A TAT source said the agency had introduced the Thailand Chic campaign in the United Kingdom, which is a joint effort by the TAT, Chic Thai London Restaurant and Mango Tree restaurant, to promote tourist attractions by using taxis. This is the first time taxis have been used to promote Thai tourism, and the campaign will end late next year.

The authority expects the stronger Thai currency will encourage European tourists to decide to come to Thailand earlier than they planned.

Next year will also be an important year for the Japanese market as Thailand and Japan will celebrate 120 years of friendship. The TAT expects 1.5 million Japanese visitors in 2007.

It has designed a promotion called "City of Resort ", aimed at attracting middle-aged Japanese women and seniors. Last year, seniors accounted for 42 per cent of inbound arrivals. The figure is expected to increase to 52 per cent next year.

Individual travellers from Japan are gradually becoming repeat visitors, with more than half having already visited. To keep this market share, the TAT will focus on safety and language.

For China, Tourism and Sports Minister Suvit Yodmani recently went to Shanghai to talk with officials in a bid to solve problems with cheap packages called zero-dollar tours, as well as to draw high-end Chinese tourists.

Meanwhile, the authority now also considers India a new emerging market, thanks to the expansion of airline networks from Bangkok to Bangalore, Hyderabad and Buddhist sites at Bodhgaya and Varanasi.

Narongsak Sangapong, executive vice president of Thai Airways International's Corporate Secretariat Department, said India had a high growth potential, particularly in trade, investment and tourism, prompting the airline to add three new Indian routes.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation