Bangkok, Thailand, March 3, 2022 / TRAVELINDEX / Tourism industry leaders are calling for a full reopening of the country amid growing fears that Thailand is losing ground to regional competitors and will not reach the 10 million arrivals mark in 2022. More than 500 delegates, including many high-ranking figures from Thailand's tourism and hospitality sectors, gathered on March 1, 2022, for the 11th Thailand Tourism Forum (TTF 2022) to chart a strong and sustainable path out of the global pandemic.

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The TTF 2022, Thailand's largest annual tourism and hospitality event, which took place at a time when the industry was facing an unprecedented crisis, opportunities, threats and upheaval, was themed #ThaiTourismUnited and began with the Thailand Tourism Leadership Summit, where influential CEOs outlined their shared vision for the future and jointly signed the Thailand Tourism Pledge.

Together, these leaders committed to developing a new strategic direction for Thailand. This includes placing tourism at the heart of the national economy, revitalizing the service sector, achieving sustainable growth, and providing international visitors with a sense of security. The "Thailand Tourism Pledge" forms the foundation for rebuilding Thai tourism after the devastating effects of the global pandemic.

At the heart of the discussion, and amidst the enthusiasm for the possibility of creating a better future for tourism in Thailand, was the clear demand from all leading figures that it was time to fully open the country.

Ms. Proudputh Liptapanlop, CEO of the Proud Group, which owns numerous tourism properties, including two InterContinental-branded hotels in Hua Hin and Phuket, said: “In Thailand, we need to open up. Everyone needs to understand that we must open the country for the benefit of the people and the country as a whole.”

Bill Heinecke, chairman and founder of Minor International, added: “If we don’t open, we can’t be competitive. The current rules are simply too complicated. We’re not even at 10% of pre-pandemic levels, and Thailand won’t reach its target of 10 million arrivals in 2022. We’re falling behind. We can’t even compete with our neighbors.”

“There is no other option,” commented Marisa Sukosol, President of the Hotel Association of Thailand. “Thailand must open up and end the test-and-go strategy. It must finally get the situation under control! We need to change our mindset from a pandemic to an endemic disease.” (From left) Bill Heinecke, Chairman/Founder of Minor International; Proudputh Liptapanlop, CEO of the Proud Group; Marisa Sukosol, President of the Hotel Association of Thailand.

TTF 2022 kicked off with a series of talks, debates, and discussions designed to help attendees develop strategies for survival and success in the post-pandemic era. Jesper Palmqvist, Area Director of STR for the Asia-Pacific region, presented the latest key data, while Clarence Tan of Hilton and Charles Blocker, CEO of IC Partners, discussed why hotel operators need to adapt. Jakkrapong Chinkrathok, CEO and founder of Find Folk, focused on environmental issues in his "Green Thailand" session, and Wimintra Raj, Editor-in-Chief of Hotel Intel, offered a behind-the-scenes look at new travel experiences. Other key topics on the short agenda included cryptocurrencies, hybrid room concepts, hotel transactions, and much more.

Mr. Bill Barnett, Managing Director of C9 Hotelworks, summarized: “We are here in person because this is where it all begins. Travel is possible again from today. We need to open up the country, be competitive with Vietnam and the Maldives, and get our service sector up and running again.”

The TTF 2022 took place in compliance with all necessary health and safety regulations. The venue, the Conrad Bangkok, is SHA+ certified, and all participants were required to provide proof of two vaccinations.