The
TBEX Asia 2015 is being jointly supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand
(TAT), Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and Bangkok
Metropolitan Administration (BMA). It will provide a unique opportunity for
Thailand to showcase the “2015 Discover Thainess” campaign and allow
Thailand-based bloggers to network with their worldwide counterparts.
Mrs.
Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Europe,
Africa, Middle East, and the Americas) presided over the press conference and
signing ceremony to host the TBEX Asia 2015 at the Queen Sirikit National
Convention Center.
Mrs.
Juthaporn commented, “Travel bloggers have a very strong and loyal following on
social media. We are truly proud that some of the world’s leading bloggers have
chosen Thailand to host their first TBEX in Asia.
“As
each of these online writers has an average of more than 10,000 followers, the
TBEX Asia will help us promote a positive image of Thailand and attract more
young generation visitors from around the world.”
TBEX
was first held in 2008 and has been organized annually in Europe and the United
States. As attendance has grown significantly, the organizers, TBEX LLC, have decided
to venture into Asia in recognition of the immense market potential and high
growth in visitor arrivals.
Between
22-26 March, 2015, TAT arranged a site inspection and preview trip along five unique
travel routes across Thailand for the organizing committee of TBEX Asia in a
group of 30 leading bloggers from around the world.
Organisers
expect that the breakdown of participants at the Bangkok event will include
about 52% from the USA, 37% from Europe, and 11% from Asia and Australia.
In
recent years, TAT has developed aggressive online and digital marketing
strategies to promote tourism via all forms of new media and across all
devices; such as, mobile phones, Smart Phones, and Tablets. These have been
designed to reach specific target audiences worldwide, especially young travelers and families.
A
whole range of award-winning social media campaigns have been rolled out,
comprising of contests and competitions that allow participants to compete for
prizes, including free stays in Thailand.
Social
media networks are playing an increasingly important role in the tourism
sector. The Internet has changed consumer behavior in many ways, both in terms
of the way people buy their travel products, the destinations they choose, the
amount of time they have to travel, and the amount of money they spend.
People
are eager to share experiences via social media, making it the equivalent of
word-of-mouth marketing, the most powerful means of personalized publicity for
any destination.
