PHUKET and Phang Nga are to conduct a road show in Chiang Mai to generate a direct exchange of tourists between the two destinations . . . and specials on offer in Phang Nga are now as inexpensive as they've ever been.
With two airlines flying Phuket-Chiang Mai direct every day, tourism industry leaders see the sense in bypassing Bangkok and boosting domestic tourism between two distinctly different destinations within Thailand.
With seminars sometimes attracting Thais to go international the message now is for Thais to hold conferences closer to home, but in places that accentuate the differences.
About 25 resort package sellers from Phuket will fly to Chiang Mai to meet from June 18-20 with 120 package buyers in Chiang Mai.
The move comes with the two southern provinces experiencing what one resort GM recently described as a ''horrible'' June. Phang Nga Tourism Association president and managing director of the Khao Lak Laguna Resort, Praprut Khorpetch, told Phuketwan yesterday that the whole year has not been great.
''Our room occupancy rate now is 10 percent to 20 percent,'' he said. ''Instead of having a six-month high season, we only had four-and-a-half months this year. At least four or five three-star or four-star resorts of up to 400 rooms are up for sale.
''Even after the tsunami, it was not this bad. People are still paying off debts from the recovery after the big wave. Thai owners in Phang Nga have not had a chance to make a comeback.
''Only this year have the Board of Investment come to do a survey of those damaged from the tsunami. If it has taken that long, then resorts cannot expect help in a hurry after the Bangkok disaster.''
He said Phang Nga now has about 4000 rooms available during the low season. The road show would move around some other big-population provinces after visiting Chiang Mai.
''For 3000 baht, including food and transport from the airport, it's possible to have a break of two nights and three days in Phang Nga this low season,'' Khun Praprut said.
He met with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, local authorities and Phuket resort managers at the Phuket Merlin Hotel in Phuket City to plan the road show to Chiang Mai and other northern and eastern provinces.
Meanwhile, the China Post in Taiwan reports that the 14 offices of the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Asia and Oceania have been told to employ ''hard sales'' tactics to lure tourists back to Thailand over the next three to four months.
With two airlines flying Phuket-Chiang Mai direct every day, tourism industry leaders see the sense in bypassing Bangkok and boosting domestic tourism between two distinctly different destinations within Thailand.
With seminars sometimes attracting Thais to go international the message now is for Thais to hold conferences closer to home, but in places that accentuate the differences.
About 25 resort package sellers from Phuket will fly to Chiang Mai to meet from June 18-20 with 120 package buyers in Chiang Mai.
The move comes with the two southern provinces experiencing what one resort GM recently described as a ''horrible'' June. Phang Nga Tourism Association president and managing director of the Khao Lak Laguna Resort, Praprut Khorpetch, told Phuketwan yesterday that the whole year has not been great.
''Our room occupancy rate now is 10 percent to 20 percent,'' he said. ''Instead of having a six-month high season, we only had four-and-a-half months this year. At least four or five three-star or four-star resorts of up to 400 rooms are up for sale.
''Even after the tsunami, it was not this bad. People are still paying off debts from the recovery after the big wave. Thai owners in Phang Nga have not had a chance to make a comeback.
''Only this year have the Board of Investment come to do a survey of those damaged from the tsunami. If it has taken that long, then resorts cannot expect help in a hurry after the Bangkok disaster.''
He said Phang Nga now has about 4000 rooms available during the low season. The road show would move around some other big-population provinces after visiting Chiang Mai.
''For 3000 baht, including food and transport from the airport, it's possible to have a break of two nights and three days in Phang Nga this low season,'' Khun Praprut said.
He met with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, local authorities and Phuket resort managers at the Phuket Merlin Hotel in Phuket City to plan the road show to Chiang Mai and other northern and eastern provinces.
Meanwhile, the China Post in Taiwan reports that the 14 offices of the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Asia and Oceania have been told to employ ''hard sales'' tactics to lure tourists back to Thailand over the next three to four months.
Phang Nga is lovely and cheap in most places, but it is to late for Phuket. Phuket is as over crowed as Bangkok these days where every you go add another 20minutes :(
Posted by Jamie on June 10, 2010 12:49