Association opens to serve SMEs

BANGKOK, 23 August 2012: The Association of Thai Tourism Marketing registered as a trade association since January this year officially launched yesterday with an aim to increase the competitive edge of Thailand’s tourism SMEs.

Association of Thai Tourism Marketing president, Minkwan Metmowlee, said the association was founded after talks between inbound tour operators who identified problems and ever-increasing challenges that face their enterprises.

“The association will help them find new products through familiarisation trips, keep them in the know about training courses as well as organise training courses. It will also be a channel for the members to share their problems and discuss them with related government agencies.”
She added that existing associations were too large and had too many agendas. It was difficult for them to address every issue.

“There are several tourism trade associations that are specialised such as meetings and conventions and for each particular market. Our objective is to concentrate on marketing.”

Ms Mingkwan said the association will have four marketing areas focusing on products, media, online business and tradeshows.

In terms of product development she said many SMEs lacked funds to invest to match richer multinational firms and they are too busy with daily routines and financial constraints to explore or create new or different programmes.

“Thailand needs new destinations to attract tourists to spend more time in the country. As neighbouring countries open up, tourists will flock to them for a fresh experience, so we can capitalise on this development as a gateway but we need to create new destinations too,” noted the ATTM president.

So far, the association has organised two fam trips to survey potential destinations in Thailand — Kaeng Krachan in Phetchaburi and Dansai, Nong Hin and Chiang Khan in Loei.

Next month, the association will organise a three-day workshop on online marketing with Chandrakasem Rajabhat University providing online marketing techniques, proactive strategies and a platform for Q&A.

Ms Mingkwan said the association would organise training courses or workshops every three months and keep members in the know about training courses that are available from other agencies such as the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

As for tradeshows, the first event is a road show to Europe in cooperation with the TAT, 25 to 27 September, to Amsterdam, Brussels and Lyon.

“We have to be aggressive and go to small cities that have potential, inviting travel agencies and tour operators for table-top sales sessions. It is more focused and they will have more time to talk and meet with operators who do not attend the big events. Also it is cheaper for SMEs that lack marketing resources.”

The association now has around 200 members a mix of tour operators, hotels and restaurants.

Sourced: ttrweekly