The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas Regions as well as respective overseas offices in these markets are keeping Thailand top-of-mind among the ‘New Normal’ travellers and travel industry professionals using a diverse range of platforms and activities.
TAT Europe, Africa and Middle East Region
The TAT Europe, Africa and Middle East Region restarted the ‘New Normal’ tourism year with the “RT Webinar Presentation” on 13-14 January, 2021, highlighting six new responsible tourism routes; namely, Krabi-Trang, Kanchanaburi-Samut Songkhram, Nakhon Si Thammarat-Phatthalung, Mae Hong Son-Chiang Mai, Nan-Chiang Rai, and Chanthaburi-Trat.
This activity formed part of the ongoing “RT in Action for the New Normal Travellers” project aimed at preparing TAT marketing managers and representatives in eight offices, covering 18 markets, ready to promote responsible tourism opportunities in Thailand once international travel can safely restart.
TAT offices in Europe, Africa and the Middle East have also been proactively promoting a diverse range of activities and initiatives in their respective markets.
TAT Frankfurt Office in cooperation with KONKRAU Thai Kochbox, the one and only Thai start-up in Germany, delivered ‘Thailand in a Box’ ready-made Thai food ingredients plus postcards of Thai food and beaches, as well as a message ‘although you cannot travel to Thailand…we bring Thailand to you’ to strategic partners and its Facebook Fanpage followers during the Christmas season. Potential travellers can also order the box online via KONKRAU’s website and Facebook Fanpage.
In addition, TAT Frankfurt Office organised an ‘Instagram Ambassador Campaign’ to keep Thailand top-of-mind for beautiful attractions as well as safety and health standards. Moreover, it roped in travel bloggers and influencers who had been to Thailand to share their ‘Five Favourite Places’ virtual trip via Instagram to inspire followers of a trip to Thailand.
TAT Moscow Office launched a commercial spot ‘These Feelings are Waiting for You’ in Russian, introducing Thai attractions via inflight entertainment of Aeroflot and S7 Airlines. It also highlighted attractions in Pattaya and Phuket for families and health and wellness enthusiasts on the ‘Far Away Show’ programme of popular radio station Echo of Moscow. Last but not least, it produced an article recommending “7 Instagramable Places” in Phuket for Biletix.ru website, promoting the Moscow-Phuket flight scheduled on 24 January, 2021.
To maintain relationships with travel industry professionals, TAT Moscow Office in cooperation with ASQ Centara Watergate and ALQ Peach Group Phuket organised a webinar for 125 Russian travel agents regarding Thailand’s entry and quarantine requirements.
TAT London Office in cooperation with two London-based tour operators launched “Linger Longer in Thailand” tour packages, targeting retirees and digital nomads. The initiative is jointly promoted under the “Amazing Thailand Plus” project with Thai Airways International, and inclusive of a 14-day quarantine.
TAT Prague Office and SETTOUR Slovakia launched the “Amazing Thailand Invitation” project, highlighting the reopening of Thailand to international travellers, as well as entry and quarantine requirements via trade, travel and lifestyle medias in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Ukraine. SETTOUR Slovakia agents also travelled to Thailand on 16 December, 2020, to experience first-hand the tourism situation in Thailand as well as co-organised a Live Webinar with Pattaya’s tourism operators for a virtual business discussion with travels agents in Czech Republic and Slovak. A ‘Thailand Escapes’ package for long-stay tourists will be launched as soon as the COVID-19 situation in Thailand improves.
TAT Rome Office in cooperation with Pera Thai restaurant and Turkish travel bloggers organised a “Dreaming Thailand New Year’ online campaign on 2 December, 2020 – 4 January, 2021. Those who had been to Thailand were invited to share experiences by sharing photos with #taylanddiozledik (We Miss Thailand) and tag friends who had never been to Thailand via Facebook and Instagram.
TAT Stockholm Office invited Swedish journalist, Mr. Stefan Christensen, to experience first-hand the ‘New Normal’ travel in Thailand on the Bangkok-Phuket-Khao Lak route, from 20 November – 19 December, 2020. During the period, he presented his experience via Facebook and Instagram (Amazingthainess) as well as the www.destinationasien.se website. More articles are scheduled to appear on popular Swedish online newspaper, Aftonbladet in January 2021.
TAT Paris Office produced testimonial clips highlighting impressions and travel recommendations of nine French residents in Thailand, with an average 59,061 views and 11,253 engagements (like, share, and comment) per clip. In addition, We Like Travel digital media analysis company reported that social media activities by the TAT Paris Office ranked among the Top 10 in the Overseas Destination category with Thailand being the only Asian country on the list.
In the Middle East, TAT Dubai Office in cooperation with WEGO meta search engine has organised an “Arab Millennial Here WEGO 2021” activity from 15 January – 28 February, 2021, to generate awareness and keep Thailand top-of-mind among Arab millennials during the COVID-19 pandemic. The activity is expected to generate more than 700,000 impressions. In addition, it has placed greater emphasis on providing Thailand’s entry and quarantine requirements for key leisure, family and expat groups. There is also a range of activities under cooperation with Emirates and Qatar Airways.
Americas Region
The three TAT offices in North America in cooperation with local partners organised “Book Now, Stay Later” online tourism promotion throughout December 2020. Booking incentives highlighted a highly flexible special rate in the form of bonds that potential travellers can buy now and use later as part of the ‘Consumer Inspiration, Connectivity and Strength of Partnership’ project. More details on https://thailand.buynowstaylater.com/.
TAT New York Office partnering with popular US travel website Metador Network awarded five essential workers the trip of a lifetime, under the ‘Thailand Gives Back to Heroes’ CSR activity. The contest generated more than 11 million impressions plus publicity in 97 media outlets. The activity attracted 173 entries (see https://matadornetwork.com/read/thailand-gives-back-heroes-2020/). It also plans to launch joint marketing activities in mid-2021 under cooperation with Virtuoso, an elite travel consortium with more than 10,000 members in North America.
TAT Los Angeles Office and the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) organised a virtual USTOA Annual Conference and Market Place on 1-3 December, 2020. The event provided networking opportunities and business discussions for 50 active members of USTOA.
Last but not least, TAT Toronto Office partnering with Canada’s leading sportswear brand Lole organised a special Zoom Workout activity conducted by famous Thai fitness instructor Mickey Allapach Na Pombhejara. The event attracted 120 participants. The Office also highlighted Thai destinations to keep Thailand top-of-mind with Canadian travellers on https://linktr.ee/thailandinsidercanada.
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