TAT sets sail for cruise

BANGKOK Cruise business tops the agenda for the Tourism Authority of Thailand, this week, as a top flight delegation attends the high-profile Seatrade Med Cruise Convention in Barcelona, Spain that opened today and continues to 18 September.
TAT deputy governor for Europe, Africa and Middle and Americas, Juthaporn Rerngronasa, said Seatrade Convention is the first of a series of travel trade events and roadshows organised by TAT for the last quarter of the year.
According to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, international tourist arrivals to Thailand, January to August, reached 15.7 million of which Europe accounted for 4.13 million arrivals, with a growth of 3.16% over the same period in 2013.
“Europe is an important source market in these challenging times,” the deputy governor commented. “An all-out effort is being mounted to ensure the best possible visitor turnout in the last quarter of 2014. Penetrating the cruise market is an important component of this.”
In addition to being a good source of luxury, high-end visitors, cruises are now attracting more young people, small corporate meetings and incentives.
She added: “We plan to present Thailand as a port of call, turn-around destination for ships operating out of the Singapore cruise terminal, and as a destination for pre and post cruise tours.”
Seatrade Med Cruise Convention attracts more than 3,000 executives. TAT will organise a networking lunch for about 30 senior representatives of cruise lines, media and tour operators of luxury products, during the show.
TAT will also participate in a cruise convention in Singapore this November. It will partner with Singapore Tourism Board to invite senior cruise line executives and media from the Americas and Europe for a fam trip 17 to 19 November.
Other upcoming major events to be organised for Europe, Americas, Africa and the Middle East are:
8 to 10 September 2014, Amazing Thailand Road Show in Canada.
16 to 19 September 2014, OTDYKH – Leisure 2014, Moscow, Russia.
22 to 25 September 2014, Mexico, International Luxury Travel Market.
29 September to 2 October 2014, Amazing Thailand Road Show in Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg and France.
25 to 28 October 2014, Feria Internacional de Turismo de América Latina, Buenos Aires.
3 to 5 November 2014, World Travel Market 2014, UK.
4 to 5 December 2014, International Luxury Travel Market 2014, Cannes.

sourced:ttrweekly.com