Amazing Thailand Product Update in Latin America

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has been on the road for about a week and has completed two more (three of the four) Amazing Thailand Product Update in Latin America 2016 presentations in both Medilin, Colombia, and Quito, Ecuador on March 24-25, 2016.

Wednesday, March 24, was the second presentation at the Dann Carlton Hotel in Medilin, Colombia. 75 travel professionals (comprising mostly agents with a few tour operators ) attended the product update presentation and eagerly asked questions about the destinations. In addition to meeting and learning about Thailand from TAT, Ms. Sabine Widmann (Director of Sales and Marketing) of Go Thailand Tours and Ms. Benjawan Meksakul (Business Development Manager) of the Conrad Koh Samui met with the travel industry as well to present their companies/properties to guests.

Thursday, 25 March, was the third presentation but was set as a more intimate meeting between the road show delegation and three tour operators, Destinos, Viahehoy, and Euro Latina. All operators in consensus felt that the growth of travellers from Ecuador to Thailand would greatly increase if there was an exemption for visas or if travelers were permitted to obtain visas upon arrival in Thailand. Upon the meeting’s completion, TAT and the industry partners had befriended three new tour operators who professed their pleasure in working with Thailand to develop the market.

In 2014, Colombia had nearly 8,000 travellers to Thailand which was about a 7.96 % growth from the previous year. Ecuador had 1,300 travellers in 2014 with an approximate 10% growth from the prior year. Although both countries’ base numbers are low compared with Brazil and Argentina’s travellers to Thailand, TAT projects continued growth in these countries as there is ongoing outreach in the region with events like the Latin American Road Show and PR/marketing efforts from TAT representatives.