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Chiang Mai, Thailand―The DES – depa commenced the 1st Digital Tourism Business Matching Roadshow in Chiang Mai to nudge Thai tourism operators into using ThailandCONNEX and other relevant digital technologies for the ultimate benefits of their businesses. Being the first in its roadshow series, the execution already spawned great discussion opportunities, including information sharing, business advisory and business networking, between the digital startups and tourism operators. This piloting activity helped pave the way for the transformation of the Thai tourism industry in this digital age.
Mr. Chaiwut Thanakmanusorn, Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister, chaired the opening ceremony of the 1st Digital Tourism Business Matching in Chiang Mai, honorably joining by Chiang Mai Governor Mr. Nirat Pongsitthavorn, Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa) President/CEO Asst. Prof. Dr. Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, and Travizgo Technology CEO Mr. Nattaseth Wongwattanakan as well as a group of engaging tourism business operators and guests from the northern cities.
Mr. Chaiwut shared that tourists are now widely and increasingly using the Online Travel Agents (OTAs) due to their strengths in time management, price comparison and budgeting conveniences. However, the most popular OTAs are the international ones. Therefore, the MES, led by depa, is joining hands with Travizgo Technology to push forward the Digital Technology Campaign and develop ThailandCONNEX as well as leverage the data bank and token technologies to support tourism data management for the Thai tourism industry. This advancement would enable tourism operators to access big data, which is useful for designing appropriate travel packages to serve the needs of diverse tourist groups.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Nuttapon added that the 1st Digital Tourism Business Matching Roadshow, held in Chiang Mai to cover the northern region, was a superb collaboration between the MES, depa, Travizgo Technology, digital startups, and network partners. The event offered various analytical discussions and in-depth workshops to elevate digital skills for the operators over the two fruitful days. These included topics on ThailandCONNEX familiarity, generating greater opportunities with a lower cost, the operating role as a content creator/influencer, leveraging technologies for tourism businesses, how to set up tourism models that will benefit Thai entrepreneurs, incorporating digital technology to local tourism for creating uniqueness and sustainability, business opportunity creation with funding sources amidst crisis, and many more. Other activities also included the displays of digital startup products, business gathering, consulting, and business networking sessions between the tourism operators and the digital startups.
“depa plans to organize a series of Digital Tourism Business Matching Roadshow to raise awareness and urge the use of the digital platform ThailandCONNEX as well as other technologies from our digital startup partners and digital providers. This project pipeline expects to reach over 5,600 tourism operators nationwide with 5 major tourist cities in the country’s 5 regions on the run, namely Chiang Mai, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chonburi and Phuket, during March to July this year. The roadshows will host various meeting opportunities between the startups and local tourism operators and expect to create over 500 business matchings. In addition, there are 53 digital startups and providers joining ThailandCONNEX platform to date. We are all ready to travel, meet, discuss, offer advice, and network with the tourism business operators throughout Thailand to fasten the campaign awareness and encourage them to use ThailandCONNEX and other business-appropriate digital technologies. We are determined to be their thinking partners and supporters, so together we can unleash market potentials and drive a sustainable tourism industry,” commented depa president/CEO.
Mr. Nattaseth also added that ThailandCONNEX has been developed to store big data under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). The platform leverages the AI technology to indicate trends, preferences and needs of tourists to its user members. This can benefit operators in terms of designing and developing their products and services and benefit the government organizations in setting supportive policies and effective promotional strategies while lifting the tech standards among tourism operators. Travizgo Technology and depa along with other related government and private organizations will continue their collaboration to execute these countrywide activities to promote digital awareness and add more products and services onto the ThailandCONNEX platform. Notably, they will also continue to strengthen partnerships with global operators to widen the marketing opportunities for Thai operators.
The roadshows in pipeline include the 2nd Digital Tourism Business Matching for the central region to be held in Prachuap Khiri Khan; the 3rd for the northeastern in Nakhon Ratchasima; the 4th for the eastern in Chonburi; and the 5th for the southern in Phuket. Interested tourism operators and public can follow news and updates on Digital Tourism campaign at www.thailandconnex.com, Facebook Page: ThailandCONNEX, and Customer Call Center Tel. 0 2171 9900
Nisaw.