More Mumbo-Jumbo from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

This latest marketing bullshit comes from Prakit Piriyakiet, deputy governor for marketing communications, and like everyone else at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, he spouts fancy words that may sound impressive, but are ambiguous and cannot be quantified.

Khon Kaen Dinosaur

Since the Tourism Authority of Thailand has no idea what an Integrated Marketing Communication is, this will most likely be more of the same old stupid shitty promotions that the Tourism Authority of Thailand has done for years.

From The Nation, Integrated communication to back TAT marketing with limited budget.

Although the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will face a 10-per-cent cut in its overall budget next year, it will use integrated marketing communication to attract foreign tourists and meet its international arrivals target.

Don’t believe in the budget cut.  TAT has asked for a ton of money in the past and additional funds to compensate for the Thailand floods of 2011.  There will be no cut – there will more money thrown at wasted promotions.  And, as far as “integrating – the Tourism Authority of Thailand wouldn’t know how to integrate peanut butter and jelly with two slices of bread to make a sandwich.

The funding reduction resulted from the government’s decision to reallocate some budgets at each ministry and state enterprise to aid flood victims and contribute to flood recovery.

And, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has asked for an additional 3 BILLION baht to promote Thailand in 2012.  This is in addition to about 5.5 BILLION baht already allocated.

Prakit Piriyakiet, deputy governor for marketing communications, said: “We must spend money wisely for more effective communication and hit the right target.”

True. But, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has proven over and over again that they don’t know what the right target(s) are especially with foreign tourists.

He added that the agency would have a marketing budget of about Bt2 billion, the same as this year, for public relations via events and traditional and new media in the New Year.

Guess there really wasn’t a budget cut after all.

TAT’s overseas offices will be more cautious on spending, but broadcast, print and out-of-home media will remain the priority means to build awareness in overseas markets.

Same old thing – cheesy commercials showing temples, markets, and elephants and printed pamphlets with incorrect information at the Tourism Authority of Thailand offices.

Sugree Sithivanich, director of advertising and public relations, said that given the limited budget, TAT overseas offices were seeking business partners in each market such as travel agents and airlines to promote Thailand jointly.

What limited budget?  Seeking business partners is a euphemism for finding suckers that will pay under the table to be included in the Tourism Authority of Thailand promotional material.

Though advertising on international media seems expensive, TAT will continue to support features and reports about Thailand, Sugree said. Upcoming feature stories should be similar to CNN’s “Eye on Thailand”, which was produced in association with PTT Group, the Department of Export Promotion and the Board of Investment of Thailand.

Features and Reports where?  Certainly not via social media.

Moreover, the agency will select high-potential events through which it can create a brand image, such as tie-in products in television shows. It will participate in world events including Formula One motor racing, professional soccer in the United Kingdom, and the Thailand Open and Australian Open golf tournaments.

Ah – more promoting the World’s largest water gun fight during Songkran and the transvestite beauty contest, Miss Tiffany, in Pattaya.

TAT will continue to use celebrity marketing by inviting superstars in key markets such as China, South Korea and Japan to visit Thailand.

Does nothing to promote tourism and is a big waste of money at the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Sugree said Yanni, a world-famous pianist and composer from Greece, was considering organising a concert once again next year. The live concert is expected to take place at Sanam Luang with the Grand Palace in the background.

Get a never-was, has-been from a bankrupt country – brilliant strategy.

To be well prepared for future crises, TAT has prepared Thailandtourism.com to provide both real-time information and live video reports from cameras installed in key tourism destinations across the country. The agency will also use new media, particularly social media such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn and StumbleUpon, to target new-generation tourists.

Ah,another bunch of bullshit.  Khun Sugree doesn’t even know the URL of his own new web site – it is thailandtourismupdate.com and it is totally worthless as it is primarily RSS news feeds from the Bangkok Post and The Nation.  There are no live feeds from cameras there.  And, the Tourism Authority of Thailand does not know how to use Youtube since their flood update video featuring the PATA CEO has received a little over 200 views in almost two months and using Facebook -HA!

Here is a sampling of posts from the Amazing Thailand Facebook page – the main FB page for the Tourism Authority of Thailand:

Amazing Thailand
Welcome to the last Monday before Christmas! Have a good day ka! (^_______^)

and

Amazing Thailand
Good morning everyone! Have a nice Sunday. \(*.^)/

Certain to get millions of foreign visitors.

Meanwhile TAT’s marketing information-technology department is developing new mobile applications after the success of the “Amazing Thailand” and “Speak Thai” apps.

Success?  As determined by whom?

With these integrated communication strategies, TAT expects to welcome 19.55 million international tourists and Bt766 billion in receipts in 2012.

And the Tourism Authority of Thailand will achieve those numbers since they are mostly made up and no one ever checks anyone from a Thai Government Office.

Tags: 2012 amazing thailand facebook Integrated Maraketing Communication tourism authority of thailand youtube