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Newsroom
ATF2004 Daily Day 2 Reports
Lift off for ITS Thailand
Caroline Boey, Vientiane (2004-02-03)
A NEW outbound travel event - International Travel Show (ITS) Thailand - similar to the fairs organised by the travel agents’ associations of Malaysia and Singapore, will kick off in Bangkok between August 20 and 22.
TTG Asia Media, the publisher of TTG Asia – which is 30 years old this year – and organiser of events such as IT&CMA (Incentive Travel and Conventions, Meetings Asia) and CTW (Corporate Travel World) Asia-Pacific, is organising ITS.
It will be staged at Bangkok’s IMPACT Convention Center. TTG Asia Media’s managing director, Mr Darren Ng, said ITS Thailand, an investment which costs around US$400,000, had the “full support of Thailand”.
The 10,000m2 event – able to house about 600 booths of nine m2 – is targeted at the Thai domestic travel and outbound markets.
Mr Ng said: “There is a population of about 10 million people in and around Bangkok and the Thai economy is picking up at a very quick pace. In 2003, domestic travel grew 5.31 per cent and accounted for some 65 million trips.
“Looking at the 10-year outbound travel trend, the number of Thai outbound travellers has grown to around 1.9 million annually. The growth rate hit 19.47 in 1999 and the estimated growth rate last year is 12 per cent despite the Iraq war and SARS.”
The first day of ITS Thailand will be open to the trade and the weekend is expected to attract 100,000 consumers. “For the first year, Thai suppliers will make up 60 per cent of sellers and the rest will be from the region and elsewhere. In the second year, we will target suppliers from Europe and the US,” Mr Ng added.
ITS Thailand will feature a centrestage for performances and include a host of consumer activities. Mr Ng said: “We are working with the airlines, hotels and other suppliers to come up with specially priced packages so consumers can shop and buy travel products at ITS Thailand.
“In our research, Thailand emerged as a growing economy with an outbound market with good potential. We saw the opportunity to fill a niche since Thailand does not have a major consumer outbound event.
“The potential exhibitors we have spoken to are also very supportive. For the inaugural event we are offering exhibitors a 30 per cent discount and another 30 per cent because of our 30th anniversary, making it really attractive.
“As soon as ATF is over, we will begin our marketing activities make sure Thai outbound operators, regional and international buyers are aware of this new event,” Mr Ng said.
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