The roadshow, held on Aug 3, was organised by the PTA and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Moscow office, and supported by the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation (PPAO), the PTA said in a report released yesterday (Aug 16).
Sasiwat Wongsinsawat, Ambassador of Thailand to Russia, honored the occasion by inaugurating the roadshow and participated in an award ceremony held as part of the event.
At the event in Moscow, Russian media interviewed and exchanged views with PTA President Thaneth Tantipiriyakij, PTA Vice President of Communications & Executive Secretary Karn Aikwanich and TAT Moscow Office Director Kanitha Phanworawat, said the report.
The media was particularly interested in safety issues, such as traffic, maritime safety and public health. PTA President Mr Thaneth informed the Russian media about measures taken in collaboration with Phuket Province and the PPAO to address these issues and ensure the safety of the province, the report added.
Also on Aug 3, a delegation from Phuket led by Pongsura Kupongsakorn, Secretary to the PPAO President Rewat Areerob, joined by other local officials as well as a delegation from Pattaya, met with Vyacheslav Manuilov, Deputy Head of the Department for External Economic and International Relations of Moscow, and Bulat Nurmukhanov, Head of International Relations Division of the Moscow Tourism Department.
The Thai delegation visited the Situation Center in Moscow, which serves as a hub of all city data such as security systems, CCTV networks, traffic management and real-time utility systems (garbage, water, electricity). The visit aimed to draw insights for upgrading the data center of Phuket in the future.
Following the city data centre visit, a ‘Round Table’ meeting was held to discuss promoting tourism between the two countries, focusing on tourism trends and statistics, direct flights to Thailand and Phuket, and other factors conducive to tourism.
The Government of Moscow also invited the Phuket team to visit Zaryadye Park. Beyond being a public garden, the park serves as an exhibition area comprising a learning centre, cultural centre and a tourist information center. The delegation was also invited to experience the Moscow Virtual Tour, which uses a new filming technique to showcase tourist spots both inside and outside Moscow.
The roadshow to Moscow followed a stop in St Petersburg on Aug 1, where a smaller Phuket tourism promotion event was supported by 25 Phuket business operators, namely from hotels, sea travel companies and tourist attractions on the island. In total 65 representatives from Russian travel companies in St Petersburg joined the event, the PTA reported.
Mr Phongsura said that he is confident that Russia will be the top the tourist source market in the next tourism high season.
So far this year, the Russian market has ranked first for Phuket, with approximately 448,000 Russian tourists traveling to Phuket from January to July, representing a growth of 110% compared to 2019, the PTA noted in its report.
“We are confident that in the upcoming season, Russian tourists will set new records, surpassing previous years,” Mr Pongsura said.
“We anticipate generating an economic value of around B61.6 billion. We are delighted to see the continuous positive recovery of the tourism sector and would like the people of Phuket to prepare themselves to be excellent hosts to our international guests,” he added.
UZBEK DRAW
The PTA, again with support from the PPAO, held a tourism roadshow in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in late June with the aim of “strengthening tourism connections and expanding Phuket’s international footprint”.
“The event capitalised on Uzbekistan’s substantial market potential, owing to its population of 36 million. Uzbekistan’s tourists count to Thailand peaked in 2019 with 19,000 visitors,” the PTA noted.
The first half of 2023 saw 16,000 Uzbeks visit Thailand, of whom 10,000 chose Phuket. The TAT has set an ambitious target of 50,000 Uzbek tourists for this year.
Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, the TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing Europe Africa Middle East and Americas, provided valuable insights into the ‘Soft Power of Thailand’ (SPOT) initiative. SPOT emphasises five unique aspects of Thai culture: Food, Film, Fashion, Fit & Firm, and Festivals.
A significant issue raised during the event was the extension of the Visa On Arrival (VOA) duration and the possibility of visa exemption, the PTA noted.
Mr Siripakorn clarified that while the decision lies with the new Cabinet (when formed), the TAT, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is actively working on an e-visa process.
This system would not only halve the visa fee to B1,000, but it would also expedite the application process, the PTA explained.
However, as explained by the TAT Moscow Office, Russians coming to Thailand are permitted a visa on arrival (VoA), allowing them to enter and remain in the country for 30 days without a visa.
The PTA is focusing intently on the Russian-speaking market, acknowledging its family-oriented travel tendencies and the potential for travel during school holidays in June-August.
“With an average length of stay (LOS) ranging between 14-21 nights, this market promises considerable benefits to Phuket’s tourism industry. Direct flights from Uzbekistan to Thailand are non-existent at the moment, but the PTA believes that this roadshow could be the turning point for that to change,” the PTA noted in a post late last month.
“This successful event underlines the PTA’s ongoing commitment to enhancing Phuket’s appeal as a top-tier global tourism destination. We encourage Phuket’s tourism stakeholders to embrace this opportunity and join us in making our beloved island a preferred choice for visitors from Uzbekistan and beyond,” the PTA said.