(This year’s edition shines a spotlight on Thailand’s meaningful travel experiences to a record number of global buyers at 425, generating some 15,000 appointments with 430 quality sellers from across the country)
TTT NEWS NETWORK
KOLKATA, 13 JUNE 2024:
The Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2024 officially opened today at the JW Marriott Khao Lak, Phang-Nga and will run until Friday, 7 June.
Mr. Sermsak Pongpanit, Minister of Tourism and Sports, presided over the opening ceremony. Joing him at the event were Miss. Niracha Banditchat, Vice Governor of Phang-Nga Province, Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Mr. Lertsak Ponklin, President of Phang-Nga Tourism Association, and officials and figures from the Thai public and private sectors.
Mr. Sermsak said, “The Thailand Travel Mart Plus, organised in line with the government’s “IGNITE Thailand” vision, has played a crucial role as a premier showcase of Thai tourism. I am confident that this year’s event will further affirm its well-earned recognition as a must-attend B2B tradeshow that provides a valuable business platform for sellers and buyers.”
This year, in its 21st edition, the TTM+ presents the theme ‘Amazing Thailand: Your Stories Never End’, the latest marketing communication campaign recently launched by the TAT. The dynamic theme shines a spotlight on Thailand’s direction towards delivering meaningful travel experiences.
Ms. Thapanee said, “The TTM+ 2024 has been conceptualised to showcase diverse tourism offerings that leverage Thai cultural values for a remarkable and excellent experience in Thailand. Another prominent feature is our ‘smart tourism’ strategy, which is aimed at elevating Thai tourism’s competitiveness. We are highlighting the unprecedented digital transformation to accelerate Thailand’s tourism ecosystem to quality and sustainability.”
The TTM+ 2024 has registered a strong turnout, with a record number of buyers: 425, which constitutes 55.5% returning buyers and 44.5% new ones. They are from East Asia (30.4%), Europe (25.2%), ASEAN, South Asia and the South Pacific (20.9%), the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East (11.3%), as well as Thailand (12.2%).
There are 430 booths of quality sellers from across the country, including 46 exhibitors who won the Thailand Tourism Awards 2023. Of the total, there are 360 hotels and resorts, 34 tour operators, 18 entertainment venues and attractions, 8 transportation and carriers, and 10 companies such as online travel platforms, shopping malls, golf clubs, and vineyards. In addition, there are over 100 media from overseas and in Thailand.
“The event will provide a platform for 15,000 business appointments between buyers and sellers. As a result, this is estimated to bring about 3 billion Baht to Thailand’s tourism industry and distribute no less than 30 million back to the communities,” Ms. Thapanee added.
The three-day TTM+ 2024 programme includes pre-tours, opening ceremony, Thailand product update, TTM Talk and welcome reception on the first day and B2B appointment sessions and networking events on the last two days.
At the Thailand Product Update, buyers and media were briefed on Thailand’s tourism direction and marketing strategy, as well as the focus on sustainability.
The TTM Talk comprised two topics, delivered by Ms. Victoria Loomes, Head of Trends at TrendWatching, on the “Navigating Tomorrow: Global Consumer Trends Reshaping the Tourism Industry” and Ms. Chudaree Debhakam, Head Chef at Baan Tepa, a 2 Michelin-star restaurant, on “Thailand’s Gastronomic Journey: Towards a Sustainable Food Future”.
The TTM+ annually showcases unique tourism-related products. This year, the event presents four diverse tourism experiences in Phang-Nga. These include ‘Try & Taste’ – a selection of delicious coffees and teas from various regions such as Thai-Style coffee from Kopi Kuapa and organic tea from Sawanbondin; ‘Showcase’ – unveiling the secrets behind local crafts like those from Morgan Village and Batik from Takuapa; ‘Local Product’ – presenting authentic local dishes and fresh fruits; and ‘Unleash’ – DIY activities on batik painting or beadwork workshops.
Reflecting on the event’s theme, the half-day pre-tours presented hidden gems of Phang-Nga, while the post-tours were crafted to allow participants to create never-ending stories in other parts of Thailand such as Phuket, Krabi and Ko Samui in the south and Chiang Mai and Lamphun in the north.
The zero waste to landfills initiative:
TAT continues to prioritise the effort to minimise the environmental impact of waste generated from the event. Actions include properly sorting waste into organic, recyclable, and general waste categories and sending them to appropriate destinations for further management. This is aimed to help reduce waste sent to landfills, following the Zero Landfills concept in the “Reduce World Mess: Zero Landfills” activity.
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