The Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2024 took place this week at the JW Marriott Khao Lak, attracting over 425 international buyers. Approximately 15,000 appointments were arranged with 430 vendors from across the country.

This year's message was: the exchange of meaningful travel experiences with a strong focus on sustainable tourism development. Phang Nga is well on its way to becoming Thailand's next tourism hub; the international airport is scheduled to open in 2027.

Mr. Sermsak Pongpanit, Minister of Tourism and Sports, presided over the opening ceremony. Also in attendance were Ms. Niracha Banditchat, Vice Governor of Phang-Nga Province; Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT); Mr. Lertsak Ponklin, President of the Phang-Nga Tourism Association; and representatives and prominent figures from Thailand's public and private sectors.

Among the more than 400 buyers were 21 buyers and media representatives from Australia and New Zealand, who also had the opportunity before and after the event to gather some meaningful local experiences and take part in tours in Phuket, Khao Lak and Krabi.

The delegates enjoyed two festive events at nearby resorts: La Vela, where the entertainment program even included a DJ performance by Mrs. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the TAT, and La Vita Sana, where local food, wines and handicrafts were presented in a pedestrian-style atmosphere.

The delegates also attended the grand opening of the luxury resort The Little Shore, where they were entertained with live music, fire dancing performances and a fireworks display.

This year's 21st edition of TTM+ presents the theme "Amazing Thailand: Your Stories Never End," the latest marketing campaign from the TAT. This dynamic theme underscores Thailand's commitment to providing unforgettable travel experiences.

Ms. Thapanee said: “TTM+ 2024 was designed to showcase a diverse range of tourism offerings and our ‘smart tourism’ strategy, which aims to increase the competitiveness of Thai tourism.”

The TTM+ 2024 enjoyed strong participation with a record number of buyers: 425 from East Asia (30.4%), Europe (25.2%), ASEAN, South Asia and the South Pacific (20.9%), the Americas, Africa and the Middle East (11.3%) and Thailand (12.2%).

There are 430 booths from well-known providers across the country, including 46 exhibitors who received the Thailand Tourism Award 2023. In total, 360 hotels and resorts, 34 tour operators, 18 entertainment venues and attractions, 8 transportation companies, and 10 businesses are represented, including online travel platforms, shopping malls, golf clubs, and wineries. Furthermore, over 100 media representatives from Thailand and abroad are in attendance.

The organizers estimate that the event will generate over 3 billion baht for the Thai tourism industry and that at least 30 million of that will flow back to the communities.

At the Thailand Product Update, buyers and media representatives were informed about Thailand's tourism orientation and marketing strategy, as well as its focus on sustainability.

The TTM Talk covered two topics, presented by Ms. Victoria Loomes, Head of Trend Research at TrendWatching, on the topic of “Shaping the Future: Global Consumer Trends Changing the Tourism Industry” and by Ms. Chudaree Debhakam, Head Chef of the two Michelin-starred restaurant Baan Tepa, on the topic of “Thailand’s Gastronomic Journey: Towards a Sustainable Food Future”.

TTM+ presents unique tourist offerings annually. This year, four different tourist experiences in Phang-Nga were showcased: “Try & Taste” – a selection of delicious coffees and teas from various regions, including Thai coffee from Kopi Kuapa and organic tea from Sawanbondin; “Showcase” – insights into the secrets of local crafts, such as those from Morgan Village and batik from Takuapa; “Local Product” – authentic dishes and fresh fruit from the region; and “Unleash” – workshops on batik painting and beadwork.

In keeping with the theme of the event, the half-day pre-tours showcased hidden treasures of Phang-Nga, while the post-tours were designed to allow participants to experience unforgettable stories in other parts of Thailand, such as Phuket, Krabi and Ko Samui in the south, and Chiang Mai and Lamphun in the north.

TAT continues to place the utmost importance on minimizing the environmental impact of waste generated by the event. Measures include the proper separation of waste into organic, recyclable, and residual waste, and its subsequent transport to appropriate disposal sites. This aims to reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfills and follows the "Zero Landfills" concept of the "Reduce World Mess: Zero Landfills" initiative.