Tian Pei, Director of the East Asia Department of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, met with the Chinese media delegation and accepted an exclusive interview with the Chinese media delegation on issues related to tourism development in China and Thailand.

At the 2019 Thailand International Travel Mart (TTM+2019), Tian Pei, Director of the East Asia Department of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, met with the Chinese media delegation and accepted an exclusive interview with the Chinese media delegation on issues related to tourism development in China and Thailand.

Ms. Tian Pei, Director of the East Asia Department of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, was interviewed on site

Question 1: In 2018, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand reached an unprecedented number of more than 10 million. What new promotion priorities and strategies does the Tourism Authority of Thailand have in the Chinese market this year?

In 2019, the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s promotion of the Chinese market focused on increasing convenience and happiness. At the same time, just like our theme this year - "New Experiences in Emerging Destinations" is also the focus of our promotion.

(right: Ms. Tian Pei, Director of the East Asia Department of the Tourism Authority of Thailand; left: Mr. Sandi, Deputy Director of the East Asia Department of the Tourism Authority of Thailand)

Last year, our five offices in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Kunming offices, jointly promoted Chiang Rai , so everyone has seen that Chiang Rai has a very large increase in tourists. This kind of marketing is very effective. Not only Chiang Rai, but also some surrounding places have been promoted. This year we will focus on promoting 55 emerging destinations.

Among them, China will focus on promoting Suratani in the south. There are many beautiful islands around here (including the famous Koh Samui), various folk towns, and cultural relics, which are very suitable for independent travelers and small groups. This promotion method of mainstream destinations (Koh Samui) and second-tier destinations can allow Chinese guests to have a more in-depth experience.

For example, I also recommend Nanfu, a destination near Chiang Mai that is very suitable for small group travel. This is a very cute place where you can enjoy a slow life. This kind of place is not recommended for large groups, but it is very suitable for tourists who are looking for real Thai life and want to experience the authentic Thai culture.

(Image credit: Facebook@Wallace)

We are paying more and more attention to the direction of customized tourism. Nowadays, a large number of tourists are developing independent travel. They customize their own itinerary on social media and the Internet. This is a strong development trend. There is also a new trend of combined travel in group tours. For example, there may be 3-4 days of group tours out of 8 days, plus a few days of free travel. Chinese tourists are beginning to shift from mainstream cities to emerging travel destinations such as second-tier cities. This change is something we like to see. Going into these destinations, tourists can also get deeper, more and better local experiences.

Question 2: The data growth in the Chinese market is very impressive. What do you think of this growth?

The growth of data is not our pursuit of market development. What we care more about is the happiness experienced by tourists. We hope that our friends who arrive in Thailand will have a high-quality travel experience. We need balanced development to meet the needs of tourists from different places and develop facilities and tourism reception capabilities in various places. For example, our theme this year - "New Experiences in Emerging Tourist Destinations" is to gain the best experience not only in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya, but also in more second-tier tourist cities. This is true healthy development.

Question 3: What will be the focus of promotion in various regions of China in 2019? What are the different focuses of each office?

The promotion direction of the five offices in the Chinese market is consistent, but we have different emphasis according to the preferences of different markets. For example, the Beijing office may focus more on healthy tourism, the Shanghai office may focus on luxury travel, the Guangzhou and Chengdu offices may focus on honeymoons and weddings, and Kunming may focus on parent-child projects, including projects such as cruises on the Mekong River. But overall, the goal is the same, to support Chinese guests from all over the world to seek different and wonderful travel experiences in Thailand.

Question 4: Recently, tourists who love island tourism have found that some islands have been closed. Will these environmental protection policy measures affect island tourism?

We are very concerned about ecological and environmental protection, and both the government and the people attach great importance to it. This is not only related to the experience of tourists, but also related to the lives of local residents. Some places temporarily close islands to better protect destinations. When conditions are met, reopening is inevitable. Of course, in the future, we will more scientifically predict and manage the number of people each island can provide services, and find the number that can balance tourism experience and environmental protection, thereby bringing about comprehensive development of tourism and the environment.

Those tourists who care about the environment understand this situation very well. After all, these places are not only tourist destinations, but also places where Thai people live and live.

Question 5: We have noticed that in many very modern places, there is also very interesting promotion of traditional Thai culture. Please introduce it to us?

The innovative development of traditional culture is the direction we must adhere to. Thailand is a country very rich in cultural and artistic experiences. Culture is the heritage and foundation, but not everyone likes culture and tradition. Thailand began to use such elements as a basis to develop a modern direction, such as using Thai traditional printing and dyeing cloth to make very modern and popular designs, which is today's fashion trend.

What I want to mention is that the Eastern Economic Corridor, where Pattaya is located, is currently an active investment area in Thailand. There are three major airports here, such as Don Mueang Airport, Suvarnabhumi Airport , and Pattaya Utapao Airport, etc., connecting all the economic systems in this region. There is also a pier and a high-speed train that takes half an hour from Bangkok to and from here. In addition, for example, CP Group has made large-scale investments in this area, which directly drives the development of the local economy. In the next two to three years, the overall economy and appearance will change greatly, and Chinese investors will also participate in this economic change.

In the Eastern Economic Corridor area, including Chanthaburi, Rayong, and Chonburi , there are very good hotels nearby. In conjunction with the supporting development of the local agriculture and fruit industry, traditional and modern development are well integrated.

Question 6: China has opened up its two-child policy. What resources and recommendations does Thailand have to deal with the development of China’s parent-child and family travel market?

This direction is a very potential market that we have noticed. We have parent-child cooking projects, short-term English learning and other projects, as well as very good summer camps. For example, Chiang Mai is currently the preferred destination for the parent-child market, and some projects in Shanghai have already visited here. With the support of policies such as study visas and family visit visas, international students and their families can also experience various cultures.

In addition, I would also like to recommend health projects including in vitro fertilization, hoping to provide a one-stop experience from the child's birth, growth, and college.