Andaman Travel Trade event starts this week

PHUKET: The 7th biennial Andaman Travel Trade 2015 event will be welcoming public and private sector enterprises at Phuket Rajabhat University on December 10-11.

Under the banner ‘Discover Andaman-Explore Happiness’, the trade show aims to put 226 overseas tour operators in touch with more than 100 local tourism related operators, such as hotels, tour companies and airlines from Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Ranong and Trang.

“During the event, tour companies from overseas will have the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas, as well as buy and sell tour products with tour operators,” said Phurit Maswongsa, vice chairman of the Phuket Tourist Association. “Each province will present aspects of tourism that are unique to them.”

Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada expressed his enthusiasm for the event.

“In the five Andaman provinces, tourist numbers have increased from 19.3 million to 21.5 million from 2013 to 2014,” Governor Chamroen said. “There was also an increase in revenue from 320 billion baht to 360bn baht in the same period.”

The governor expects arrival numbers to rise to 25 million with an expected 11 per cent increase in revenue in 2016.

The Andaman Travel Trade 2015 starts at 9am on both days and is open for all those interested in tourism related business opportunities in the Andaman region.

— Kongleaphy Keam