Celebs gather for Thailand's tourism campaign for women
BANGKOK — Over 50 women celebrities and influencers from different parts of the world gathered at the recent launch of the Women’s Journey Thailand 2017 Campaign. Now on its second year, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) special project is aimed at attracting more female visitors to the country.
Among the VIPs in attendance were South Korean star So-Hyun Kim, Indian actress Tanya Sharma, members of the Japanese girl group Nogizaga 46, Egyptian fashion icon Hadia Ghaleb, Omani actress Naeema Al Maqbali, beauty queens from Vietnam, China, Myanmar and Australia and the Philippines’ Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach.
Women travelers are front and center of the ongoing marketing campaign of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, which is promoting and presenting the country as one of the most female-friendly destinations in the world. Tourism officials claimed that Thailand has recorded a significant increase in female tourists in recent years.
“It has to be women because in Thailand, women matter,” said H.E. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, during the welcome reception. “Tourism is not just a matter of figures, or how many people are coming to Thailand. It’s not just a business. Tourism is about people to people, heart to heart, understanding (each other).”
The Women’s Journey Thailand 2017 Campaign takes pride in understanding and addressing the needs and interests of female travelers to Thailand. According to TAT officials led by its governor Yuthasak Supasorn, seven categories of products and services are being offered in hopes of bringing in more women tourists under the campaign. These are accommodation (hotels and resorts); health, beauty and spa services; shopping malls, dining and restaurants; recreation and entertainment; lifestyle activities like handicraft workshops and fitness; and transportation services such as airlines and car rentals.
In line with this, the TAT has introduced the Women’s
Journey Thailand mobile app, which one can download after registering for the access code. So, if you travel to Thailand this month, you will enjoy “Welcoming Package” that includes a free welcome drink by Coffee World, seven-days free Sim Card with WiFi by DTAC and 300 Baht discount by Grab Taxi (1 Baht equals to P1.55).
Other special treats are the 20-percent discount at King Power Duty Free Shops (except the airport branch); special airfare for the domestic sector, starting from 1,290 Baht by Bangkok Airways; special car rental fee by Thai Rent a Car (499 Baht/ day); 500 Baht discount voucher by the Siam Discovery Department Store (for women visitors); and free ice-cream cone by McDonalds Thailand (for this month only).
Other activities that form part
of the campaign are the Lady Golf Challenge, Lady Celebrities to Thailand, Thailand through Her Eyes, Lady in Thai Fabrics and Lady Bloggers. The official opening event of Women’s Journey Thailand 2017
Campaign was held at the centuryold Nai Lert Park Heritage Home in Bangkok, so that guests and attend- ees would feel what it was like to be welcomed into a “Thai home and Thai family.” Situated in the heart of Bangkok, the Nai Lert Park served as the ancestral home of four generations of lady business leaders who fought to retain the sprawling property, its history-laden structure and traditional charm amidst the tempting offers to turn it into a high-rise district and commercialized area.
The affair also featured a fashion show and became an exchange of travel stories among the celebrity guests and their favorite things to do when in Thailand.
Korean drama star SoHyun Kim said she feels honored to be tapped by TAT to help in the campaign, saying she’s a fan of the Thai food.
For Pia, she’s a big fan of the Thai massage. “Two hours of Thai massage feels like a full night’s sleep. That’s how relaxing it is.”
She further shared, “I’ve been to Thailand many times, as Miss Universe, as a former Miss Universe, then before I was Miss Universe.”
She recalled to the audience how Thailand became part of her Miss U journey. She said that it took her three times to join Miss Philippines to be able to join Miss Universe, but when she lost on her second try, she flew to Thailand to heal. She went to the temples and prayed to be blessed. “Thailand, I think, is lucky for me.”
Pia has also filmed most of her commercials in Thailand. She is expected to return to Thailand more often in relation to her recent appointment as goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS or UN-Aids.
“I like that it feels like home, and this is an honest truth. Especially to Filipinos, it doesn’t feel different, and for the women, it’s very safe, you can travel alone if you want. That’s what I did. It really has so many to offer.”
Meanwhile, TAT has named Nattaya Boonchompaisarn, winner of The
FACE Thailand Season 3, as an honorary representative to encourage more lady travelers to explore Thailand’s variety of products and services.
Recently-crowned Miss Universe Thailand Maria Poonlertlarp Ehren, on the other hand, particularly extended an invitation to Filipino tourists to visit her country. She told
The STAR, “Thailand is changing a lot of things to make it safer for a lot of women, so I really want people to experience my home. I know a lot of Filipino tourists come to Thailand already but I really urge them to come here because we’re neighbors, we’re both Asian. So, I encourage both Thai and Filipinos to travel back and forth, and to make our bond stronger.”
(For more details about the campaign, visit https://womensjourney.tourismthailand.org/.)