Thailand is developing a visitor economy framework to turn travel into greater economic value while distributing income more widely across local businesses and communities. Weerasak Kowsurat, chairman of the Advisory Board to Deputy Prime Minister Suphajee Suthumpun and chairman of the Working Group on Creative Economy and Visitor Economy Development, chaired the group’s fifth meeting at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on September 8.

The approach looks beyond arrival numbers by examining overnight tourists, same-day visitors, and travelers with multiple purposes, while placing greater weight on per-person spending. TAT will expand its tourism intelligence role, linking data on demand, transportation, activities, experiences, and spending to better match visitors with destinations, products, and services.

Tourism offerings would draw on the identity and potential of individual destinations, with communities and entrepreneurs taking a larger role and government agencies helping connect them with data and markets. Plans also include linking tourism with 15 creative-economy segments and using film and screen production to generate revenue, promote destinations, and create opportunities for SMEs and local communities.

The working group also discussed three- and six-hour transit excursion programs for connecting airline passengers, with options including wellness and spa services, traditional Thai massage, golf, food, and lifestyle activities. 

Source: NBT World