Thailand woos tourists from ASEAN neighbours

BANGKOK, January 21 (TNA) - Thai tourism authorities and representatives are attending the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2014 (ATF 2014) in Malaysia, aimed to attract more regional tourist arrivals in Thailand, including those from Malaysia and other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The Thai tourism delegates attending the ATF 2014, which was organized in Kuching division of Malaysia's Sarawak State from January 19-23, include Vice Minister for Tourism and Sports Sombat Kurupan and President of the Thai Hotels Association Surapong Techaruvichit. The ATF 2014, which was opened by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak himself, gathers not only tourism-related buyers worldwide, but also tour package providers from all ASEAN member countries. The president of the Thai Hotels Association said he is telling foreign buyers and relevant parties in ASEAN that international tourists can visit Thailand despite ongoing political demonstrations in Bangkok. According to the Thai Hotels Association president, tour operators have changed their visitors' routes from Bangkok to provincial tourist attractions with direct flight services, including Chiang Mai, Hat Yai, Phuket, Krabi and Hua Hin, all are popular among international travelers. The Thai Hotels Association president acknowledged that he is focusing on communicating with Malaysian tourists who form the second biggest group of visitors to Thailand, after Chinese tourists, pointing out that about 2.9 million Malaysian tourists visited Thailand in 2013, when visitors from China stood at about 4 million.(TNA)