Another knucklehead at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thanes Petsuwan, thinks he can convince folks from bankrupt Europe, the rioting Middle East, and Africa to visit Thailand with their latest “Miracle Thailand” promotion.

It will definitely be a miracle if the Tourism Authority of Thailand can get people with no money to visit flood ravaged Thailand.

Cha-am Beach Thailand

The Bangkok Post has a write-up today, Miracle Thailand begins, which outlines the upcoming promotions from the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

“Despite the economic problems in Europe, we believe arrivals from the continent still grow due to our campaigns for many festivals and special events in Thailand. Four main targets with high purchasing power are golfers, medical tourists, newlyweds, and eco-tourists,” he said.

If people have no money, it won’t grow.  Point 2 – since the Tourism Authority of Thailand does not know how to market to specific niches, this will fail.

The TAT is staging the Fam Trip Thailand Go Green project until today to bring European, African and Middle East tour operators to meet Thai counterparts for business partnerships and to visit eco-tourist destinations in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Loei, Phitsanulok, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram and Phetchaburi.

I hope they brought their hip-waders and rubber or bamboo rafts.

The four tourist groups that the TAT wants to attract will offset a decline in budget travellers who are slowing spending due to the euro-zone crisis.

There is also a decline in the folks that have big money.  I guess this guy doesn’t understand that this is a GLOBAL recession.

During the first eight months of this year, about 3.7 million European tourists arrived in Thailand. The number rose by 8% and should reach 5 million at the year-end. Thailand should earn over 100 billion baht from European visitors and their number may rise by 5% to 5.3 million next year.

This is based on the inflated numbers from the Department of Tourism who will have to tell some major lies to get people to believe that tourists are still coming during all of the flooding that is going on.  Fourth quarter numbers should be DOWN about 20% – and this is supposed to be HIGH season.

This is from Tourism Authority of Thailand knucklehead #2:

Wiyada Srirangkul, a TAT director in Rome, said the European market was growing, especially the Russian segment. Next year, the TAT will launch active marketing campaigns in economically sound Israel and Turkey. Since tourists from these countries usually visit Pattaya, the TAT will introduce them to other seaside destinations like Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi and Hua Hin.

They don’t go to Pattaya for the beach – so good luck getting them to go to places that don’t have as many bars and hookers.

As well, the TAT will persuade families from these countries to tour Bangkok and its outskirts. Turkey conventionally views Thailand as a destination for male tourists and there are not enough guides for Turkish visitors.

I guess they will start running tours to see the flood damage.

Yes, it will definitely take a few million miracles for the Tourism Authority of Thailand to get people to Thailand.

Tags: africa europe golf israel niche markets TAT tourism authority of thailand turkey wedding