Outbound tour operators are offering an array of packages to lure tourists into visiting the African continent in connection with the Fifa World Cup 2010, scheduled to take place in South Africa in June and July.
At least three tourism authorities from the region - South Africa, the host country of the World Cup, Uganda and Madagascar - participated in the tourism fair held at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre from February 25-28.
Some 1,130 outbound, inbound and domestic operators as well as foreign tourism organisations joined the event to promote their tourist attractions to the Thai market.
"Most operators have maintained their package rates at last year's |level to keep customers and market |shares. This year, however, countries from Africa were more popular at the event as new destinations," Charoen Wangananont, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, the co-host of the fair with the Association of Domestic Travel, said yesterday.
Packages to South Africa started at Bt60,000-70,000 per person, while trips to Madagascar and Uganda were cheaper, probably since they are farther from the World Cup host country.
More than 800,000 visitors flocked to the event during the four days, up from 500,000 last year.
Spending on tourism products and services reached Bt1.1 billion, also higher than Bt800 million last year.
"This year's event proved the domestic economic and political situation should rebound from the crisis," he said.
About 60 per cent of total spending went to domestic tourism and the other 40 per cent went overseas.
The top four international destinations were Japan, South Korea, China and Hong Kong. And the top five domestic attractions were Phuket, Krabi, Samui, Ko Chang and Hua Hin.
Some 300 hotels from 16 countries throughout Asia-Pacific will be offering 50-per-cent off room rates during the Three-Day Super Sale that will run from Sunday to Tuesday.
Over one million rooms will be on sale for stays from April 1-August 31 in all segments from the five-star Pullman down to Ibis in Asia-Pacific.
The half-price discount is calculated from the "rate of the day" with lead-in prices from US$16(Bt524) .
