TAT announces Thai Travel Mart 2010

PHUKET: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has confirmed that the Thailand Travel Mart Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Sub-region will be held from September 8 to 10 at the IMPACT Convention Center in Muang Thong Thani.

The Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) is the country’s premier annual trade event designed to promote travel and tourism to Thailand and its neighbors in the Greater Mekong Subregion.

For the first time this year, buyers from India will head the list as at least 70 buyers from all over India have been invited. These represent such niche markets as wedding tourism and Bollywood productions.

They are among 341 buyers from 49 countries registered. Apart from India, the other large buyer delegates are from the USA (26), United Kingdom (24), Russia (22), and Korea (16).

TAT will invite new buyers from Brazil, Mexico, UAE, Turkey, Lithuania, and Kazakhstan to test Thai tourism products in those markets.

TAT has also sought to ensure “quality” buyers by requiring them to pay a registration fee of US$200. A number of buyers have been invited from the domestic Thai market who will be charged US$50 for registration.

The buyers will be meeting with 428 registered sellers from various business categories such as hotels and resorts, tour operators and travel agents, eco- and adventure tourism, wellness and spa, airlines, entertainment/theme parks/culture products, golf courses, associations and other travel services in the Greater Mekong Sub-region.

One of the primary objectives of the TTM+ is to provide a platform for Thailand’s small- and medium-sized entrepreneurs (SMEs) to find a market for their products and services on the international stage. This is because many of them cannot afford to go to foreign trade shows to improve their profile.

According to TAT Governor Mr Suraphon Svetasreni, “This year’s TTM+ is very important for us because it comes as part of our recovery program from the recent political unrest. It is also part of our strategy to diversify the sources of visitor arrivals and expose Thailand and the GMS region to new buyers from countries and regions which could deliver promising results in the future.”

The event will start with a media briefing under the theme: “Amazing Thailand, Always Amazes You”.

For more information about registration and event visit: TATnews.org or thaitravelmart.com