Bangkok (Thailand) – August 2, 2016 (travelindex.com) – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) officially launched its highly anticipated “Women’s Journey Thailand” campaign today at a grand reception. The event was presided over by HRH General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, and HRH Ms. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports. Kalin Sarasin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the TAT, presented the event together with TAT executives and representatives of leading players in the Thai tourism industry.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) also invited over 150 celebrities, bloggers, and photographers from around the world to Thailand to share their experiences during the month-long campaign, running from August 1st to 31st. Among the guests of honor at today's welcome reception were Sheikha Hend Fawzal Al Qassemi, Princess of Sharjah (United Arab Emirates); Wanda Corazon Teo, Minister of Tourism of the Philippine Department of Tourism; Madeline Gay Cowe, Miss World Australia 2016, along with the four runners-up; Xu Yun Fang, Miss Universe China 2015; Michelle Yim, Hong Kong film star; Chalita Suansane, Miss Universe Thailand 2016; and Rawan Bin-hussain and Amy Kitchingman, both from Dubai.

His Excellency General Tanasak Patimapragorn, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, said: “We have declared August 2016 the ‘Women’s Journey Thailand’ campaign month to commemorate Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s 84th birthday on August 12. This special initiative is also intended to honor Her Majesty The Queen of Thailand’s royal philanthropy, particularly her dedication to the well-being of the Thai people and the promotion of handicrafts.”

Among the activities and events celebrating Her Majesty the Queen of Thailand's royal generosity is the "84 Perspectives of Thailand" fact-finding tour, taking place from August 1st to 5th. A total of 84 journalists, bloggers, and social media influencers are invited to visit Thailand and experience firsthand the numerous royal projects across the country, as well as enjoy authentic Thai life. The five-day trip will highlight various royal initiatives launched to strengthen the local economy, promote water conservation and self-sufficiency, and preserve Thailand's natural heritage in the northern, northeastern, central, and southern regions.

Running concurrently is the event “The Passage of Thai Fabric – A Tribute to Her Majesty the Queen,” designed to raise awareness of Thai fabrics and to celebrate Her Majesty’s ongoing contributions to preserving, developing, and promoting the international diversity of Thai textiles. The event will take place from August 20-21 at Siam Paragon and from August 23-28 at the Plearnary Mall in Bangkok. Highlights include fashion shows featuring high-quality clothing made from Thai fabrics by leading and emerging Thai designers, exhibitions of Thai fabrics, and a presentation of handcrafted products.

Her Excellency Mrs. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, said: “I am delighted to support the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT) ‘Women’s Journey Thailand’ campaign, as I am a woman myself. I want to encourage all women to find a balance between their professional and personal lives by taking time to travel and recharge. Travel is an enriching experience, and while Thailand is an attractive destination for everyone year-round, August is a very special month for all travelers, as there are numerous offers, discounts, and special deals available specifically for them.”

To reinforce Thailand's positive image as one of Asia's most women-friendly travel destinations, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is inviting 33 professional female photographers from around the world to participate in the "Thailand Through Her Eyes 2016" campaign from August 2nd to 7th. During the six-day trip, they will experience authentic Thai culture along five different itineraries, including insights into the daily lives of locals, traditional Thai massages, Muay Thai training, cooking classes, shopping, spa visits, a nighttime tuk-tuk tour with culinary highlights, and much more. Among the participating photographers are Alison Wright (USA), Andrea Buenafe (Qatar), Zhang Xiao Mei (China), Asaoka Megumi (Japan), Heather Marie Udy (Australia), and Deepti Asthana (India).

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is also organizing the "Lady Golf Challenge" project, a collaboration between its overseas offices and local travel agencies. The aim is to offer special golf packages to over 100 female golfers from around the world. In addition to participating in exclusive golf tournaments in Thailand, they will play on August 9th at the Alpine Golf and Sports Club in Pathum Thani alongside well-known professional golfers, including Thai golfer Pornanong Phatlum and Indian golfer Vani Kapoor.

Last but not least, the TAT, in cooperation with Thai AirAsia, is organizing the "Lady Celebrities to Thailand" familiarization trip. As part of this project, international bloggers and social media influencers can discover a variety of exclusive products and services tailored specifically to the needs of travelers along three different routes through Thailand.

Kalin Sarasin, Chairman of the Board of the TAT, said: “These five projects are just some of the many exciting activities and events that the TAT is planning to make August 2016 a very special month for all female travelers in Thailand. This will certainly help to strengthen Thailand’s positive image as a welcoming destination for women from all over the world, as well as being one of the most female-friendly destinations in Asia.”

In July 2016, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) released the mobile app "Women's Journey Thailand." This app allows users to browse offers and promotions and plan their trip to Thailand accordingly. The products, services, and events are divided into five categories: Beautiful Appearance, Beautiful Figure, Beautiful Mind, Beautiful Time Out, and Beautiful Experiences. The "Women's Journey Thailand" app can be downloaded from the Play Store and the App Store.

Furthermore, the TAT is collaborating with a number of partners in the health and beauty sector, as well as hotels, airlines, hospitals, gyms, and sports clubs, to offer discounts and deals to women visiting Thailand from August 1st to 31st, 2016. To support the "Women's Journey" project, the special offers of the "Amazing Thailand Grand Sale" will be extended until August 31st, 2016.

Finally, for the month of August 2016, the TAT, in cooperation with the relevant authorities, established a special entry lane for women (Fast Track for female travelers) at Thailand's main international airports in Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang), Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hat Yai.

Further information about the Women's Journey Thailand can be found at www.tourismthailand.org/womensjourney.

International Public Relations Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand, 1600 New Petchaburi Road, Makkasan, Ratchathevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Tel.: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48, Fax: +66 (0) 2250 0246, E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.TATnews.org