Saturday, 26 September 2015

TAT board appoints three deputy chiefs, #Thailand


THE TOURISM Authority of Thailand yesterday appointed three new deputy governors, who will drive a five-year plan that will focus on domestic tourism amid global instability.

TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the agency's board had approved the appointment of three internal executives who will replace people due for retirement at the end of this month.

He said Srisuda Wanapinyosak, executive director for the East Asia region, would be the deputy governor for the Asia-Pacific region, Sujitra Jongchansitto, director for the Northern region, would be deputy governor for the domestic market, and Visanu Jaroensilp, executive at the office of the governor, would be deputy governor for tourism products.

The appointments will be effective on October 1.

Those retiring are Pongsathorn Kessasamli, deputy governor for Asean markets, Vilaiwan Twichasri, deputy governor for tourism products, and Anupharp Thirarath, deputy governor for domestic marketing.

Yuthasak said the board also approved a five-year tourism plan for 2017-2021. It will focus more on domestic tourism as well as pushing synergy with international markets.

Furthermore, it will concentrate more on promoting new destinations in second-tier provinces.

It is speculated that the new plan has taken on a domestic focus because global tourism is facing difficulties due to economic slowdowns and conflicts in many countries that affect Thai tourism.

However, TAT has prepared strategic measures to deal with instability by using the Internet and social media to lure international tourists to the country. The agency will continue promoting the country as a globally popular destination as well as a safe one despite the recent deadly incident at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok.

To restore tourist confidence after the bomb blast in August at the shrine, Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanav rangkul has been travelling overseas and asking tourism alliances to help promote Thailand.

Kobkarn is currently in Japan. She has met with public and private bodies in an effort to regain tourists' confidence, particularly ahead of the coming high season.

Source: The Nation

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