Bangkok City tourism: Desperately seeking smile

The Thailand Travel Mart (TTM) is a great place to get the latest updates on trends, strategies and products that will shape for the year to come the direction of Thailand’s tourism industry.

In a course of a day, media from all over the world heard a series of press conferences where various tourism bodies will reveal their secrets. And for once, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has decided to join the media session. The BMA sent its deputy governor in charge of social affairs, Mrs. Taya Teepsuvarn.

In front of a couple of dozens of media, mostly from the trade, Mrs. Teepsuvarn delivered an impassioned speech on the beauty of Bangkok. We learned that Bangkok has delicious Thai restaurants, that a visit to the Royal Palace or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha was a must, that the Thai capital is a great city for shopping, entertainment, medical treatment, all of that offering great value for money. Fair enough to spend 20 minutes to tell what the audience probably already knew, as it was comprised mostly of let’s travel trade journalists.

Then, Mrs Teepsuvarn talked about two initiatives for tourists: the launching of a Bht 150 day-pass valid for all boats riding on the Chao Praya River and the “Bangkok Smiles Card,” a special discount scheme for visitors with the participation of some 1,000 companies and businesses. Due to come on the market in the next two months, the card will be used for tours, spa packages, golf activities or even medical treatment. At least, these were news.

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