reader Posted February 17, 2022 Posted February 17, 2022 From Bangkok Post The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is rolling out plans to target both the international and domestic markets despite a tepid start because of the threat from the Omicron variant. TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said Thailand needs to turn crisis into opportunity and use tourism to help transform the country after the outbreak. He said the goal is to achieve 2.4 trillion baht in tourism receipts, or 80% of 2019 levels, by 2023. However, this sum is not the priority as the industry shifts to inclusive segments, said Mr Yuthasak. The target segments consist of: wealthy travellers, retirees, remote workers, skilled professionals, millennials and active seniors. Emerging trends could be mined, he said, such as the popularity of so-called "Thai Boy Love TV dramas" in South Korea. Another trend is educational tourism, particularly in the Chinese market, as Thailand still sees 500-700 arrivals per day via business visas and student visas, despite strict border rules in China. Fans of Boy Love TV dramas form part of the LGBTQIA+ community in South Korea and constitute a potential segment, said Mr Thanet. He said soft power from influencers and media such as Boy Love TV series (Y series) could include collaborations between Thai actors or Korean producers to inspire tourists to visit Thailand. https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/2265555/tat-unveils-ambitious-goals vinapu 1 Quote
