Thailand to host WTTC Global Summit 2017

BANGKOK, Jan 25 (TNA) -- Thailand announced its readiness to host the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit 2017, where the country is set to focus on creating tourism confidence to turn Thailand into a top tourist destination sustainably. Minister of Tourism and Sports Ms Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, together with President of WTTC David Scowsill held a joint press conference on Tuesday to inform the public of the upcoming WTTC Global Summit 2017 event, scheduled to be held between April 25-27 in Bangkok, Thailand's capital. The minister said the forthcoming summit would be most beneficial to Thailand, as the summit would serve as a platform for high level executives in the tourism industry to exchange experiences, both from the private and public sectors which have a role in propelling the economic society and tourism at the international level. She added that this would also be a good opportunity for Thailand, as the host of the event, to show its potential and readiness on tourism, both in services, basic utilities, tourist and destinations, while helping to create an excellent image to the summit participants and network members, which would comprise of over 140 organisations, ranging from tourism businesses worldwide, airlines, hotels, real estate groups, and restaurant businesses. Ms Korbkarn also said the summit would bring about cooperation between all concerned agencies worldwide to sustainably develop world tourism. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), meanwhile, has planned to organise two types of tours in Bangkok, including the 'Bangkok Medley', where participants would ride the three-wheel motorcycles or locally known as 'Tuk Tuk' around the Rattanakosin Island, while the second tour is, 'Rustic Thailand', in which visitors would enjoy a Thai pubpet show and Damnoen Saduak floating market. Both tours, said the TAT are expected to help push Thailand into becoming a top world tourist destination, while at the same time, emphasise Thailand's tourism confidence and safety, both of which have shown why Thailand was the first country in ASEAN to host the world class event. WTTC president, on the other hand, has expressed that the aim of the event is to encourage participants to discuss tourism development in three main areas, which include freedom in tourism for visitors, such as the E-Visa process, and Single Visa for the CLMVT countries, the promotion of economic policy to stimulate tourism and responsible tourism, and the creation of balance between the increasing number of tourists and environment preservation. as well as the trend of business and luxury tourism. Over 900 agencies are expected to participate in the upcoming WTTC Global Summit, in which the result of the meeting is predicted to lead to development and operation process exchanges in support of the tourism industry which would focuses on dealing with change on the base of sustainability. (TNA)