Thailand’s tourism authority opens Toronto office

Reason for celebration

IAN STALKER

The Tourism Authority of Thailand has opened a downtown Toronto office, a move that reflects the growing importance it attaches to the Canadian market and one which bucks a trend in recent years that sees many tourism boards opting to have their staff work from home.
The TAT’s new office – found in Toronto’s financial core – marks the first time it has had dedicated Canadian office space, with TAT Canadian reps having previously worked out of their houses.
“We saw the Canadian market is growing and has the the potential to expand [further],” Puangpen Klanwari, the office’s director, told Canadian Travel Press.
Last year saw over 250,000 Canadians visit Thailand, a 5.5% increase from 2016.
The office now has four employees and may grow to as many as eight. Among those working in it is Kayla Shubert, who had been carrying the flag for years for the TAT in this country. Shubert – who now serves as marketing manager – had been the only TAT staffer actually living in this country until the opening of the Toronto office.
The office is now up and running, with employees on hand to field calls and hand out brochures.
Klanwari says office staff will be travelling the country, with spring gatherings in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver already in the works.
Klanwari said she hopes Thai Airways will begin providing direct air service between this country and Bangkok. There is now no direct air link between Canada and Thailand, although Klanwari said the tourism authority does work closely with a number of carriers, among them EVA Air, Cathay Pacific and Air Canada.
Klanwari – a Bangkok native and Tourism Authority of Thailand veteran – said Canadians tend to associate her homeland with beautiful beaches and great food, sides to the country she quickly agrees that are there.
But Klanwari added there are many other aspects to Thailand, among them romance opportunities in a country that has many tropical island resorts; soft adventure, such as trekking in the north; and spa stays in a country that has a flourishing spa scene, with spas found throughout Thailand. Those spas offer many different treatments.
“We have lots of things that are interesting in Thailand,” Klanwari said.
Klanwari said first-time Thailand visitors tend to visit the likes of Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Pattaya, while repeat visitors often go farther afield, heading for destinations like inland Chiang Rai.
“Thailand has many varied destinations,” Klanwari added. “We have interesting places all over Thailand.”
The new office can be reached at 647-329-1000 and the email is [email protected] .
More information can be found at tourismthailand.org .