The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Paris Office and a delegation of Thai hotels and DMCs participated in the International and French Travel Market (IFTM Top Resa 2022) from 20-22 September in Paris with the aim to stimulate travel from France, one of Thailand’s key source markets.
Ms. Titiporn Maneenate, TAT Executive Director for Europe, said, “Thailand’s participation at the IFTM Top Resa, the largest B2B travel fair in France, proved invaluable in helping deliver the message that the kingdom is ready to welcome back tourists from France and beyond. And that with the ‘Visit Thailand Year 2022-2023: Amazing New Chapters’ campaign, there is much for visitors to discover, both in the way of existing and new tourism attractions and experiences.”
At the Thai booth along with the Thai sellers was Ms. Titiporn and Ms. Soraya Homchuen, TAT Paris Office Director. Also paying a visit to the booth was H.E. Mr. Tana Weskosith, Thai Ambassador to France, and Team Thailand members.
France is one of Thailand’s major visitor source markets, and is the third largest in Europe after the United Kingdom and Germany, respectively. French tourists typically stay, on average, 17 days in Thailand and spend 3,500 Baht per person per day. In 2022, TAT is expecting over 300,000 French visitors to Thailand with Thai Airways International (THAI) and Air France planning to increase their seat capacity between the two countries.
The Thai delegation to the IFTM Top Resa 2022 included eight hotel operators and two DMCs who were busy with appointments throughout the show. They were able to meet both with long-time French partners and make new connections.
The TAT Paris Office also held a networking reception on 21 September at a Thai restaurant in Paris, inviting 20 French travel partners to meet with the Thai sellers for an extra round of business talks and partnership development.
During the IFTM Top Resa 2022, Thailand was given further exposure thanks to a full-page interview with the TAT Paris Office Director, Ms. Soraya Homchuen, in the show’s official publication. In the interview, Ms. Soraya discussed Thailand’s attractiveness and “saleability” as a top tourist destination, and given that French travellers were fond of roundtrips that offered culture, nature, gastronomy, wellness, and romance, she suggested they combine the North and South of Thailand on a visit.
Thailand was also in the spotlight at a press briefing on the tourism situation in France in 2022-2023, conducted by Le Syndicat des Entreprises du Tour Operating (SETO). Here, the TAT Executive Director for Europe, Ms. Titiporn Maneenate gave a speech to the 30 travel trade and media representatives on the direction of Thai tourism for this year and next.
IFTM Top Resa is France’s largest B2B travel fair, and at this year’s show there were 200 destinations, 1,700 brands, and 34,000 professionals who took part over an event space of 33,000 sqm. Approaching that of the pre-COVID era, the scale reflected a significant recovery in the French travel market. (TAT)
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