TAT called on to curb spending
BANGKOK – The opening of this year’s Thailand Travel Market has brought with it a message from the country’s travel trade that they expect the Tourism Authority of Thailand to deliver more bang for their bucks.
Tourism operators want the TAT to use its tourism budget more efficiently to help revive the industry.
The Federations of Thai Tourism Associations (FETTA), following a meeting with TAT chairman Weerasak Kowsurat, said the tourism authority had approved excessive funding for some projects.
Examples included nearly US$1.5 million for an upcoming trade show in Vienna and almost US$3 million to finance a domestic tourism promotion campaign.
According to The Nation, Weerasak agreed to reconsider the spending plans and discuss them with government.
FETTA says it will ask the government to monitor TAT budget spending.
For 2010, TAT has been allocated a budget of 4.5 billion baht, a slight increase on this year’s figure.
This week TAT launched a new domestic campaign – “12 months, 7 Stars and 9 suns†to promote various products in different Thai locations.
Ian Jarrett
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