Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT governor, said this is the first such MOU between a national tourism organisation and online travel agent covering tourism marketing and promotion. The partnership will include the sharing of traveller insights and trends.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Expedia Group have inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote tourism in secondary provinces, with aims to hit a 20% growth by 2020.
Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT governor, said this is the first such MOU between a national tourism organisation and online travel agent covering tourism marketing and promotion. The partnership will include the sharing of traveller insights and trends.
TAT had earlier signed an agreement with China's Alibaba to promote attractions in Thailand to Chinese tourists through Alibaba social media outlets.
Currently, income growth in secondary provinces was 9–10% last year, Bangkok Post reported.
Expedia Group will also launch programmes on destination marketing and hospitality in secondary cities. These include workshops for local hotel partners on topics such as revenue and hotel management for local small and medium-sized accommodation providers.
A joint corporate social responsibility campaign targeting the reduction of single-use and general plastic items will cover the properties of 20,000 member hotels in Thailand, said Supasorn.
TAT also launched a Creative Tourism District campaign on Tuesday to promote six secondary provinces, Chanthaburi, Ang Thong, Trat, Chiang Rai, Sing Buri and Phangnga, as new destinations for local tourists.
Sujitra Jongchansitto, the TAT's deputy governor for tourism products and marketing, said the project should help the six provinces boost tourism income by at least 15% by 2019.