TAT pulling out the stops for 2 months

Of the plan, the state agency will be implementing 49 marketing campaigns and 64 events nationwide.

The activities include Amazing Lanna Chao, aimed at boosting tourism in the North, and a OneNight OnePrice campaign in cooperation with 150 to 200 hotel and tour operators throughout the Kingdom.

The authority will also stage a tourism consumer fair in Bangkok in early September; a golf promotion called Amazing Fun; a Travelling with Celebrities campaign, which will encourage participants to do their own driving; and the launch of Visit Isaan Year 20092010.

TAT governor Phornsiri Manoharn said the activities would encourage local travellers to take holidays during the other months of the year.

TAT projects internal movement will reach 84.2 million trips while revenue from domestic tourism will grow by 2 per cent, generating Bt338 billion this year.

According to Phornsiri, many negative factors - particularly the oil crisis, political unrest and economic fluctuations - during the first six months of the year affected domestic tourism. However, it is expected to rebound in the last quarter.

Apart from internal stimulation, TAT is also preparing strategies to draw international visitors. The agency will have different cam¬paigns in each world region.

For the biggest market, Asia, TAT will promote Thailand as "Holiday Break Destinations". The promotion will target Japan, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, China and Taiwan in particular.

In the United States, the agency will promote attractions though online marketing. In Europe, TAT plans to maintain promotional activities in all major markets, especially the United Kingdom, Germany and the Scandinavian countries.

Meanwhile, TAT will approach wealthy travellers from the Middle East by promoting medical tourism and family packages

"TAT plans to invite 700 operators from over the world to visit Thailand next year. This will boost international markets," Phornsiri said.

During the first half of this year, Thailand welcomed 7.7 million visitors and is expected to reach its target of 14.4 million tourists.