TAT's Myanmar fair attracts companies

TAT's Myanmar fair attracts companies

The Shwedagon Pagoda is Myanmar's biggest and most sacred pagoda because it is believed to enshrine relics of the Lord Buddha and relics of three earlier Buddhas. (Photo by Pichaya Svasti)
The Shwedagon Pagoda is Myanmar's biggest and most sacred pagoda because it is believed to enshrine relics of the Lord Buddha and relics of three earlier Buddhas. (Photo by Pichaya Svasti)

YANGON: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) met with Yangon businesses and residents last week to raise awareness about tourism activities in Thailand, especially among first-time visitors.

The three-day Amazing Thailand Travel Fair 2019 was organised last week in the heart of Yangon's business district with 25 tourism operators from Thailand and Myanmar joining the event. Income on the first day hit the target of 1 million baht.

Hospital and wellness business, airlines, restaurants and tour operating companies were key partners for the event.

Under a collaboration with Grab Taxi, the TAT will officially launch 50 Grab Taxi discounts to famous tourist destinations such as the Grand Palace, Koh Samet and Chiang Mai between April and June, expecting to lure about 1 million people from Myanmar travelling to Thailand.

Sharing a border of 2,400 kilometres, border trade between the two countries helps drive economic growth for both, but high spending among tourists from Myanmar specifically has drawn the TAT's attention. The group reported that Myanmar tourists spend 50,000 baht per trip to Thailand, last year generating 16.7 billion baht in income from 368,170 visitors.

By products, 88.7% of the tourists spent money on clothes, 55.4% on Thai food, 40.5% on souvenirs, 36.6% on cosmetics and fragrances and 19.1% on leathers.

For activities, 92.3% spent money on Thai food and cuisine, 46.1% on massage and spa, 44.3% on historical site visits, 27.8% on tourism for healthcare or surgery and 24.9% on nightlife activity.

A TAT survey found that 85.1% of Myanmar visitors went to Bangkok, 57.5% to Phuket, 20.9% to Chiang Mai and 15.7% to Chon Buri province. The average stay was 6.42 nights.

Tanes Petsuwan, the TAT's deputy governor for marketing, said the authority expects total tourist arrival growth of 8% this year, but the figure from Myanmar is difficult to predict. The number of tourists is likely to increase by 2% because of the political climate there, Mr Tanes said.

Myanmar is being sanctioned by the EU because of government practices against the Rohingya. Fewer European tourists are visiting the country.

"Putting a figure on visitors from Myanmar is quite difficult," Mr Tanes said. "But what we are focusing on is how to increase their spending. Most tourists from Myanmar are middle class or wealthy, so they don't mind spending if they are getting something for it."

He said Bangkok is one of the most popular destinations for Myanmar visitors because they love the capital's lifestyle, convenience and wealth of shopping choices.

The TAT supports the idea of "one card for all destinations", offering access to several sightseeing locations and entertainment activities with one pass.

Kulpramote Wannalert, the TAT director for Asean, South Asia and South Pacific, said the group is launching a campaign to increase first-time visitors to Thailand, comprising 25% of arrivals. She said it's a good opportunity to create awareness of Thai brands among the younger generation.

"Spending among the young might be lower, but the interesting thing is that they have made visits many times a year," Mrs Kulpramote said. "They revisit Thailand because it is not far and they love products made in Thailand."

She said the TAT plans to promote new destinations to Myanmar tourists, including Chiang Mai and Pattaya.

One of the 25 business entrepreneurs participating in the Amazing Thailand Travel Fair was Natchalinee Dolsamer, supervisor of Bumrungrad Clinic Yangon.

She said the number of Myanmar people visiting Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok has been increasing every year to over 10,000 visitors per year, with wealthier people in particular concerned about health and showing interest in wellness programmes.

"They don't care about money as long as the package is very lucrative for them," she said. "Medical checkups are popular, packages for which cost 5,000-50,000 baht. For medical treatment, they might stay in the hospital for 1-3 months."

May Myat Mon Win of the Myanmar Tourism Marketing Federation voiced confidence that the close cooperation between the two countries on promoting tourism would enhance mutual tourism business growth.

She said she wants to see active cooperation from Thailand to promote the Two Countries, One Destination project, as the scheme will bring more Thai tourists to Myanmar.

Some 200,000 Thais visit Myanmar every year.

Amazing Thailand Travel Fair 2019 in Yangon saw income hit the target of 1 million baht on the first day.

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