The Royal Thai Embassy in Ankara in cooperation with the Tourist Authority of Thailand, better known as TAT, its branch office in Rome which also covers the Republic of Turkey and the Province of Phuket and Krabi jointly organized the “Amazing Thailand Night” on 23 January 2013 at Ramada Plaza Hotel, Istanbul. This activity was a prelude to the 17th East Mediterranean Tourism and Travel Exhibition 2013 (EMITT 2013) to be held in Istanbul during 24-27 January 2013.
The “Amazing Thailand Night” was preceded by a table top meeting of the hotel and resort representatives from Phuket and Krabi provinces, the two most popular tourist destinations in the South of Thailand, and the prominent travel agencies of Turkey. Both sides agreed to further enhance their cooperation in the fields of tourism between Thailand and Turkey. Last year 12,211 Thai tourists visited Turkey while more than 60,000 tourists from Turkey spent their holidays in Thailand. The participants were of the view that the tourist industry of both countries should focus not only on increasing the numbers of tourists but also reducing the discrepancy of the numbers of tourists.
At the commence of the “Amazing Thailand Night,” H.E. Mr. Rathakit Manathat, Ambassador of Thailand to Turkey, delivered an opening remark, stressing on the significance of culture as a bridge that links Thailand and Turkey and their peoples by encouraging them to learn more about each other and the role of tourism as a gateway for people to directly experience and appreciate different cultures. Promoting people-to-people contact through cultural activities and tourism are, therefore, regarded as one of the most effective diplomatic means to achieve closer tie of friendship, cooperation and better understanding between countries and peoples, added the Ambassador.
Mrs. Juthaporn Rerngronasa, Deputy Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, briefed the participants on Thailand and its potentials as one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. Mrs. Rerngronasa also invited the Turkish to visit and explore more of Phuket and Krabi which she described as two “best value for money” destinations in the serene southern part of Thailand.
After the briefing, the guests and members of the media were invited to watch the Thai cultural performances by members of the College of Dramatic Arts of Thailand, led by Mr. Surat Jongda, a widely recognized choreographer of the classical and neoclassical Thai performing arts, Thai puppet making demonstration, reflecting the long history of the Thai puppet arts and craft of Thailand, by Mr. Nivet Waevsamana, a master puppeteer, and Thai traditional fruit carving and umbrella painting demonstration, all of which attracted great interest from the participants.
On 24 January, H.E. the Ambassador of Thailand and Mrs. Rerngronasa attended the opening ceremony of EMITT 2013 at TÜYAP Exhibition Center, Istanbul. The Fair was presided over by H.E. Mr. Ertuğrul Günay, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey. The meetings and exchange of views and experience in the tourist industry between the Thai hotel and resort representatives with their Turkish counterparts were organized by the TAT Rome Office. Moreover, those who missed a chance to see the Thai cultural performances and arts at the “Amazing Thailand Night” were given the opportunity to appreciate them at the Thai booth throughout the Fair.
The Thai booth was honoured by the visit of H.E. Mr. Ertuğrul Günay who was welcomed by H.E. Ambassador Manathat and Mrs. Rerngronasa. During the Minister’s visit, H.E. the Ambassador presented H.E. the Minister with a basket of “Luk Chub”, a kind of Thai sweet in the shape of various fruits in miniature size, while Mrs. Rerngronasa presented him with a Thai puppet as a gift. H.E. the Minister spent some time at the Thai booth watching fruit carving and umbrella painting demonstration with great interest. The four-day long activities at the Thai booth, from 24 to 27 January 2013, were very successful in grabbing the attention of the visitors both general public and the local media. Moreover, Thailand was awarded “the Best Performance” prize for its graceful and exotic cultural performances.
The East Mediterranean Tourism and Travel Exhibition (EMITT) was first held in 1997. With its continuous growth, EMITT became the 5th most visited tourism fair in the world. There were 4,500 local and foreign exhibitors from 70 countries and more than 100,000 visitors attending EMITT this year. Thailand has joined the Exhibition since 2008 with the goal to increase people-to-people contact between Thai and Turkish peoples through tourism.
Ms. Chawanis Chawanawong
First Secretary
Royal Thai Embassy, Ankara