This year’s Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+ 2012) trade fair will be based on the country’s current tourism strategy, focusing in four niche travel markets.
In accordance with the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) 2012 focus, TTM+ 2012 will concentrate on four key tourism segments: golf, ecotourism, weddings & honeymoons and health & wellness, under the theme ‘Customize Your Experience’.
On the first day of the trade fair, there will be a panel discussion based on the rise of these niche segments. Panelists will cover all four main areas of focus – golf, ecotourism wellness and weddings – and include Mark Siegel, Manager Director of Golfasian, Andrew Jacka, President of the Andrew Jacka, Chananya Phataraprasit, Executive Director of Asian Oasis, Neha Mehrotra, owner of Foreign Wedding Planners, Kim Gwang Lim, Manager of the Happy Honeymoon Club, and Keith Baker, Manager of Tzell Travel Group. The discussion will be moderated by Mike Sebastian, CEO of Asia Pacific Golf Group.
The TAT said 2012 trade fair is expected to attract more than 330 domestic and international travel buyers, to meet with an estimated 380 regional sellers.
“We are looking forward to a highly successful event, with more than 80 buyers from European countries, over 40 buyers from the US and Canada, and about 35 buyers from Australia and New Zealand. We will also welcome many new buyers from emerging markets including Eastern Europe, the CIS Countries, the Middle East and South America,” said the TAT’s Governor, Suraphon Svetasreni.
“In addition to creating opportunities for Thai and international sellers and buyers to meet and expand their business horizons, the TAT will continue to demonstrate our support for intra-regional travel at TTM+ 2012. We will welcome several NTOs from the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) including Bhutan, China’s Yunnan and Guangxi provinces, Cambodia, Laos PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam. When combined with all that Thailand has to offer, TTM+ 2012 will be a great opportunity for global tour operators to see the GMS’ immense potential as a destination with an unmatched variety of experiences and attractions for their clients,” Suraphon added.
In total TTM+ 2012 is expected to attract more than 1,000 participants, including buyers, sellers and the media. Last year the event welcomed 425 buyers and 368 sellers.
