The initiative, spearheaded by the TAT Moscow Office and led by Director Kanchana Sing-udom, aims to attract quality tourists from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region to Thailand, particularly to high-profile destinations such as Phuket, Bangkok, Krabi, Chonburi and Surat Thani.
A total of 27 Thai tourism operators participated in the roadshow, including a strong delegation from the Phuket Tourist Association, which led business-to-business negotiations with more than 300 prominent tour companies across the three cities.
The TAT in its report emphasised that CIS countries represent a high-potential tourist market, noting that travelers from this region often visit with families or groups of friends, tend to stay longer and have significant spending power ‒ aligning with Thailand’s strategy to focus on attracting “quality tourists”.
In Astana on July 2, the event was officially opened by Piyapin Niyomrerks, Thai Ambassador to Kazakhstan, who highlighted the importance of tourism in strengthening bilateral ties between Thailand and Kazakhstan.
The Phuket Tourist Association, with support from the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), showcased the island’s tourism offerings to CIS tour operators.
Chalam Attham, Vice Chairman of the PPAO, along with PPAO members, led 16 private sector representatives from Phuket to promote the province as a year-round, world-class destination.
The Phuket delegation also presented updates on the island’s diverse tourism products, events and activities ‒ beyond its well-known natural beauty ‒ to ensure CIS tour and travel agents were informed of the latest offerings.
The roadshow is expected to significantly boost the number of tourists from CIS countries visiting Phuket and other Thai destinations, with projections for longer stays and increased spending across the tourism and hospitality sectors.