Fred de Brouwer, the developer of PORTA travel magazine, was recently in Bangkok to submit his proposal to TAT officials.

His study has been presented to TAT deputy governor Suraphon Svetasreni, Puripan Bunnag,

chief domestic tourism industry relations section of TAT's longstay working committee, and Prasan Wangrattanapranee, managing director of Thai Longstay Management.

"Thailand is the only country we have approached. Denise [his partner] and I fell in love with the country a long time ago. We have visited Thailand many times, studied it and are convinced that your country can become the number one tourism and migration destination in the world for many reasons," Brouwer said.

"Active and targeted promotion can make the annual number of tourists to Thailand skyrocket to 30 million by 2025. The number of foreign pensioners living in Thailand will rise alongside by 500,000. Annual extra revenue will increase to ¤70 billion (Bt3.3 trillion), where airline tickets and investments other than in real estate are not yet taken into account."

PORTA is committed to be responsible for the contents of the quarterly magazine, which is planned to reach out to about one million targeted travellers across the globe.

"Denise and I will invest in a suitable and representative location to work. Most starting costs will be borne by one of the most respected Dutch publishers," Brouwer said.

He said the magazine would target well-educated people with a healthy income and would appeal to readers' wishes, dreams and imagination.

"All articles in PORTA - tourism, medical, long-stay and migration - are about people, because we strongly believe that Thailand's attractiveness is mainly due to the beauty of the inhabitants," he said.

Brouwer noted that though Thailand's tourism industry was flourishing due to its unique natural resources and the people's hospitality, the magazine was a necessary tool as Thailand had faced a lot of unexpected mishaps and disappointments that affected tourism in a negative way - Sars, 9/11, bird flu, the tsunami, the coup and unrest in the deep South.

TAT now has its own magazine named Or Sor Khor, which is in Thai.

"In my country and many others, no Thailand-specific magazine exists. A magazine that triggers people to migrate to and/or invest in your country is not on the market at all," Brouwer added.

"I do not know any publication that is really custom-made, works closely together with principals like the government, companies and individuals. PORTA is a full commercial magazine that looks just like an elegant journalistic publication and is therefore unique."

Brouwer's proposal aims to change the quality of visitors into financially stronger and more classy people who appreciate service, spend more and stay longer.

It also aims to enhance Thailand's good reputation for medical treatment, to change its image from raunchy nightlife to a safe and friendly family destination, and to present Thailand as an excellent alternative to China for investment and outsourcing.

Achara Deboonme

The Nation