2011 was a tough year for tourism in Thailand and the Tourism Authority of Thailand will need some new ideas to attract foreign tourists in 2012.

Since the Tourism Authority of Thailand has absolutely no idea how to market to foreigners, I thought I would offer some campaign and contest suggestions for the upcoming year.

Isaan

The Tourism Authority of Thailand will definitely need help overcoming the lack of tourist during the 2011 floods and you can do your part by participating in any of the following contests or campaigns.

1. New Slogan For Thailand. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has held onto “Amazing Thailand” as their slogan for about 15 years now and only modified slightly to “Amazing Thailand always amazes you”.  Apparently there are no creative minds at the Tourism Authority of Thailand so this is your chance to come up with a slogan that represents Thailand.  Keep it under 5 words.  The following cannot be used as the Tourism Authority of Thailand has already milked these in previous failed campaigns: “Slow Travel Thailand”, “Green Thailand”, “We Care Ayutthaya – A Cleaning Day”, “Thailand Ideal Family Holiday Destination”, “The Most Amazing Show On Earth”, “Stopover Bangkok”, “Go Thailand: All That Is Missing Is You”, “Dancing Matt”, “Go Thai, Be Free”, “Seven Amazing Wonders of Thailand”, “E-marketing campaign for Medical Tourism”, “Medical Tourist Blogger Contest”, “Healthy Beauty Holiday in Thailand”, “You are in Good Hands”, “Thailand Happiness Deals”, “72 Hours Amazing Thailand”, “Ultimate Thailand Explorers”, “Unseen Thailand”, “Amazing Thailand, Amazing Value”, “Happiness on Earth”, “Hearing the Sunshine by Amazing Thailand”, “Songkran Splendours Festival”, “Amazing Thailand Grand Sale”, “CHIC by Thailand”, “Amazing shot Amazing Experience”, “Her Own Way”, “Fruitful Visitors”, and lately, “Beautiful Thailand”

2. Guess When Thaksin Returns Contest.  Win an all expense paid holiday to Bangkok for correctly guessing the date and time of for Prime Minister and fugitive from the law, Thaksin Shinawatra’s glorious return to Thailand.  Entries accepted up until the new Thai Constitution is officially signed.  Winners will be notified by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and must be prepared to travel on a moment’s notice in order to arrive before Suvarnabhumi International Airport in Bangkok is closed once again by the Yellow Shirts.  Winners must stay and witness the Red Shirts rioting and setting Bangkok ablaze again and then be interviewed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand to let 200 people know, via YouTube, that the riots are having “little impact” or “no impact” and it is still safe to go shopping.

3. Drought Thailand. 2011 was the year of floods in Thailand which means that the folks that manage the dams will be under tight scrutiny to keep the water levels way under capacity to prevent a repeat of the 2011 flood fiasco.  The end result, with the assistance of incorrect predictions from the Thai Meteorological Department, will be a widespread drought in 2012.  Come and see the barren land and dry rice paddies.  Walk across what was the Mekong River into Laos.  See where waterfalls used to be.  Experience a dry rainy season.

4. Songkran For One Month. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has already exploited this 3-day holiday (13-15 April) by making it longer in tourist areas and in 2012 will declare that April is Songkran. Not only will the Tourism Authority of Thailand promote the World’s Largest Outdoor Water Fight, it will also be the World’s Longest Outdoor Water Fight. Bring plenty of zip-lock bags.

5. Tuk-tuk Thailand. With Thai law banning the issue of new licenses for tuk-tuks, these historical icons will soon be a thing of the past.  Traveling around Thailand in the back of an open-air three-wheel scooter, taking in exhaust fumes from buses, and dripping sweat in Thailand’s humidity, is the perfect way to see the Land of Smiles.  You can rent these endangered species on your own or hire one of Thailand’s highly skilled and school trained drivers.  Either way, it will be an experience you will never forget.

6. New Scam Thailand.  With all of the information available on the Internet, the guys that run the “Grand Palace is closed”,” jet-ski damaged”, and “Padded bar bills” scams are struggling to survive.  They need your help to come up with some new scams that aren’t that widely known to fleece unsuspecting tourists.  Separate category for bar girl scams to replace “Water buffalo sick”, “mama die”, “sister have motocy accident”, and “brother in monkey house”.  Scams directly or indirectly associated with the Tourism Authority of Thailand are strictly prohibited.

7. Terror Thailand.  The Tourism Authority of Thailand will promote tours to Songkhla, Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat – the restive South of Thailand – where terrorists have been blowing up people for 9 years now.  If you can’t get to Iraq, Iran, or Afghanistan, see the South of Thailand and witness motorcycle bombs, IEDs, beheadings, and random shootings.  See the Thai Military and Thai Police in action.  Protective vests are the responsibility of each individual.  The Tourism Authority of Thailand will not be responsible if you are killed or maimed while on this tour.

8. New Mascot Contest.  Design and name a new gender non-specific, stupid looking, idiotic, worthless, and to the Thai people – nahrak – mascot to replace the Tourism Authority of Thailand – Sukjai.  A new Facebook page will be devoted to the new mascot to replace Sukjai Thailand, which has disappeared.

9. Thirty Days Of Loy Krathong.  Loy Krathong is usually held in late November and is a one-night money maker for the Tourism Authority of Thailand.  However, in 2011, the floods all but cancelled the main event on the Chao Phyra River in Bangkok.  So, this year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand, taking a cue from extended Songkran, will offer Loy Krathong in a different city on each and every night throughout the month of November except for the 1st and the 30th – both these nights will be in Bangkok.  See how much trash is accumulated in the rivers, lakes and streams of Thailand as krathongs will be floated all month long.  Clean-up Chao Phyra may be a December Campaign from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

10. Win a Date with Miss Tiffany.  Since the Tourism Authority of Thailand already promotes the Miss Tiffany Transvestite contest in Pattaya every year, why not make it a global event?  Just pick the winner for a chance to date Miss Tiffany.  Winner is responsible for air fare, hotel and meals.  The Tourism Authority of Thailand will pay either 500 baht for a short time date or 1,000 baht for a long time date.

These are but just a few of the ideas that the Tourism Authority of Thailand could use to promote to foreign tourists to try to hit their fictitious number of 20 million arrivals in 2012.

Feel free to suggest your Tourism Authority of Thailand campaign.

Tags: campaigns contest foreign tourists TAT tourism authority of thailand