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Published on December 3, 2007

Thailand Privilege  Card, the company that issues Elite memberships, is now pushing the idea of "tourism concierge" to encourage more millionaires to invest in this country.

The company is expanding its presence and offering to become an "investment coordinator" as it bids to attract world-class investment groups.

It hosted a seminar in Phuket on Friday.

More than 200 participants attended, of whom 130 were Elite-card members and foreign business people. The remainder were from the government and its agencies, including the Board of Investment, stock exchange and Tourism Authority of Thailand.

"This meeting was aimed at attracting Elite-card members, 80 per cent of whom are businessmen and investors, to use us as their coordinator with the government and its agencies to facilitate investment," said Rawitha Phongnuchit, the company's executive chairman.

She hoped the new plan would boost distribution of the Elite card and increase tourism investment in the country, especially in Phuket. The island is attractive to card members and foreign investors owing to its location, scenery and infrastructure.

"The idea of tourism concierge is still not very popular. We don't even have a business as such yet, but it is quite popular elsewhere, particularly in Europe." Rawitha said.

It will offer a consultancy service to customers, providing integral services such as in-depth business, tourism and other information.

The company sees Elite as a potential partner to promote the service. It has a database of high-end business people and tourists.

Rawitha said the seminar had attracted global real-estate investors, including top Malaysian group Bamboo Network and a company from Dubai, many of whom had the potential to invest as much as Bt1 billion each.

Rawitha said the meeting had strengthened relationships between the government and the private sector and could lead to increased investment in the country at a time of economic sluggishness.

The company was confident the Phuket network would promote it as an investment-coordinator between members and the government and private sector.

Suchat Sritama

The Nation

PHUKET