Industry to converge for Thailand tourism conference

PATA Thailand Chapter chairman, Bert van Walbeek, said the event aims to attract 200 English-speaking Thai and foreign travel high-ranking executives and academics to discuss trends on the Tourism Authority of Thailand's (TAT) priorities and to help the NTO plan ahead.

He said that while TAT does “look forward now”, it has been too busy with day-to-day operations and constant challenges. He added that results from the conference would help the NTO strategically map its tourism marketing for 2012-15.

The conference will bring Future Brand’s chief growth officer Tim Riches, Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s Dr Thomas Bauer, Omnicom Media Group Thailand’s digital business director Tiwa York and University of Technology

Sydney’s Dr David Beirman to present global trends and practices on branding, sustainable tourism, e-marketing and social media, as well as reputation management.

Delegates’ suggestions during the four brainstorm sessions will be proposed to the TAT. But whether they will be used in the NTO’s strategy will depend on the effectiveness of the four joint working groups ― to be formed as the conference concludes ― and also on the TAT, said van Walbeek.

The TAT is spending two million baht (US$66,968) to bring in six speakers, including keynote speakers China Tourism Academy’s Dr Xu Chen and Eramus University’s Professor Frank Go for the conference, which is co-oranised by PATA Thailand Chapter, Skal International Thailand and the Joint Chambers of Commerce. Delegates will be charged 500 baht per person.

 (Source: TTG Asia)