Northeast to count on festivals

BANGKOK, 19 July 2012: Festivals will be the main tool to attract more tourists to Northeast Thailand according to the region’s Tourism Authority of Thailand office.

The focus on festivals and special events should ensure the Northeast gains a fair share of  domestic trips that should reach 107.4 million in 2013.

On the sidelines of TAT’s presentation of its national action plan 2013, Monday, the TAT Northeastern regional office executive director, Pattamat Wongpattanasiri, said the region’s main draw card was its colourful festivals and events spread over the year.

“Last year, we hosted tourism events, fairs and festivals all year round and now there are more airlines offering services to secondary destinations such as Roi Et, Sakhon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Loei and Buriram,” said Ms Pattamat.

The regional goal is to achieve Bt42 billion in tourism revenue from 19 million trips, just less than 20% of the countrywide target.

In 2010, travel data showed there were 17 million domestic trips to the Northeast.

All five regional offices located in the Northeast, South, North, central plains and East will have to adhere to the TAT national positioning that has Thainess as its theme and the marketing goal “Higher Revenue through Thainess.”

It calls for regional offices to promote tourism as part of Thai people’s life, developing business channels through partnerships (tourism associations) and increasing awareness of specific regional identities as well as creating a regional tourism experience.

The Northeast will continue to market itself under the theme Lang Ruean Roo Au Arayatham (Knowledge Centre and Cradle of Civilisation) with emphasis on the following local festivals and events:

• Amazing Isan Fair (January to March 2013);

• Isan Go Go Fair (October 2012 to September 2013);

• The Way of Love (October to December 2013);

• Visit and travel to candle wax makers communities (July 2013);

• Learning as you travel dinosaur trails (January to June 2013);

• Red lotus lake of Isan (October 2012 to February 2013);

• Sustainable tourism in Loei province (December 2012);

• Appreciate arts in the land of elephants (November 2012 to August 2013)

According to Ms Pattamat, overnight stays have reduced in towns along the Northeast borders with Laos and Cambodia, possibly because more travellers transit the Northeast to visit neighbouring countries.

• The region gained 48.30% more hotel rooms from 2007 to 2010 ( 29,621 to 43,929). Most of the new rooms are in resorts at Wang Nam Kheo and Pak Chong, Nakhon Ratchasima.

• The top five provinces in tourism are Nakhon Ratchasima (5.12 million trips generating Bt8.4 billion), Khon Kaen (2.68 million trips generating Bt6.3 billion), Udon Thani (2.48 million trips generating Bt5.7 billion), Ubon Ratchathani (1.74 million trips generating Bt3.7 billion) and Nong Khai (1.61 million generating Bt3 billion).

On a national scale TAT outlined a variety of themed activities:

Thailand Tourism Fair; Amazing Thailand Golf; Travel by OTOP train; 12 months of travel to increase your life power; 1081009 missions; travel to a lovely town; an amazing ordinary day with special price; youth travel with green heart; travel bonus 50% discount for senior people. (editor’s note: Direct translations of themes).

Sourced: ttrweekly