Tourism roadshow makes its mark

Phuket Gazette – September 13, 2004 | 06:54 PM

PHUKET: Almost 2,000 Malaysians have decided to celebrate the end of Hari Raya/Ramadan by visiting Phuket, after seeing a promotional roadshow organized by the local office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Around 30 TAT staff, members of the Phuket Tourism Association and industry representatives from Phang Nga and Krabi took the “Thailand – Southern Paradise Roadshow” on a lightning tour of Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Johor Bahru and Singapore last week.

Phuket TAT Director Suwalai Pinpradab, Director of the Phuket TAT office, told the Gazette today that the roadshow had been well received.

“We presented attractions such as shopping – our target group likes to shop – golf and next month’s Vegetarian Festival, along with fishing competitions, December’s film festival and the countdown to the Chinese New Year celebration,” she said.

K. Suwalai welcomed the introduction of Tiger Airlines’ 2,000-baht round-trip fares between Singapore and Phuket – which will start on September 22 – and the competition between Silk Air and Tiger, which she said could reduce fares still further and bring more visitors to Phuket.

She added that the TAT is in talks with Air Asia over the possiblity of introducing direct flights between Phuket and Penang, thereby linking the two cities in a low-season package targeted at tourists from the Middle East.

Tourism roadshow makes its mark