The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has entered into its first-ever memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a digital tech partnership with Huawei Technologies (Thailand), the local unit of the global tech powerhouse, in a bid to drive tourism via digital transformation and innovation.
The MoU for “Digital Transformation and Innovation Development for Smart Tourism”, which was signed yesterday, is meant to level up tech support for the tourism industry, including 5G, cloud and AI as well as augmented reality and virtual reality.
TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the MoU is an initial phase of the cooperation over one year.
“TAT serves as the main government agency that helps promote Thai tourism as per the TAT Corporate Plan 2023-2027, driving the “Thrive for Excellence” strategy with the aim of becoming a data-driven organisation,” he said.
It will create a new tourism ecosystem and drive tourism recovery with a V-shape prospect while helping power the country’s growth in line with the bio-circular-green economy, he said.
Mr Yuthasak said the country’s tourism industry has been hit by the pandemic for two years with the number of Chinese arrivals declining from an average of 100,000 daily before the pandemic to 20,000-30,000 per month at present, most of whom are students and those in business trips.
Abel Deng, chief executive officer of Huawei Technologies (Thailand), said digital technologies are reshaping the world.
“Huawei is committed to leveraging advanced technologies to heighten TAT’s position as the strategic leader driving Thailand towards being a world-class tourism destination,” he said.
Through the cooperation, TAT and Huawei are preparing to implement the “Amazing Thailand is just a phone call away” project, for which TAT will create a video ringback tone, a call-waiting video showcasing the beauty of Thai tourist attractions, culture, food and traditions to promote Thai tourism internationally through Thai 5G users using Huawei’s 5G as well as Huawei’s partner networks.
The two organisations also joined forces to bring 5G innovative technologies to stimulate Thai tourism through broadcasting the kingdom’s tourist attractions in real time on Huawei’s 5G network via TAT’s online media channels, including the Amazing Thailand YouTube channel and Amazing Thailand application, as well as through various online channels of strategic partners.
