Bangkok joined the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in setting up Thailand’s tourism exhibition booth at the Internationale Tourismus Borse 2023 event in Germany.

The world’s leading travel trade fair, also known as ITB 2023, was held at Messe Berlin Exhibition Ground in Berlin from March 7-9. Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi, elder sister of His Majesty the King, also participated in the event.

The princess was welcomed by Somboon Hormnan, director of Bangkok’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Department and department executives who had set up an exhibition booth at the event.

Somboon said to promote tourism in the capital city, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has brought the charm of Bangkok to international audiences of the ITB 2023.

The goal is to present Bangkok as a metropolitan city with diversity that has been among the top destinations of global travellers, and also introduce 2023 as the year of visiting Thailand. The ITB event is considered the world’s largest travel trade fair attended by audiences from 180 countries worldwide, he added.

The BMA and the TAT together set up a booth to promote Bangkok and other popular destinations, such as Phuket, Krabi, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Samui and Surat Thani. Over 70 Thai tourism entrepreneurs also opened travel promotion booths to highlight the TAT’s campaign “Visit Thailand Year 2023: Amazing New Chapters”.

Through its participation in the ITB 2023, the TAT aimed to attract foreign visitors by presenting five aspects of Thailand’s soft power: food, film, fashion, festival, and fight. New products and services have also been presented to highlight the concept of meaningful tourism in Thailand, including health and wellness and sustainability tourism. The event also offers an opportunity for business matching between Thai and international tourism entrepreneurs.

Somboon said the BMA has been participating in the ITB Berlin every year, while this year the event returned to its physical form for the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak.

This year the city showcased Bangkok’s creative neighbourhoods, such as Yaowarat, Talat Noi, Nang Loeng, and Ong Ang Walking Street. The BMA’s booth also demonstrated the making of Thai handicrafts, Bu Nga Rampai (flower sachet), Khanomkhrok (Thai sweetmeat), and a stage performance of Muay Thai and Thai traditional dance, he said.

He added that representatives of industry leaders, such as Siam Piwat and Rama Gardens Hotel, negotiated business deals with international tour operators.

He estimated that the BMA booth welcomed around 800 visitors per day during the three-day event.

“Participating in the ITB Berlin 2023 will help strengthen Bangkok’s image as a world-class tourism destination as well as present our readiness to welcome visitors from around the world after the pandemic. This time, they are guaranteed to get a full meaningful tourism experience,” said Somboon.