The kingdom’s tourism authority is targeting five Asian markets with campaigns promoting wellness, food and Thai culture, alongside fiscal 2027 targets for 6.2% growth in revenue from Asean visitors.
It also aims to increase arrivals from Asean by 4.3% in the same financial year. The five priority markets are Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan.
The strategy, outlined in a Commerce Ministry statement on Friday, aims to turn Thailand’s hosting of the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank into lasting economic benefits by connecting tourism, Thai products and cultural influence, or soft power.
The tourism authority’s campaign in Malaysia will emphasise Thai food, shopping and travel to secondary cities.
For Indonesia, it will promote wellness and Muslim-friendly tourism. In Singapore, the authority will target visitors with strong spending power and an interest in quality travel experiences.
Thailand hosted the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Annual Meetings from Oct 12 to 18 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok.
The tourism authority is building on the event to promote Thailand as a destination for major international gatherings under its World Event Hub Destination positioning.
It is encouraging delegates to travel beyond the meetings, both in Bangkok and to destinations including Pattaya, Hua Hin and Nakhon Ratchasima.
It is also promoting wellness and relaxation under the concept Healing Is The New Luxury, together with “Thainess” and the Visitor Economy, which focusses on economic activity generated by visitor spending.
The tourism authority is using arts, culture, Thai textiles, Thai cuisine and local food to offer international visitors distinctive experiences.
Its cultural programme included Nora dance drama, nang yai shadow puppetry, hun lakhon lek puppet theatre and khon masked dance drama.
The authority also organised the Amazing Thailand Global Thai Silk Exhibition & The Amazing Thailand Grand Fashion Show, involving designers from more than 100 countries in creating and presenting Thai silk designs. — The Nation/ANN
