From April 29th to June 15th, 2024, ASEAN and Indian tourists are invited to participate in the ‘ASEAN + India Shoppers in Thailand’ activity by voting for their favorite Thai soft power element and receiving a gift voucher to shop for Thai products.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and its partners have announced this initiative, encouraging ASEAN and Indian tourists to vote for their preferred Thai soft-power element and receive a shopping voucher. The activity is scheduled to run from April 29th to June 15th, 2024.
Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, the TAT Governor, emphasized that this project aligns with the government’s objective of positioning Thailand as a tourism hub while promoting ASEAN as a unified tourism destination. Furthermore, it supports the government’s soft power promotion policy aimed at increasing awareness and sales for Thai products.
This initiative is part of a larger strategy to enhance Thailand’s appeal to short-haul travelers. Through participating stores, tourists can explore and purchase Thai aromatics, delectable treats, fashionable attire, and locally-made accessories, thus showcasing Thailand’s soft power.
Ms. Thapanee expressed that they have designed the online quiz and gift voucher redemption process to be user-friendly and inclusive for ASEAN and Indian tourists. They hope tourists will seize this opportunity to support Thai brands and products while experiencing the influence of Thai soft power in tourism.
Passport holders from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, and India can log on to the website aseanindiashoppers.com to vote for Thailand’s rich cultural resources, categorized into the 5Fs: food, film, fashion, fight, and festivals, beginning April 29th, 2024.
As a gesture of appreciation, participants will receive gift vouchers and special privileges valued between 500 Baht to 3,000 Baht each. These can be utilized to purchase Thai fashion and lifestyle brands, as well as authentic Thai products, at participating stores such as King Power Corporation, King Power Click (FIRSTER), Multiply by Eight (X8), Central Group, Tops Market, Big C Supercenter, Good Goods, and Erb.
These vouchers and privileges can be redeemed at participating stores located in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Chon Buri, Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Songkhla, and Nakhon Ratchasima.
It is anticipated that this project will attract 5,000 participants, thereby generating approximately 131 million Baht in tourism revenue.
The primary objective of the ‘ASEAN + India Shoppers in Thailand’ activity is to promote short-haul tourism and encourage travel and spending by tourists from ASEAN and India who view Thailand as an ideal weekend destination and a popular shopping hotspot.
Given the close geographical proximity of these countries, travel time to Thailand is minimal, with neighboring countries requiring no more than two hours and India approximately four hours. Additionally, ASEAN tourists are not obligated to obtain a visa when entering Thailand, while Indian tourists can benefit from the current temporary 30-day visa-free entry policy.
The convenient access and favorable visa policies are significant factors contributing to 75% of ASEAN tourists being repeat visitors and India emerging as the fastest-growing source market.
Thailand anticipates that the number of visitor arrivals from ASEAN will surpass 10 million this year, while the number of Indian tourists is projected to reach 1.7 million, constituting 35% of this year’s target of 35 million arrivals.
