28 talking shop
A fresh look at amazing Thailand OUT & ABOUT
destination dialogue
O
ver 100 agents joined our two Destination Dialogues in Glasgow and Manchester,
sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thai Airways. Agents enjoyed a night of presentations, networking and delicious Thai food
The challenges
Thailand is well known for its vibrant capital, beautiful beaches and the adventure-centre of the north, but the variety of destinations and experiences on offer can be bewildering. Choosing the right resorts and ordering the itinerary in the correct way is the biggest challenge.
Bangkok has traditionally been sold as the fi rst stop on a tour of Thailand but this is something that TAT is trying to discourage. “Put Bangkok at the end of a Thai itinerary, for two reasons,” says Chris Lee, Trade Marketing Manager, Tourism
Authority of Thailand. “Firstly because Thailand can be quite a culture shock on arrival and lively Bangkok is too much for some people. Give them time to
acclimatise!
The second reason is to make the most of Bangkok’s excellent shopping and hit the shops just before you fl y home.” When it comes to picking the right beach resorts, knowledge is key. “Thailand has 2,500 miles of beach but each one is different,” said Lee. “There are eight beach resorts in Phuket alone. Learn what your customer wants, whether it's bright lights and nightclubs or peace, quiet and traditional restaurants.”
The opportunities
Thailand’s markets can be split into three main groups: the primary market which is post-family couples, 50-plus; the secondary market of pre-family couples, 18-35; and the tertiary market of families with teens. Other important markets include weddings and honeymoons, luxury and spa and wellness.
Chris Lee said: “Our emerging market is families. A lot of people backpacked Thailand when they were younger and now want to show their kids. It's very affordable for families, with
sellingtravel.co.uk
eating out costing a fraction of what it would in the Caribbean.”
Meet the partners THAI AIRWAYS: The fl ag carrier’s new A380 comes into service on July 1. Operating out of Heathrow’s T2, the A380 leaves London at 12.30pm, arriving at 5.45am the next day. The return fl ight leaves Bangkok at 1.10am, arriving in London at 7.15am. Onboard, Royal First’s privacy suites include an 82-inch pitch in a 1-2-1 confi guration. The Royal Silk (business) class is also lie-fl at in a 44-inch pitch with 1-2-1 confi guration, but arranged so that couples can be seated together in the interior and individuals can take the outer seats for more privacy. Economy class has a 32-inch seat pitch but due to ergonomic seating feels the same as the 34-inch pitch on Thai Airways’ Boeing planes. BANGKOK AIRWAYS: The boutique full-service carrier has a huge number of codeshare agreements with carriers including British Airways, Eva Air, Etihad, Qatar and, as of June 1, Emirates. CENTARA HOTELS & RESORTS: The newly-opened Centara Pelican
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