Weddings Key to Thai Tourism in 2018

Weddings Key to Thai Tourism in 2018

Destination weddings will form a major part of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s (TAT’s) plans to promote tourism in the Kingdom in 2018, according to a report in The Bangkok Post.

The TAT recently revealed its action plan for international and domestic tourism next year, and along with weddings and honeymoons, sport, gastronomy, marine and medical tourism will play a major part in attracting new visitors to the country.

Thailand officially launched a new national tourism campaign called Amazing Thailand Year 2018 earlier this month, with the aim of reinforcing the sector for the coming 12 months. In addition to focusing on specific parts of the tourism sector, the campaign will hone in on the uniqueness and cultural values of the Kingdom.

As well as increasing visitor arrivals, the TAT hopes that its strategy will also attract higher-spending, quality visitors. Typically, weddings attract some of the highest spending visitors, thanks to the cost of hiring a venue and catering for large numbers of wedding guests. Many brides and grooms also choose to organise additional activities for their guests, including chartering private yachts and setting up local excursions to nearby sites of interest.

Apart from the domestic market, the new marketing strategy is also targeting overseas visitors – particularly those from China, India, Asean, East Asia and Europe. Activities to mark the launch of the new campaign will begin in October, as the country starts to gear up for its peak tourism season.

While some brides and grooms travelling to Thailand choose to host their wedding celebrations within one of the country’s many five-star international hotels, a growing number are opting to host their ceremony in a luxury private villa. In addition to providing an exclusive, luxurious setting for the event, rental villas also give the bride and groom a chance to personalise each and every aspect of their wedding day, from the food and beverages to the schedule of the day.

The wow-factor setting of many luxury property rentals is another factor in their growing popularity amongst couples from around the world. Many of Samui’s finest villas feature direct access to the beach for those that want to get married with the sand between their toes. On the other hand, Phuket is home to a wealth of hillside properties with spectacular ocean views. Thanks to the eclectic assortment of properties, featuring both contemporary and traditional Thai-style properties, couples can take their pick and choose a luxury venue that truly suits the setting they had in mind for the day.