Tourism Authority of Thailand Launches WeChat Account
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) launched its official “Visit Thailand” public WeChat account to attract Chinese tourists by improving information exchange services and to promote the development of the online travel market.
TAT’s support network, Call Centre 1672, and the online TAT Contact Center offer instant information and help to Chinese tourists. The language used is Mandarin.
TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said that the number of Thailand-bound Chinese travelers would increase based on long-term development trends.
‘WeChat Visit Thailand’
”WeChat ‘Visit Thailand’ gives Chinese tourists a preferred communication tool they trust in their native Mandarin dialect,” he said.
The application enables TAT to effectively disseminate Thailand’s tourism news. This will help Chinese tourists online via images, voice, and video. The clever use offers real-time updates on attractions, accommodation, dining venues, and local Thai experiences from other TAT campaigns.
WeChat is available both in Thailand and China. On this platform, tourists can ask for travel information and help 24 hours a day. This is done by sending a simple text message to the application help desk.
WeChat Account for Chinese Visitors
About 8.8 million Chinese visited Thailand in 2016, generating USD13 billion (THB430 billion) for the country.
An estimated 9 million will visit Thailand this year. This will bring in THB480 billion in tourism revenue, more than 26 percent of the country’s overall tourism revenue.
China is Thailand’s most significant tourist source market representing Thailand’s top inbound market for both arrivals and revenue.
With Chinese tourists changing habits, being a Free Independent Traveler (FIT) is increasingly popular in China. FITs prefer to search for travel information using the internet and WeChat on mobile devices.
TAT believes that the WeChat platform will promote the development of the Thai tourism industry. This is done by providing Chinese travelers with the right information quickly and accurately.
WeChat is currently China’s most popular social media application, with 889 million active users.
Apart from searching for information online, WeChat users can book accommodation and shop online.
Source: Tourism Authority of Thailand
