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Government urges quality over quantity
Thailand's tourism industry needs to shift and focus on quality over quantity to help build long-term, sustainable growth, according to Suvit Yodmani, the Tourism and Sports Minister.
Don't worry about quantity, focus instead on building [quality] income. We should be looking to win newlyweds, long-stay tourists and some of the eight million Japanese retirees who need a comfortable, secure place to stay. This is a market that Thailand can be strong in, he said.
Suvit Yodmani, the Tourism and Sports Minister, and Bangkok Bank executive chairman Piti Sithi-Amnuai, attend the opening of the bank's World Class Hotel Seminar yesterday at the BBL headquarters on Silom Road in Bangkok.
Dr Suvit, speaking at Bangkok Bank's World Class Hotel seminar yesterday, said government strategies for the travel and tourism industry would need to change in a number of dimensions, starting with the outlook, attitude and operations of operators.
The country's tourist destinations needed to be rehabilitated and developed, he said, a process requiring strong co-operation from the community.
The government at the end of the year will grant a new Tourism Award for 30 communities deemed to be well-managed in terms of their friendliness and convenience offered to tourists.
Community-based tourism should be promoted as well as domestic tourism, protection and safety for tourists and quality standards, Dr Suvit said.
Niche markets, such as golf and tennis tourism, should also be taken into account. Business operators as well should consider new campaigns against global warming and pollution and adopt environmentally friendly management practices.
Dr Suvit said that the ministry would ask for an additional 500 million baht to help promote the industry, with 300 million allocated for programmes aimed at foreign tourists and the rest to encourage domestic tourism. The additional budget is is expected to be approved by the cabinet next week.
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