TOURISM News as TAT promotes 'slow travel'

TOURISM News as TAT promotes 'slow travel'

TAT promotes 'slow travel'

Published: 14/09/2011 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Business

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is promoting "slow travel", a new approach to exploring destinations and cultures in a relaxed way, to create sustainability among local tourists.

The agency says many travellers want a less hectic pace for their holidays because of the rising pressures of daily urban life. The campaign, called "Travel with a New Heart for a Sustainable Thailand", urges domestic tourists to make social and environmental responsibility a part of their journey.

The TAT is promoting nine provinces for slow tours in the North under the My Slow Day campaign from September to December. They are Phrae, Nan, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Uthai Thani, Mae Hong Son, Lampang, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

"We think the slow travel campaign can serve the demand of tourists, who are looking for value and real happiness, not value-for-money tours," said TAT governor Surapol Svetserani. "Our research found that new-generation tourists between 25 and 45 have begun paying attention to a balance between technology and simplicity."

The agency has promoted the campaign online and via social media such as SlowTravelNorth.com and Facebook. Tourists can share slow travel experiences on the website.

Mr Surapol said slow travel experts have their own fan clubs. The well-known author Roundfinger, for example, has 73,415 fans on Facebook.

"We expect Thai people to try slow travel like they tried organic foods for some meals," he said. "We want to raise the awareness of responsible travel, rather than targeting income."

This project seeks to increase the length of stay of domestic tourists by at least one day from an average of three now.

The TAT said 65% of people in the Bangkok vicinity are familiar with the project, including over 500,000 via fan pages of Amazing Thailand, Go North Thailand, Thaitraveler and Cameralove.