26 Jul, 2014
Thailand’s tourism comeback party in pictures: From protests to parades in six months
Bangkok – The Thai tourism industry pulled off a grand comeback party on July 25, designed to show the world that the kingdom is back to normal, safe and ready to receive visitors again. Blessed with a 35 million baht budget and the benevolence of the gods who kept the skies rain-free, more than 900 specially-selected travel trade members, media, bloggers and celebrities from 47 countries participated in the first day of the two-day party at the same spot in Central Bangkok which only six months ago had been the scene of thundering anti-government political rallies.
It was an entirely media-driven event, designed to chalk up 50 million pairs of eyeballs worldwide. Judging from the several hundred cameras flashing away on-site and the live worldwide webcast as well as the nationwide TV coverage, that target audience seemed entirely within reach. It was arguably the first global tourism event to take such a focussed communications campaign direct to the consumer. The fact that it was organised within just a few weeks following the May 22 military takeover made it all the more remarkable. The Tourism Authority of Thailand is hoping that it will generate enough publicity ummmpph to get the tourists rushing back in over the second half of the year.
Deep down, however, many in the tourism industry know well that the Happiness Gambit is only treating the symptoms and not the cause of the underlying problems facing the country, and that more complicated “succession planning” issues await. The National Council for Peace and Order has embarked upon a wide-ranging programme of economic, political, social and cultural overhaul to ensure that the country remains stable over the next very crucial stage of its history.
While the storms rage beneath the surface, the country is externally peaceful and the people are just happy to get their jobs and income back. Tourism is at the forefront of the overall recovery campaigns. Many more high-profile events are planned over the next few months to help the bounceback which, it is hoped, will register as a V-shape on the visitor arrivals chart for 2014.
Travel Impact Newswire Executive Editor Imtiaz Muqbil had a ringside seat during the entire event, as recounted in these memorable pictures.
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