Thai officials target European visitors to boost 'quality tourism'

Thai tourism officials are renewing their focus on European tourists as they seek to raise the country's "quality tourism" benchmark.

Last year 5.6 million Europeans traveled to Thailand, generating EUR10.3 billion (THB404.4 billion) in revenue, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

And in 2014 European visitors spent more time on average in Thailand compared to any other visitors, with each person staying for 16.4 days and spending around EUR106 (THB4,162) per day.

TAT said it is now aiming to increase tourism revenue from European visitors by 4.38 percent.

“Thailand’s focus now is on enhancing the image of Thailand to be a 'Quality Leisure Destination through Thainess'," said Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports.

"At the same time, we need to ensure a balance between tourism growth and its social and environmental impact."

Europeans have played a major role in developing tourism in Thailand, which accounts for about 10 percent of its GDP.

Around 65 percent of European visitors to Thailand make repeat visits.

TAT said it is targeting the European market as part of its agenda to boost "upscale, niche-market" tourism to the country.

That includes luxury travel options and niche holidays like weddings and honeymoons, spas and wellness, sports tourism and community-based attractions.

“There are more travelers who want to join sport activities in Thailand, so now we are ready to pair tourism and sports into one," said Kobkarn.

"Sports such as Muay Thai boxing, rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, marathons, golf, tennis and sailing are widely available in the country with highly skilled tuition and support services.”

Source: Coconuts

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Myanmar military chief weighs in on Koh Tao murder case

Buddhist monks and others congregate on the platform of Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon yesterday to advocate for the release of two Myanmar men who were recently sentenced to death in the Koh Tao murder case, in a protest against the verdict of the Thai judge.

 Thai officials say death sentences are not final, as protests loom. 

 MYANMAR'S military commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing yesterday called for a review of the Koh Tao case in which two Myanmar men were sentenced to death for the murder of two British backpackers. The verdict had angered his compatriots in the neighbouring country.

"The commander expressed his respect for Thailand's judicial process while stressing the need to avoid a situation in which the innocent rather than the convicted were wrongly punished," the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported.

Last Thursday, a Samui court found Zaw Lin and Win Zaw Tun, both 22, guilty of killing Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, |24, on Koh Tao in September 2014. Witheridge was also sexually violated.

People have demonstrated across Myanmar since the verdict claiming that the two men were scapegoats. 

 Min Aung Hlaing also expressed a belief that justice would be assured because of the mutual respect and friendly relations between the two countries, the Myanmar paper reported.

The message came with New Year's best wishes from the Myanmar top commander to Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan and Armed Forces Supreme Commander Sommai Kaotira.

It's very rare for leaders in Nay |Pyi Taw to express grave concern |over the plight of ordinary citizens abroad.

A spokesman of the Courts of Justice said the death sentences for the double homicide and gang rape were not yet final.

"It is still possible to appeal the verdict," Suebpong Sripongkul said. 

 "Even after the final ruling comes out, the defendants can seek a Royal pardon." The decision was based on evidence and the summary was now available for everyone to view in both Thai and English, he said.

Pol General Dejnarong Sutticharnbancha, National Police spokesman, said the public could have confidence in Thailand's judicial process because there were effective checks-and-balances mechanisms.

"We work based on the principles of transparency and fairness," he told a press conference held by investigators, forensic officials and doctors to boost public confidence in the police investigation and evidence-gathering process. Pol Colonel Prachum Ruangthong, superintendent of Koh Pha Ngan Police Station, said public prosecutors had asked police to improve the investigation report three times before accepting it.

"We have handled the case very carefully," he said.

He denied reports that the defendants were tortured into confessing and rumours that police had relied on the interpretation services of a |man who had conflicts with the defendants.

"Those reports are groundless. Doctors have examined the defendants' physical health and there |is no sign of torture," he said.

Despite Thai authorities' moves to ease tensions over the guilty verdict for the two Myanmar migrants, more protests against the sentences were planned.

An official at the Thai-Myanmar coordination centre in the Ranong-Kawthoung border area said Myanmar people would stage a rally tomorrow.

Thousands of people have gathered in front of the Thai embassy in Yangon and at border checkpoints since the verdict to express their disappointment and demand that Thailand review the case. 

Source: The Nation.com

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