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HomeNewsNews Snippet 600,000 Indian tourists expected in 2008, says Khun Chattan
600,000 Indian tourists expected in 2008, says Khun Chattan
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September 26, 2007
By News Desk
Thaindian.com spoke to Khun Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Chief Officer of the Bangkok International Film Festival which was held successfully in the month of July in Bangkok. He is the Director, International Public Relations Division, Tourism Authority of Thailand and one of the main forces behind the India-Thailand tourism development. He has been instrumental in leading many such initiatives. Below are the excerpts of his EXCLUSIVE interview with Varin Sachdeva for Thaindian.com. The interview was conducted during the Film Festival.
[VS] How big is the contribution from India for the Film Festival this year? [CKNA] The contribution is huge. This is visible from the presence of Hema Malini - the legendary India actress,and we also have some of her films being shown along with some new films. It feels great to have such participation from a leading country in Films.
[VS] So, does it mean that it is the beginning of collaboration between the two countries. Do we start with movies and get in to develop tourism? [CKNA] Tourism is already going strong. This is just another facet of co-operation. We have a long history of sharing together and I foresee a bright future in collaboration on different fronts including motion pictures, tourism etc.
[VS] I hear people talking about Thai Film Festival in Indian and an Indian Film Festival in Thailand? Is that possible? [CKNA] Well, that is very much possible and I think it is a wonderful opportunity for cultural exchange. May be by next year, we will have something concrete to tell you.
[VS] How do we plan, as a country, to tap into Indian Market? [CKNA] The Indian market is growing phenomenonly. Last year we had 450,000 Indians coming to Thailand.This year we expect half a million or even more visitors. The potential is huge as there are millionaires in Indian being made every day because of the rapid economic growth and many of them have not been to Thailand. We are targeting the high end customers like the MICE industry. We will invest in PR on a large scale and establish good relationship with the media.
[VS] Are Thai tourist operators ready to handle Indian tourists? [CKNA] I think many are ready but then there are others who are just learning about the market. Even the Hotels are a little less familiar with the Indian market as traditionally they have been targeting European or East Asian markets. They are also in the learning process and I am sure once they understand it better, they will fall in love with it.
[VS] How can Tourism authorities help in making the tourist industry more acquainted with the Indian tourists? [CKNA] We will have to build awareness of both the sides. In India, we have to continue to build the awareness that Thailand is a great destination for Holidaying or for Business etc. On the home front, we need to inform people that India is a market to be tapped. If you are not into the Indian market, you are missing the boat.
[VS] Any targets have been set up for 2008?
[CKNA] At the current rate of growth in the number of Indian tourists, I won't be surprised if the target is set to be 600,000 and that is 100,000 higher than the current number. I am sure that that the airlines etc. will respond accordingly to the increased demand.
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