This is Thailand’s 28th appearance at Spain’s largest travel trade fair, which began on Wednesday (Jan 24) and wraps up today, reports NNT.
At FITUR 2024, TAT has aimed to attract tourists from Spanish-speaking regions by highlighting Thailand’s diverse cultural heritage and sustainable tourism experiences.
The Thailand Stand at the fair features 16 Thai tourism businesses, including tour operators, hotels, and resorts from key locations like Bangkok, Phuket, and Krabi, along with Thai Airways International.
Visitors to the Thailand Stand are given a chance to experience an array of Thai cultural performances and activities. These include traditional arts and crafts from various regions of Thailand, including Bo Sang umbrella coloring, umbrella dance, Gingala Lanna bird dance from the North; Phi Ta Khon mask painting and dance, and Serng Isan from the Northeast; and Thai potpourri making, long drum dance, and Thai dance from the Central region.
Despite the lack of direct flights between Spain and Thailand, TAT is collaborating with international airlines and Spain-based tour companies to promote Thailand package tours. The agency has identified honeymoon, health and wellness, LGBT+, and golf as key market segments for 2024.
Last year, FITUR hosted 8,500 tourism companies and attracted 136,000 trade participants, 86,000 public visitors, and over 6,000 media representatives from 131 countries.
Prior to this past week’s FITUR, the TAT was a prominent participant in the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2024, from Jan 22-27 in Vientiane, Lao PDR, with the theme being “Quality and Responsible Tourism – Sustaining ASEAN Future.”
Showcasing its commitment to sustainable and high-value tourism, the Thailand Stand, launched on Wednesday (Jan 24), displayed elements of Thai culture and promoted Thailand as a top destination for health and wellness tourism. The stand represented key tourism players, highlighting the focus on regional tourism and connectivity.
In 2023, Thailand welcomed over 28 million tourists, generating B1.2 trillion in revenue. For 2024, TAT has set a revenue target of B3trn, aiming to attract both international and domestic tourists.
Nithee Seeprae, TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, emphasised the effort to enhance Thailand’s sustainable tourism image. The Thailand Tourism Awards and TAT’s Sustainable Tourism Goals (STGs) are part of this strategy, with the latest awards introducing Low-carbon and Sustainability categories.
TAT’s 2024 marketing strategy focuses on attracting tourists with higher spending potential and an interest in local culture and environment. This includes promoting luxury, health and wellness, family-friendly holidays, and less-visited destinations.