MELBOURNE – Thailand’s leading outbound tourism association, Thai Travel Agents Association, has written to the Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) to seek support to reopen Tourism Australia’s Thailand office.
Reporting from the Australian Tourism Exchange, Thailand-based Travel Trade Report said operations at TA’s Thailand office are already winding down as staff take redundancy pay, some of them having worked for TA for 16 years.
The letter, written by TTAA vice president Suwadee Pachariyangkun, expressed “strong disappointment†with the decision to close TA Thailand.
TTAA liaison officer, Viboon Kamontho, told TTR Weekly, the association believed the TA’s decision to close office would only put more pressure on travel agents, who had been supporting the destination.
“It will make it all the more difficult during these challenging times to promote Australia.
“We would like TA to maintain at least a marketing representative in Thailand.
“The Thai market needs support. We need someone in the country to work with us, especially the issue of visas, TA office works closely to assist travel agents, and it helps to facilitate the process.”
TA’s general manager for South/South East Asia & Gulf Countries, Maggie White, told TTR Weekly,”We’re not moving away from the market, and we will continue to service the market.
“The TA regional office in KL will be working along with travel agents and also with immigration if there’s an issue regarding visas. Travel agents can always contact our office in KL.â€
