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HomeTravel NewsThailand: It Begins with the People

Thailand: It Begins with the People

Thailand welcomed nearly 63,000 Irish people in 2013, a 4.5% increase on 2012, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand is forecasting growth from Europe this year of almost 7% in arrivals and 13% in revenue, said Tanes Petsuwan, Executive Director – Europe, Africa and Middle East Region, in Dublin on Monday when leading a delegation of 26 Thai hoteliers for workshops with Irish tour operators and travel agents – at which Ita Hendrick, Travelworld, and Tatiana Soukhanova, Skytours Travel, won trips to Thailand.

Hosting the Tourism Authority of Ireland workshop were Tanes Petsuwan, Executive Director – Europe, Africa and Middle East Region; Joanna Cooke, Consumer Marketing & PR Manager, Leisure – UK & Ireland; and Teerasil Tapen, Director – UK, Ireland and South Africa
Hosting the Tourism Authority of Ireland workshop were Tanes Petsuwan, Executive Director – Europe, Africa and Middle East Region; Joanna Cooke, Consumer Marketing & PR Manager, Leisure – UK & Ireland; and Teerasil Tapen, Director – UK, Ireland and South Africa

Highlighting TAT’s theme for 2014, ‘It Begins with the People’, Khun Tanes showed an excellent new video on Amazing Thailand and introduced TAT’s recently appointed new Director – UK, Ireland and South Africa, Teerasil Tapen.

New shopping attractions opening towards the end of this year are Central Embassy in Bangkok and Bluport in Hua Hin, while Bangkok’s newest tourist attraction is the Museum of Floral Culture in Dusit (www.floralmuseum.com).

In keeping with the theme ‘It Begins with the People’, the TAT is emphasising ‘Thainess Experiences’, including Thai cooking classes and street food, Muay Thai classes and events, the Thai way of life, and Thai wellness – as well as weddings and honeymoons, responsible tourism, and golf on the 200+ courses across the country.

Nurat Atibaedya, Director of Sales & Marketing, The Kee Resort, Phuket, gave Irish Travel Trade News a sneak preview of an interesting new resort currently under construction for a September 2015 opening and all will be revealed later this year. (Hint: it was on Khun Nurat’s tablet!)

Nurat Atibaedya, Director of Sales & Marketing, and Samornpun Somnam, Executive Director, The Kee Resort & Spa, Patpong Beach, Phuket
Nurat Atibaedya, Director of Sales & Marketing, and Samornpun Somnam, Executive Director, The Kee Resort & Spa, Patpong Beach, Phuket

Thailand is also the natural hub for touring the ASEAN community, including the R3A Highway that brings visitors to Laos, Kunming in China, and Myanamar, or the eastern highway connecting Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Skip Heinecke, European Sales, Minor Hotel Group, meets Paula Mullins, Classic Resorts
Skip Heinecke, European Sales, Minor Hotel Group, meets Paula Mullins, Classic Resorts
Susan McCarthy, Innstant Travel, with Nuttawee Ruchiwararat, Director of Sales & Marketing, Majestic Grande, Bangkok
Susan McCarthy, Innstant Travel, with Nuttawee Ruchiwararat, Director of Sales & Marketing, Majestic Grande, Bangkok
Vorasit Pongkumpunt, Group Vice President, Nora Resorts & Hotels, meets Martin Penrose, If Only
Vorasit Pongkumpunt, Group Vice President, Nora Resorts & Hotels, meets Martin Penrose, If Only
Supaporn Prach-Umpai, Managing Director, and Thanissara Puangkim, Tour Manager, Royal Silk Holidays, with Alana Byrne, GoHop.ie
Supaporn Prach-Umpai, Managing Director, and Thanissara Puangkim, Tour Manager, Royal Silk Holidays, with Alana Byrne, GoHop.ie
Chanunpat Thamsakulsiri, Assistant Director of Sales, Chaweng Regent Beach Resort and Melati Beach Resort & Spa, Koh Samui, meet Jackie Herssens, Travelmood
Chanunpat Thamsakulsiri, Assistant Director of Sales, Chaweng Regent Beach Resort and Melati Beach Resort & Spa, Koh Samui, meets Jackie Herssens, Travelmood
Barry Hammond, Topflight, with Nuntinee Chuachoowongse, Director of Marketing, Rama Gardens Hotel, Bangkok
Barry Hammond, Topflight, with Nuntinee Chuachoowongse, Director of Marketing, Rama Gardens Hotel, Bangkok
Maire Claire Porter, Sunway, meets Teerawat Kingkeawsopon, Assistant Managing Director, Royal Muang Samui Villas and Muang Samui Spa Resort, Koh Samui
Maire Claire Porter, Sunway, meets Teerawat Kingkeawsopon, Assistant Managing Director, Royal Muang Samui Villas and Muang Samui Spa Resort, Koh Samui
David Holden and Eam-on Likit-ittiruks, President, Andakira Group, Phuket, with Brendan Barry, Discover Travel / East Cork Travel
David Holden and Eam-on Likit-ittiruks, President, Andakira Group, Phuket, with Brendan Barry, Discover Travel / East Cork Travel

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