Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) recently wrapped up its Thailand Travel Mart Plus event, which includes the country as well as its neighboring members of the Greater Mekong Subregion such as Cambodia.
The event took place June 13-15, 2018, at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club in the city of Pattaya, which is a little more than a one-hour drive from Bangkok.
The event's theme, "A Million Shades of Romance" showcased the tourism board's shift in focus to more niche markets rather than its previous emphasis on broader mass markets.
"Thailand offers a wide array of attractions for luxurious and romantic travel. It features a rich culture and history, wonderful nature, pristine beaches, fantastic cuisine, a full range of tourism-related amenities and accommodation with experienced and innovative service personnel, and most importantly, the hospitality of the Thai people," Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said in a statement.
At the event, Supasorn added the tourism board is "trying to create a new picture of Thailand as a wedding and honeymoon destination, and also noted that Thailand is a land of romance that provides high-quality experiences for both luxury travelers and those seeking value.
In particular, the event highlighted the destination of Pattaya, which is focused on targeting value-seeking clients that are looking for an upscale romantic escape.
The destination is known for high-quality entertainment and large-scale hotels and tourism officials emphasized its access to local experiences such as the Takiantia community, which offers biking tours of its coconut plantation.
Hotels such as the Renaissance Pattaya Resort & Spa also offer high-end accommodations for travelers as well as good locations for incentive groups and romantic escapes.
In particular, the Renaissance, perched on a white sand beach, features 257 guestrooms, two pools, a splash pool for children, a kid's club, excellent dining and a spectacular gift shop.
Thailand Travel Mart Plus is Thailand's largest B2B tourism trade show and this year's attendance reached more than 290 buyers from more than 60 countries who were focused on romance travel, honeymoons, and weddings.
The choice to focus on romance makes sense since this is an emerging market for the country. Thailand's romance travel market has grown and currently brings 1.1 million travelers into the country with more than 100,000 visitors coming to celebrate a wedding and nearly 1 million coming to celebrate a honeymoon.
Right now, the majority of romance travelers in the region come from Asia and Europe, but North America is a growing market for Thailand with many visitors attracted by the country's wide range of luxury honeymoon and wedding opportunities.
The tourism board plans to promote its romance offerings in three categories: the pre-wedding market, which is mostly targeted toward Chinese travelers; the wedding market, which is aimed at India, Hong Kong and Australia; and the honeymoon market, which has a broad reach, including the Americas, Europe, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea.
In its strategy, TAT is highlighting the five reasons why the country is an ideal choice for those seeking a romantic getaway: extraordinary destinations, diverse choices, dream hideaways, delectable tastes and distinct hospitality.
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