 countries and in 21 languages, the
Travellers’ Choice Hotels Awards now highlight a broader range of
spectacular properties across the globe. “It is an honour for Shangri-La
Hotel, Chiang Mai to be the ranked in the list to receive this admirable
recognition by TripAdvisor’s travellers.”
