Tourism Authority of Thailand to promote motorbike tours in India

In a bid to tap this growing adventure segment in India, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is looking at promoting guided motorbike tours in the country. The bikes with over 1,000 cc, like Harley-Davidson, Ducati, and BMW, are apt for such tours. TAT had invited eight journalists from various sports magazines and bike tour operators for a Familiarisation (FAM) trip to Thailand, covering Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Khao Sok, Cheow Lan Lake, and Pattaya. Sethaphan Buddhani, Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Mumbai, said that motorbike tours are conducted for five to seven days, and a group of 12-15 people can easily be accommodated. Buddhani was speaking on the sidelines of the event organised by TAT on reaching one million tourist arrivals from the Indian market.

TAT, in association with Lonely Planet Magazine India, had organised 'A Million Thanks Evening', a grand event at Shangri-La Hotel in Mumbai, to thank the trade, media and corporate partners. The dignitaries present at the event were Suraphon Svetasreni, Governor, TAT; His Excellency Nat Pinyowattanacheep, Thai Consul General; Runjuan Tongrut, Director, North & East India, Bangladesh, Bhutan & Nepal, TAT; Pichest Laeietpiboon, General Manager - Mumbai, Thai Airways; Lubaina Sheerazi, Head, Blue Square Consultants (West, South India Representative of TAT), and the who's who of the travel trade.

Svetasreni said, “We have reached the one-million mark of Indian arrivals to Thailand. Four years ago, India was not even in the top ten, but now the country is one of the top six source markets for Thailand, with China being the number one source market for Thailand, followed by Malaysia, Japan, Korea and Russia. we thank the travel trade for their support. Ever since we set up our offices in India (Delhi and Mumbai), the numbers from this market have been increasing. We have witnessed a double-digit growth from the Indian market in most of the years. Also, at the time of crisis, India never reported any significant drop and was the first country to bounce back. Such support strengthens and reaffirms our belief in the Indian market.”

Thailand received 1,100,561 Indian arrivals in 2012, which is an 11 per cent increase from the same period in 2011. “This year we are expecting ten per cent growth from the Indian market. Over 60 per cent of Indian travellers to Thailand are repeat travellers. Thailand hosted over 100 Indian weddings last year. We welcomed Bollywood celebrities, and had television series, music videos, advertisement and films shot in Thailand. The first six months of 2012 witnessed 158 films, mostly from South India, being shot in Thailand," added Buddhani.

Besides motorbike tours, TAT is focusing on tapping high-end travellers, bird watchers, photography and gastronomy enthusiasts. TAT is looking at expanding its marketing arms to Tier-II and III cities like Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Ooty.

Odisha Tourism wins PATWA award in Historical Heritage Monument category at ITB Berlin 2013

Odisha Tourism has received the PATWA (Pacific Area Travel Writers Association) award in the Best Historical Heritage Monument category at ITB Berlin 2013, as per a release. The award was received by Ashok Kumar Tripathy - Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture, Odisha along with the Odisha Tourism team from the Executive Director of United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The award function was held at the International Congress Centre (ICC), Berlin.

Odisha boasts of temples, stupas, shrines, built over several centuries. This heritage bears testimony to the architectural and historical excellence from the past covering almost 2,000 years.

Odisha Tourism has been receiving PATWA International Awards for the last three years at the leading travel trade show, ITB Berlin. It has been participating in ITB Berlin for last few years for promotion of its tourism potential. A large number of tour operators and travel agents visited the Odisha Tourism stall at ITB Berlin 2013 and had fruitful interaction with delegates from Odisha Tourism.

Goa Tourism wins PATWA award for Best Beach Destination at ITB Berlin 2013

Goa Tourism won the PATWA award in the Best Beach Destination category on the second day of the ongoing five-day ITB Berlin 2013, which commenced on March 6. The award was given by Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) and was received by Dilip Paruleker, Minister for Tourism, Government of Goa. The award function was held at the International Congress Centre (ICC), Berlin.

The award has been given in recognition of the positive steps being undertaken by the Goa government for improving the image of the state as a safe and attractive tourism destination by implementing the concept of tourist police, proper regulation of beach shacks and watersports, improvement of infrastructure on all beaches, formulation of a tourism master plan and a new tourism policy, innovative marketing and promotions.

Paruleker expressed satisfaction and said that the award would cement Goa's position as one of the best beach destinations in the world. He further said that the state government would rapidly ensure completion of all tourism infrastructure works and see to it that Goa becomes a safe and a year-round destination. He felt that the award would boost international tourist arrivals to the state.