Thailand, a major tourist destination in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), is bringing together executives from more than 15 agencies to foster collaboration.
By 2025, they hope to have over 95 million foreign visitors in the GMS, indicating a significant commitment to local travel.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports are hosting senior tourism authorities and executives from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar as special guests at the Thailand Travel Mart Plus, which takes place from June 5–7 in the breathtaking coastline region of Khao Lak, Phang-nga Province.
Two days before the TTM+’s official launch on June 5, 2024, they were taken on exclusive tours of Phuket, the picturesque island resort in Thailand and the entry point to Khao Lak.
The itinerary will include stops at Ban Bang Rong Community, Phuket Old Town Community, and several establishments that support tourism for sports and health, gastronomy, marine tourism, and other leisure activities.
“This trip is a very important part of the policy set by Minister of Tourism and Sports Sermsak Phongpanich to further strengthen the relations between Thailand and our neighbours in the Greater Mekong Subregion,” stated TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool.
We have similar borders, morals, customs, and ancestry. I firmly think that everyone can benefit from and educate one another.”
Among the guests are Suvimol Thanasarakij, Executive Director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO), Maung Maung Kyaw, Director General of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism, Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Myanmar; Khom Douangchantha, Director General of the Tourism Marketing Department, Lao PDR Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism; and executives from fifteen other companies and agencies.
The six-member nations of the GMS are Vietnam, Yunnan and Guangxi provinces of China, Burma, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Myanmar.
The region’s combined tourism plans anticipate 95 million tourists visiting the area overall in 2025.
The reason the Thailand Travel Mart is referred to as “TTM+” is that it allows the GMS countries to take part in Thailand’s top B2B travel trade expo.
This year’s TTM+ features booths from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar, which 425 hosted tour operators (buyers) from 50 countries worldwide will be visiting.
“Positioning Thailand as an ASEAN Tourism Hub is a fundamental element of the Royal Thai Government’s IGNITE Thailand Vision,” stated Thapanee.
“During the TTM+ 2024 event, we will be discussing ways to improve rail, road, air and sea connectivity between Thailand and the GMS countries to make it easier to design creative packages and facilitate seamless travel to and within the region.”
“We have been active supporters of tourism and travel in the GMS ever since the Tourism Authority of Thailand organized the first Mekong Tourism Forum in 1996 in collaboration with the Pacific Asia Travel Association,” she continued.
“We strongly believe that intra-regional tourism has great promise and can play a major role in boosting our economies, promoting culture and heritage and meeting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
“It also meets all the objectives of our various regional and sub-regional forums such as BIMSTEC, BRICS and APEC, and also builds on the bilateral agenda now underway between Thailand-China, Thailand-South Korea and Thailand-Malaysia, etc.”
The National Economic and Social Development Council, Board of Investment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Transport, and National Economic and Social Development Council were also praised by the TAT Governor for their helpful assistance in promoting Thailand as an Asian tourism hub. – The Nation/ANN
