Travel agent boss seeks more state support for marketing

The new president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta) is requesting more state support for marketing, campaigns and tourism development to draw foreign tourists, particularly the sluggish Chinese market.

- MOLPASORN SHOWONG

Atta also welcomes cabinet approval of the draft entertainment complex bill, eager for tourism stimulus but wants stringent regulation of casinos and proper employment for Thais so the development does not solely benefit foreigners, said Thanapol Cheewarattanaporn, who was elected Atta president yesterday for a two-year term.

“The government hasn’t done enough collaboration with the private sector on marketing campaigns to promote tourism,” he said.

Mr Thanapol said the Chinese market is growing slowly in the first quarter.

According to Atta, between Jan 1 and March 25, the association served only 214,213 Chinese tourists, a 47% year-on-year decrease.