Why is ATF 2008 good for Bangkok? (SPECIAL REPORT: ATF 2008)

BANGKOK - Past last year’s political unpheaval, both outsiders and insiders agree that it seems that all is well again in Thailand. And hosting the Asean Tourism Forum (ATF) this year is an ideal platform to show how good things are, starting with Bangkok.



“There are so much happening, so many products coming onstream,” said Andrew Wood, who holds the concurrent positions as president of Skal Bangkok and GM of Chaophya Park Hotel.



“There are 3,000 new rooms by first quarter of this year alone. There are new hotels opening every month,” Wood said. Among those that have already opened are Accor Pullman, New Millennium and Centara Grand and Bangkok Convention Centre.



Both Simon Illingworth, GM of Prana Resorts, and Manoon Intrayota, AVP Bangkok Palace Hotel and Chochan Pattaya Resort cited that ATF 2008 puts a global focus on Bangkok and Thailand as a whole.



“I think that hosting ATF here puts Thailand in the map for a lot of the foreign markets,” said Illingworth. “The closeness of the resorts or the destinations makes it easy for the buyers to go out and see the properties.”



Intrayota said hosting ATF in the city is an opportunity for wholesalers to get acquainted with it, especially since the programmes include special functions and out-of-town trips.