Tourism operators in smaller provinces should get a chance to showcase products and services on the international stage at World Travel Market and ITB Berlin as part of the government's attempt to boost tourism to these areas.
For a first step, various small operators will participate in Thailand Travel Mart Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion (TTM+ 2019), one of the biggest travel trade shows organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), June 5-7 at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Pattaya.
Held under the theme "New Shade of Emerging Destinations", the event is set to promote tourism in communities in Thailand, said TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn.
Some 20 local tourism operators in second-tier provinces will observe the event and showcase their products for 351 local and foreign buyers from 51 countries worldwide.
Mr Yuthasak said TTM+ 2018 stimulated tourism transactions worth 2.47 billion baht, a 27% increase from 2017.
This year, he estimates the value to reach 2.5 billion baht, with 20% of income going to second-tier provinces.
The TAT offers a new special session called TTM+ Talk, featuring 10 invited speakers presenting their experiences on a variety of tourism topics.
Thailand is promoting travel to 55 less-popular provinces, dubbed second-tier provinces, which receive fewer than 4 million tourists a year.
Tax incentives to encourage travel to these provinces have been applied since last year.
This year, the government allows a tax deduction of 20,000 baht for domestic travel and spending during May to June in small provinces and 15,000 baht in big provinces.
In addition, purchases of items from the One Tambon One Product scheme will be eligible for up to a 15,000-baht tax deduction.
The TAT is confident that the tax perks will help drive domestic tourism in small provinces and together with TTM+ will help change the tourism ratio between big provinces and second-tier ones to 65:35 this year, from 70:30 last year.
Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, the TAT deputy governor for marketing in Asia and the South Pacific, said that some of the 351 buyers are newcomers, including those from Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Colombia, Chile and Venezuela.
The highest number of buyers are from China, at 65, and he said this could reflect that Thailand is still a preferred destination for Chinese visitors. Britain follows with 29 buyers and India with 23.
Mr Chattan said the TAT will continue working on rebranding Pattaya as a luxury beach destination through the TTM+ event.
The popular city is a key destination in the Eastern Economic Corridor, an economic zone that includes U-tapao airport, a new aviation hub in the eastern part of Thailand.
Airlines from South Korea, Japan and China have expressed an interest in having more direct flights to U-tapao and the matter is under discussion, Mr Chattan said.
