by Joachim Fischer and Rapeepat Mantanarat, TTR Weekly, Reinhard Hohler
“Thailand Travel Mart Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Sub-region” (TTM+2010), a B2B annual event initiated in 2001, is scheduled for 2 to 4 June at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, despite earlier concerns that it might be postponed.
Earlier this year, Tourism Authority of Thailand targeted 450 sellers and 600 buyers. However, due to the political crisis, registration has dropped short of target on the buyers side (as of the latest update on 30 April). There are 355 buyers registered from 49 countries. Last year the event attracted 405 sellers and 400 buyers.
The prospects that even registered buyers might cancel, if the lock-down of the Ratchaprasong tourist district continues, worries travel companies that have signed up for the event. It is a serious issue for sellers, who are obliged to support the national event, while recognising the capital is not in a fit state to host trade buyers or showcase its attractions with any confidence.
Hotels and travel agencies are already suffering financially from the current political debacle and they are again being asked to invest in a show while there are no signs of a solution to end a two-month security crisis.
However, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is optimistic and reports it has 442 booths featuring 398 seller organisations.
There are buyers registered from 49 countries, of which 265 are hosted buyers. India tops the list with 57 buyers. The second largest buyer group is from Thailand (34), followed by the UK (29), Russia (24), USA (24), and Australia (18).
There are just four buyers registered from China and one from Hong Kong, an indicator that travel advisories are impacting on those markets. Both Japan and Singapore will be represented by five buyers each. The TAT has invited 16 Korean buyers working in the honeymoon market.
Most of the 442 seller booths are hotels and resorts in Thailand (278 booths) with only 11 booths from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
National tourism organisations from the neighbouring countries have booked two booths each. Vietnam’s national tourist office is not officially participating, but there are private operators taking booth space. Besides NTOs, just one Cambodian tour company will join and two tour companies and the national airline from Myanmar.
In Thailand, about 100 of 278 hotel booths are booked by hotels and resorts from the South – Phuket, Samui, Krabi (mainland, Lanta Island and Phi Phi Island), Khao Lak and Phangan Island.
Hotels from the central region, including Bangkok and Hua Hin, are second in space bookings followed by the North, with 10 hotels from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Also, eight wellness and spa venues are included in the Chiang Mai zone.
The eastern region features mainly resorts in Pattaya, Chang Island and Kood Island in Trat, Rayong and Chantaburi provinces. There are booths booked by tour companies, a crystal factory, a dolphinarium, Oasis Sea World and a zip line adventure, Flight of the Gibbon.
From the northeast the turnout is very poor with just four resorts belonging to the Isan Boutique Collection all sharing the same booth.
Apart from hotels, resorts, and leading inbound tour operators, there are some specialists in niches such as cycling, cruises and eco-tourism.
There are two Thai airlines represented – Thai Airways International and Bangkok Airways plus a helicopter service, Advance Aviation for private charters.
Several attractions include the well established Phuket Fantasea, Chiang Mai Night Safari, Calypso, Dream World, Sampharn Elephant Show and Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden. However, this year will see two new attractions at the show – Madame Tussaud’s Bangkok and Amazon Falls Water Park in Sattahip, 30 km south of Pattaya.
Tourism organisations in Thailand are also present such as the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Thai Hotels Association, Association of Thai Travel Agents, Thailand Incentive and Convention Association and Thailand Community Based Tourism Institute.
