Despite slowdown in the tourism sector, Pattaya in Thailand recorded a 15 per cent growth in visitor arrivals from the Indian market in 2009 and this year it is expecting 20 per cent growth. For the same, Pattaya city has rolled out a series of business and marketing strategies to tap the growing Indian market. The few strategies planned for this year include: participation at various trade shows in India, organsing Table-Top networking seminars for Indian travel trade, working closely with Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in India, Thai Hotels Association and Tourist Attraction Club in Pattaya along with organising familiarisation trips for travel trade and media from time to time.
Talking to TravelBiz Monitor, Itthiphol Kunplome, Mayor, Pattaya city said, “China, Russia and India are the top tourist markets for Pattaya. Pattaya received about four lakh Indian tourists last year of which majority consisted of family and honeymooners. This year we aim to record a growth of 20 per cent from the Indian market and are targeting MICE and wedding segments from the country. |