TTM talk to focus on “Making the World Better Place through Travel”

Bangkok, 20 May 2019 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has overhauled the knowledge sharing session of its annual Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2019 to better align it with new social, cultural and ecological transitions under way in the kingdom’s fastest growing foreign exchange earning industry.

Under the theme of “Making the World a Better Place through Travel”, the TTM Talk will feature a line-up of 10 well-recognised experts who will cover a broad range of social, cultural, marketing, management and development topics of critical importance to many aspects of the past, present and future of Thai tourism.

The session will be held concurrently between 15.00-16.00 Hrs. on Wednesday, 5 June, 2019, just before the start of the doing business trade session of the Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2019 at the Ocean Marina Yacht Club Pattaya. This is the second consecutive year the TTM Plus will be held at the same venue.

Mr. Siripakorn Cheawsamoot, TAT Deputy Governor for Digital Research and Development said, “This year it was felt to be a good time to bring together 10 movers and shakers from a broad cross section of disciplines including tourism, media, education, agriculture and more, “to present new perspectives, alternative practices, and inspiring stories that prove you truly can make the world a better place through travel.

“This is the first time that we have invited purely local personalities to share their insights and expertise at the TTM. It covers both a historic perspective of Thai tourism development, some of the key current challenges, and insights into many of the new strategies that will be required to develop a more sustainable tourism agenda in the future.”

List of Speakers at TTM Talk Session “Making the World a Better Place through Travel”

Topic: “Thailand: The Greatest Story in Global Tourism HiSTORY”
Mr. Imtiaz Muqbil, Executive Editor of Travel Impact Newswire, Thailand’s second longest serving travel trade journalist, will explore some of the great marketing strategies that have helped Thai tourism become what he calls “The Greatest Story in Global Tourism HiSTORY”.

Topic: “Food Innopolis, Innovation for Economic Growth”
Dr. Akkharawit Kanjana-Opas, NSTDA Vice President and CEO of Food Innopolis, will focus on how Thailand’s agriculture and food industry can play a role in tourism development and help the country strengthen its status as a global food innovation hub.

Topic: “Urban Tourism and the Regeneration of Cities”
Ms Niramon Kulsrisombat, Director of the Urban Design and Development Center (UddC), will outline how urbanisation is linked to the rise of mass tourism, and how it can help cities create job opportunities, education, strengthen social inclusion and create a meaningful experience for visitors.

Topic: “Slumdog Millionaire, the Transformation of Khlong Toei”
Mr. Somsak Boonkam, Founder and CEO of Local Alike will share his experience in developing ‘off-the-beaten track’ tourism via the example of ‘Khlong Toei’, a low-income Bangkok community, where visitors can help contribute to economic development in a careful and sensitive manner.

Topic: “Organic Tourism and Alternative Business Model”
Mr. Arrut Navaraj, Managing Director of Suan Sampran, will discuss how his family business Sampran Riverside, an eco-cultural destination resort, has been reinvented in line with the principle of the Sufficiency Economy, which emphasises balance and moderation and promotes organic agriculture.

Topic: “Niche is Great, Travel in a World of Fragments”
Stang Puapongsakon, Travel Editor of The Cloud, will attempt to make sense of the rapidly advancing world of communication technology, social media platforms and hyper-connectedness, and how businesses can turn fragmented customer interests and personalisation into an opportunity.

Topic: “Fun at Any Cost? Tourism vs. Environment”
Sirachai Shin Arunrugstichai, a Photojournalist specialising in marine conservation issues, will reflect on the extent to which the tourism industry bears responsibility for damaging the marine environment, and what it can do to alleviate this problem.

Topic: “Tourism: Love, Death + Robots”
Jitsupa Chin, an IT Specialist, will highlight the role of information technology in improving the quality of the visitor experience in a way that inspires true innovation and alleviates the impact of over-tourism.

Topic: “#SoulFood – Local Food, Local Wisdom”
Chef Van (DAG), gastronomic expert, will explain how local cuisine is intrinsically linked with the local community and ecosystems, and how choosing the right meal can make a difference to your destination, your travel, and your life.

Topic: “From Root to Last: Akha Ama Coffee and a Sense of Loving the Home Town”
Lee-Ayu Chuepa’ a young Thai who hails from a rural town in Far North Thailand and has been inspired by the late monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, to develop high-quality brand of home-grown coffee, based on the business model of the Sufficiency Economy.

For further details, please check out https://www.thailandtravelmartplus.com

About TAT Newsroom
TAT Newsroom (www.tatnews.org) is the official newsroom of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), under the International Public Relations Division. It is committed to supporting international media by providing the latest press releases, festivals & events, other Thai travel news as well as compelling Thailand travel articles.

Press Contact:
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Tourism Authority of Thailand
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This release was published on openPR.