Celebrate Songkran in Amazing Thailand

TAT to Launch Let’s Celebrate Songkran in Amazing Thailand at SATTE 2014
More than 40 Thai exhibitors will be present at the Amazing Thailand pavilion at SATTE 2014 during 29-31 January, 2014, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Besides the well-known destinations of Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket, rapidly emerging new destinations; such as, Ko Pha Ngan and Krabi will also present their products and services.

Ko Pha Ngan is approximately 30 minutes by boat from Ko Samui while Krabi is about 1 hour by air from Suvarnabhumi Airport and about 2 hours by car from Phuket. Both these destinations are gaining huge popularity in the Indian market.

SATTE, one of India’s leading travel trade shows, is attended by hundreds of trade buyers and sellers from around the world seeking to tap the Indian market.

During the three-day show, Amazing Thailand will present “Thainess” with demonstrations of the famous umbrella painting from San Kamphaeng district in Chiang Mai as well as fruit and vegetable carving, which is a trademark of Thai cuisine. On the last day (31 January) the famous Songkran Festival will be highlighted with tour operators and hotels offering special packages to give Indian visitors a chance to experience this unique Thai water carnival during 12-15 April.

Ms. Runjuan Tongrut, Director, TAT New Delhi Office added, “TAT has been exhibiting at SATTE for many years. This year, the aim is to update the Indian travel trade with new offerings from Thailand as well as to introduce our unique “Thainess” identity to Indians.

“With Thailand having welcomed over 1 million Indian tourists for 2 consecutive years, on behalf of the Thai people, I would like to say ‘A million thanks again to Indian travellers, travel trade partners and media for their support and confidence in Thailand as always’,” Ms. Runjuan said.

The Songkran Festival is a fun-filled national celebration that pays tribute to the role of water in the Thai social, cultural, economic and spiritual life. Marked during the peak of the summer heat wave, it includes the annual bathing of Buddha images at temples and homes across the country.

Songkran is a time of renewal, rest, recreation, release, and bonding with families who sometimes see each other only during this time of year. If there is any time of year to visit, enjoy and learn about Thailand, Songkran is it.

This year, the Royal Thai Government has announced 13-15 April, 2014, as the Songkran holiday so the Thai people will have a long holiday from 12-16 April, 2014, (including weekend).
TAT truly hopes that visitors coming during this special time of year will have the opportunity to participate in these colourful and joyful events taking place throughout the Kingdom.

India is today the biggest source market for visitors from South Asia and one of Thailand’s fastest growing source markets. In 2013, Indian visitors to Thailand totalled 1,049,856, up 3.61% over 2012; it is one of seven countries generating more than one-million arrivals. TAT is expecting 1,070,000 Indian visitors to Thailand and generating 45.8 billion Baht for tourism revenue in 2014.

Indian leisure travellers generally go shopping and sightseeing in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, and Ko Samui, with an increasing number also heading to Krabi, Chiang Mai, Hua Hin, and Kanchanaburi. Recent years have also shown a marked rise in the number of Indian weddings and golfers from the Subcontinent in Thailand.

TAT is expecting that Indian arrivals across all customer and market segments will grow exponentially in future, as the free trade agreements between India and ASEAN are implemented and make progress. If business and MICE travel booms, the tourist traffic is not far behind.