Bangkok, 12 April 2016 – A new destination, record number of first-time buyers and a unique range of exhibitors are among the highlights of Thailand’s leading travel trade event to be held between 8-10 June, 2016.
For the first time, the Thailand Travel Mart 2016 Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion TTM+ 2016, will be held in the northern capital of Chiang Mai. As of 23 March, it had attracted 570 buyers from 62 countries, of whom roughly half were first-time participants.
Amongst the sellers, the line-up of 343 exhibiting companies includes some of the most unique boutique hotels in the Greater Mekong Subregion, in addition to a range of creative small and medium sized products and services seeking to expand their profile in the international market.
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor said “This year’s event promises to be unique, different and distinctive from anything we have done in the past. We have carefully analysed all the feedback we have got over the past few years and done our best to act upon many of the valuable recommendations.
“The enormous interest we have received from the buyers is certainly very encouraging. We believe this year’s TTM+ will go a long way towards facilitating business opportunities and meeting our national development priorities,” the Governor said.
Now in its 15th year, the Thailand Travel Mart 2016 Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion is being eagerly awaited in Chiang Mai where provincial authorities and the tourism industry are working hard to deliver a memorable and productive event.
Registration for the event has closed. As of 23 March, India has the largest contingent of buyers (120) followed by the United Kingdom (40), China (33), Australia (25), Italy (25) and the USA (21). A group of smaller but high-quality buyers have also been invited from emerging markets; such as, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova and Ukraine.
Of the total number of buyers, 57% or 325 are first timers and 245 are repeat buyers.
Amongst the exhibitors, 30% or 103 organisations are first timers, and 70% or 240 organisations are repeat sellers. The sellers comprise of hotels and resorts (260), tour operators and travel agents (22), entertainment (8), transportation (3), associations (6), NTOs (3), the Greater Mekong Subregion (16), other travel services (23) and 12 Hidden Gems destinations (2).
In January-February 2016, Thailand’s visitor arrivals surged to a record 6.09 million, up by 15.48% over the same period of 2015, according to figures published by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. China continues to grow as the top source of visitor arrivals with 1.77 million arrivals in January-February 2016, up by 32.21% over the same period in 2015.
Visitors from East Asia and ASEAN totalled 3.87 million (+20.61%), the Americas 265,166 (+14.70%), South Asia 220,381 (+9.13%), the Middle East 79,166 (+16.25%), Europe 1.46 million (+6.86%) and Africa 22,111 (+8.13%). Only one region reported a decline: Oceania -2.77% to 137,115.
