The theme of this year’s Thailand Travel Mart Plus, Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Sub-Region, (TTM+) 2017 at the International Exhibition and Convention Centre (CMECC) in Chiang Mai was ‘Delivering New Experiences’ – and the biggest ever fam to Thailand and Vietnam for Irish agents will be held in October.
TTM+ promotes the tourism and service business sector in Thailand and the Greater Mekong sub-region.TTM+ is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Thailand’s unique tourism offering and to share the beauty of Lanna culture with international visitors.
This year the event attracted more than 423 international buyers from 56 countries, including Ireland, who met with 400 sellers from the Greater Mekong sub-region. Tourism to Thailand continues to grow, with just close to 70,000 visitors to the kingdom from Ireland. This would grow if direct flights from Dublin were introduced and Irish Travel Trade News understands that a long-haul carrier is researching such a service for the near future.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand was promoting a new campaign of unique Thai local experiences, to extend the spatial spend of tourism to more local communities and which will bring international visitors to learn the Thai way of life, showing that each community has its own unique culture and opening up new perspectives for the visitor.
This year, the show was attended by 362 sellers from Thailand and the neighbouring Mekong countries, the vast majority of these were small and medium sized hotels and boutiques emerging in growing numbers all over the country.
Chris Lee, TAT Marketing Manager with responsibility for Ireland, said that they are about to launch their biggest ever fam trip for Irish agents, which will be in October and will combine Thailand with Vietnam.
It was also announced at TTM+ 2017 that Bangkok is to get its own Michelin Guide. The objective is to raise the profile of Thai restaurants and to boost the economy. The first edition is expected to be published by the end of 2017.
Next year TTM+2019 will held in the beach resort of Pattya,which is located on the Eastern seaboard,bordering Cambodia.
