Phang Nga, June 5, 2024 – Mr. Sermsak Phongpanich, Minister of Tourism and Sports, inaugurated the Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2024 (TTM+ 2024) at the JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa in Phang Nga Province. The event, organized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), runs from June 5-7 and aims to highlight the country’s tourism potential. Drawing 425 tourism operators from 50 countries, TTM+ 2024 is expected to generate over 3,000 million baht in revenue through more than 15,000 business negotiation appointments.
Mr. Sermsak emphasized the government’s goal to establish Thailand as a regional tourism hub under the IGNITE Tourism Thailand policy. He noted that the event reflects cooperation from all sectors to strengthen business networks, improve tourism products and services, and enhance the overall travel experience. The choice of Phang Nga as the event’s location also underscores the province’s potential and the richness of the southern Andaman region’s tourism offerings.
Miss Thapanee Kiatpaiboon, Governor of TAT, described TTM+ as Thailand’s largest and most significant international B2B tourism promotion event. This year, it brings together 430 Thai tourism operators with 425 international operators to showcase a wide range of tourism products and services under the “Amazing Thailand, Your Stories Never End” campaign. The focus areas include luxury travel, wellness tourism, and soft adventure, all with an emphasis on sustainability. The event integrates eco-friendly practices, such as e-badges, mobile app scheduling, and zero-waste initiatives.
The event also features TTM Talk, with speakers like Vicki Victoria Loomes from Trendwatching discussing global consumer trends in tourism, and Chef Tam Chudaree Thepakham highlighting sustainable food futures. Additionally, the Thailand Product Update activity showcases key tourism products and services, supported by digital and innovation exhibitions.
In conjunction with World Environment Day on June 5 and World Ocean Day on June 8, TAT and the Phang Nga Province Tourism Business Association organized activities to enhance environmental awareness, such as planting mangrove forests to offset carbon emissions.
TAT anticipates that TTM+ 2024 will foster significant business opportunities, with an estimated 15,000 negotiations generating over 3,000 million baht in revenue and benefiting local communities by distributing at least 30 million baht locally.
Officials from various organizations, including the Phang Nga Province Tourism Business Association, King Power, Thailand Privilege Card, Siam Piwat, The Mall Group, and Central Pattana Group, supported the event. The collaboration highlights the collective effort to elevate Thailand’s status as a premier tourism destination on the global stage.