LEAD NEWS : TAT LEADS THAI PRIVATE SECTOR TO TAP INTO THE EAST INDIAN MARKET, DRAWING INDIAN TOURISTS TO THAILAND IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE YEAR

BY DEBAJYOTI CHAKRABORTY

KOLKATA | 12 JULY 2026

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) New Delhi Office, in collaboration with the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kolkata and the Thai Trade Center (TTC) in New Delhi, participated in East India’s premier travel and tourism marketing event, “TTF Kolkata 2026” (Travel & Tourism Fair 2026). The event is scheduled from July 10-12, 2026, at the Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan exhibition and convention centre in Kolkata, India.

The inauguration ceremony of TTF Kolkata 2026 was attended by Ms.Khun Siriporn Tantipanyathep, Consul General of Royal Thai Consulate General, Kolkata, Ms. Benjappa Tubthong, Deputy Consul General of Thailand, Mr. Khajornrit Khwanmongkol, Director Of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), New Delhi, Mr.Wirote Phaimuanghung, Deputy Director, TAT , New Delhi etc .

Thailand presented its pavilion under the tourism promotional campaign concept, “Healing is the New Luxury,” while also promoting the “Amazing Thailand Grand Sale 2026” project and the “Amazing Thailand Marathon Bangkok 2026” event. This initiative aims to reinforce Thailand’s image as a destination that perfectly caters to wellness retreats, premier shopping, and world-class sports.

For this event, TAT invited seven tourism entrepreneurs from Thailand to participate in business negotiations and offer exclusive tour packages. The participating companies included: 1) Thailand Privilege Card, 2) Thai Vietjet, 3) InterContinental Phuket Resort, 4) Andamanda and Vana Nava Water Parks, 5) Siam Niramit Phuket, 6) Sky Diving Thailand, and 7) Rich Tour Thailand.

To create a vibrant atmosphere and encourage visitor engagement, the Thailand pavilion also featured beautiful Thai cultural performances and demonstrations, along with interactive Q&A activities about Thailand.

Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, is the most significant economic hub in eastern India. It also benefits from excellent travel convenience, offering direct flights to Bangkok and Phuket with a flight time of only about two and a half hours. The TTF Kolkata 2026 marks its 38th edition this year, standing as one of the oldest and largest travel trade show networks in India.

Notably, this year, Thailand, under the operation of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kolkata, was the only National Tourism Organization (NTO) participating in the fair.

Furthermore, based on the tourism information services provided at the Thailand pavilion, TAT noted that the topic most frequently inquired about by Indian tourists and private sector representatives was the details regarding Thailand’s visa measures and policies. This information is actively being sought by travelers to help them finalize their decision-making and travel plans to visit Thailand in the near future.