Seeking to capture a larger slice of the Muslim tourism market, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will organise a special seminar and one-day tour during this weekend’s Thailand Halal Assembly 2018 to promote the country as a Muslim-friendly destination.
Thailand is witnessing significant growth in visitor arrivals from Muslim populations around the world, especially during the two Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha peak Islamic holiday seasons.
Seeking to capture a larger slice of the Muslim tourism market, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will organise a special seminar and one-day tour during this weekend’s Thailand Halal Assembly 2018 to promote the country as a Muslim-friendly destination.
The conference is the country’s leading annual business event to promote the economic development of the Thai-Muslim population, create jobs and distribute income.
Held at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC), this year’s activities are designed to help foreign participants better understand the opportunities that Thailand’s growing range of Muslim-friendly tourism products and services offer.
They will also help Thai sellers understand the trends and developments in emerging sources markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan and other countries in South Asia, Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
On Sunday December 16, TAT’s Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business Sujitra Jongchansitto will deliver a presentation on Thailand’s offerings as a Muslim-friendly destination.
The seminar will also include presentations on new markets including Oman and Kuwait, as well as topics such as “Melayu Living: Cultural Tourism” and “Halal Tourism: A Startup”.
In addition, TAT will arrange a one-day educational tour for academics, lecturers and interested participants to visit and experience Muslim-friendly attractions in Bangkok on Saturday December 15.
Citizens of many Muslim-majority countries currently enjoy visa-free travels to Thailand, and the major Middle Eastern airlines operate nearly 20 flights a day to Bangkok from their respective hubs in the Gulf.
There is still huge potential in the Muslim tourism market for the country to capitalise on, especially the Muslim millennials who have the time, desire and money to travel but also want to maintain their religious and cultural responsibilities.
Besides attractions in Bangkok, TAT also aims to promote tourism in the Muslim-majority Thai provinces in the South, including Yala, Pattani, Songkhla, Narathiwat and Satun.