The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is preparing a campaign with private businesses to raise tourism activity around Udon Thani's international horticultural expo, after early complaints about access and facilities, the Bangkok Post reported.
TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said the agency wants monthly tourist arrivals in the province to reach 550,000. The Bangkok Post cited an average of 420,000 monthly arrivals, while Thapanee referred to about 423,000 visitors in September.
The expo opened Nov. 1. The Bangkok Post reported that, in its first few days, visitors flagged transportation, parking, admission procedures and limited food options.
Thapanee said TAT is aiming for average hotel occupancy of 75%, compared with 68.8% in the first nine months, and revenue growth of at least 15% over the event. Udon Thani received 3.97 million tourists during those nine months, up 4.5% from a year earlier, and generated 11 billion baht in revenue, up 3.6%, the Bangkok Post reported. International visitors accounted for 2.6 billion baht of that revenue.
Thapanee said TAT had partnered with nine Thai associations, including the Tourism Council of Thailand and the Association of Thai Travel Agents, to offer discounted packages on nine routes in the Northeast. The itineraries include visits to the expo. She also said TAT instructed its international offices in short-haul markets to promote the event.
The expo is scheduled to run through March 14, 2027.
