The Thailand Travel Mart 2016 Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion (TTM+ 2016) took place in Chiang Mai from June 8-10 at the recently opened Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre (CMECC), and TTN was invited.
The largest travel trade show of its kind in Thailand, the event drew more than 850 delegates from 55 countries. In its 15th year, this is the first time the event has been held outside of Bangkok, showcasing North and Northeast Thailand’s diverse range of travel offerings and highlighting new tourism partnerships between Thailand and the neighbouring countries of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.
Prosper together
A joint press conference was hosted at TTM+ 2016 led by Thailand along with tourism partners from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to discuss the theme concept , 'CLMVT link: Prosper Together.'
According to figures from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), nearly 98 million international travellers visited Asean members in 2015, an increase of 7.3 per cent. CLMVT members welcomed 26.8 million visitors in 2010, rising to 44.42 million in 2014, representing a 42 per cent increase in arrivals.
'These statistics show the potential of the CLMVT market as well as its importance to the Asean Community,' stated Yuthasak Supasom, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). 'CLMVT countries might be a sub-grouping of Asean, but if they can strengthen their unity, it will ultimately benefit the Asean platform. Deeper integration of the Asean Economic Community will also promote Asean as a single tourist destination.'
Enhanced linkages will strengthen the competitiveness of the whole CLMVT region and allow the countries to intensify their joint marketing, promotional campaigns and familiarization trips. Two recent examples include the introduction of a 'Two Countries, One Destination' packages, as well as a 'Mega Caravan to Asean' organized by TAT in January, which introduced media and travel trade representatives from Asia to road travel through Thailand, Lao PDR, Vietnam and Cambodia. Future activities include the promotion of a 'Asean Bucket List: 50 Things to Discover Aseaness,' highlighting tourism attractions, events and activities in which Asean members share thematic similarities, including festivals, cruises, overland tour itineraries, markets and bazaars, community-based and agricultural tourism.
In addition, expanded airlift is playing a vital role in strengthening the competitiveness of the CLMVT region as a whole. New intra-regional direct flights include Air Asia’s new daily Bangkok-Vientiane flight, starting on July 1, 2016 and Bangkok Airways’ new daily flights from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang and Vientiane beginning on October 1, 2016. Nok Air also plans to launch three flights a week between Bangkok and Mandalay in late 2016.
The sporting life
Also in focus during TTM+ 2016 is the growth of sports tourism in Thailand, including large-scale spectator events, mass participation sports, as well as recreational and cultural sports activities such as Muay Thai boxing.
While scuba diving is the most-popular sporting activity among visitors to Thailand, running and cycling events are also proving extremely popular, with at least one major marathon event held each month in Thailand and more than 100 cycling events hosted each year. In addition, Thailand has more than 300 world-class golf courses and a range of top-tier sports training facilities, including Thanyapura Phuket, a sports, health and educational complex and the first official FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation) training center in South East Asia used by the British and Australian national swimming teams.
'Thailand is entering the sports and tourism era,' stated Kobkam Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, Thailand. 'Sports can give people a new way to enjoy and experience Thailand – playing golf, taking in the scenery while cycling or running, or meeting and competing with Thai people at any of our gyms and sports centres.'
A range of major sporting events taking place in Thailand this year include the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix Finals in Bangkok in July, the Buriram Super GT Race at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram in October, and the Jet Ski World Cup 2016 in Pattaya in December.
Interesting statistics
Organisers of TTM+ 2016 reported 345 sellers from Thailand and the GMS countries, and 305 buyers from 55 countries at the event.
Welcoming nearly 29.8 million visitors in 2015 and on pace to swell to an anticipated 32 million visitor arrivals in 2016, Thailand is also drawing more Middle East visitors. In 2015, 659,129 visitors traveled to Thailand from the Middle East region, a ten per cent increase over 2014. This year, between January and April, arrivals from the region were up 11.36 per cent to 226,973 largely a result of increased arrivals from places such as Saudi Arabia (+34.4 per cent) and Egypt (+18.17 per cent). Only arrivals from the UAE were down, by 1.16 per cent.
By Christine Hinz