The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) hosted a three-day outdoor trade show at Pattaya’s Ocean Marina Yacht Club for tourism operators from June 13^th to the 15^th, This year’s conference focused on promoting Thailand as a luxury travel and romantic destination as TAT aims to push Thailand into the world’s top five romance destinations.

Thailand Travel Mart Plus the Greater Mekong Subregion (TTM+ 2018) hosted its first event back in 2001 to promote Thailand as the leading country of tourism in the Mekong region. TTM+ 2018 was held at the largest yacht club in Southeast Asia this year in Pattaya with over 280 delegates from Thailand and 300 international delegates including journalists and tourism buyers from 60 countries, all to join this fun and relaxing event to exchange Thailand’s latest tourism trend.

Mr. Tanes Petsuwan, deputy governor for marketing communications of TAT said honeymoon products and services have been highlighted as an emerging segment in the tourism sector. Thailand has unlimited resources and is a perfect location as a wedding and honeymoon destination. the country brims with unique old town architecture, majestic natural landscapes, uncharted beaches, a spectacular gastronomic scene and a range of established accommodations. As more than a handful of new tourism projects will be established from 2018 to 2019 by TAT in Chiang Rai, Hua Hin and Trang, such will be promoted as upcoming honeymoon destinations for newly weds.

In 2016, Thailand received more than 1.1 million couples and TAT forecasts to see a growth of 5% in the wedding and honeymoon tourism segment in 2018. Unique from other countries, Thailand offers uncharted landscapes for wedding shoots and remains to be a favorite tourism destination for the Chinese with its convenient location and flexible visa policy. TAT and Thailand’s statistics department revealed that in it received more than 35 million visitors in 2017, with an 8.77% increase from 2016. Chinese tourists totaled to 9.8 million. In Q1 2018, a total of 13.7 million visitors visited Thailand a 13.97% increase year on year. China reigned the list with Malaysia, Russia, South Korea and Japan following. Tourism generated 520 billion Baht of revenue for Thailand, an increase of 15.78% year on year.

Thailand was voted the ‘Best Wedding Destination’ by India-based Wonderlust magazine last year and was named one of the 20 most romantic destinations in the world by Brides magazine this year.