The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has unveiled ambitious plans to double tourist arrivals to the Kingdom over the next two years.
Armed with a budget of 500 million baht (US$16.4 million) and a new campaign slogan, “The miracle years of amazing Thailand”, TAT will attempt to double arrivals to thirty million per year, whilst also increasing income from tourism to 2 trillion baht (US$65.5 billion) per annum.
TAT has already earmarked most of the two year budget: 180 million baht (US$6 million) will be used to sponsor international sporting events such, as Formula One, the UK Football League, the Sao Paolo Snow Festival and the Australian Open golf championship.
A further 60 million baht (US$2 million) has been allocated for domestic marketing.
International celebrities will also be invited to Thailand to take part in the campaign.
TAT will continue to promote Thailand’s national festivals, such as Loy Krathong, Songkran and the Vegetarian Festival as world events.
In fact, over the next two years there are more than one hundred and eighty events planned to encourage tourists to visit the different provinces.
"TAT will put on many events and activities to encourage local people to travel across regions in the country," Prakit Phiriyakiat commented.
Visa fees will also be waived for tourists from selected countries and tax reductions will be implemented on domestic fares across the country.
The new “miracle campaign” has received full support from central government and the new Thai Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra.
TAT has also requested an additional budget from the Thai Government to enable it to develop Thailand’s attractions and upgrade the entire Thai tourism industry.
Will the change of slogan from “Amazing Thailand” to “Miracle years of amazing Thailand” do the trick?
It remains to be seen. This is some of the competition; “Surprising Singapore”, “Malaysia Truly Asia”, Indonesia “Admit It, You love it” and the Philippines’ “WOW”.