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At the same time, this growth is mirrored in Dusit's strategy to increase it's marketshare from the Middle East region into its Thai and Philippines properties, as well as intra-regional GCC travel.
Dusit reveals its tactic to focus on the Middle East market by increasing both leisure and business travellers to 10% by year end in 2010 in Thailand.
Dusit's collection of hotels and resorts Asia wide are also on a programme to implement facilities provided especially to Muslim travellers; such as family packages specifically designed for family travellers during the summer season; Halal menus, Qiblahs, prayer mats, lists of nearby mosques, and Middle Eastern food festivals in its hotels.
Mr. Octavio Gamarra, Senior Vice President, Dusit International said:
"The Middle East has become a priority key target market. Not only are we increasing our attention on this region with our three existing hotels - Dusit Thani Dubai, Dusit Residence Dubai Marina, and Pearl Coast Premier Hotel Apartments, we will be celebrating the opening in October this year of Dusit Princess City Centre Dubai, our first Dusit Princess outside of Thailand. We will then be looking forward to the grand opening of Dusit Thani LakeView Cairo on 1 January 2010, followed by Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi in late 2010."
"Last year we experienced record increases of Middle East arrivals into our Thai hotels, in destinations such as Phuket, Pattaya, Bangkok and Chiang Mai, where the family groups soared. We had prepared for this and we redesigned our menus, as well as introducing Arabic TV channels as new services provided to our guests. In regards to our sales and marketing strategy for the Middle East market, we are committed to a long term plan to implement marketing materials and channels including dusit.com, sales kits, press release and all our property's fact sheets in the Arabic language," Gamarra added.
"Our attendance in Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai this year will enhance our position as Thailand's leading international hotel group in a country ranked as the world's best holiday destination for the Middle East travellers," added Mr. Gamarra.
"ATM is the perfect stage to bring this key message to the world. Whilst Thailand's hospitality sector has faced some challenges , our hotels and resorts, located in Thailand's top holiday destinations including Bangkok, Pattaya, Koh Chang, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hua Hin, and Korat, continue to provide the very best of service and great experiences. Now more than ever, holidaymakers to Thailand in 2009 will enjoy the benefits of the world's favourite holiday destination highly recognised for her beauty, great services and incomparable value," he said.
Added to Mr. Gamarra's comments, Thailand remains the world's best value-for-money destination, as announced on 11 November last year, by the 2008 Country Brand Index (CBI), the third consecutive year it has won this accolade. The Brand Index hailed the Kingdom thus: "Famous for its authentic culture, spectacular beaches and noteworthy nightlife, Thailand is also one of the most affordable destinations in the world.
In addition, Bangkok has been proved to be the world's favourite city, as it has been voted by CondeNast Traveler, USA to be the "Best International Business City 2008" and again has been voted the 'Best Tourist Country in The World' in the 2009 Norwegian Grand Travel Award and Swedish Grand Travel Award, and more recently, "The 2009 Travelers' Choice Award" from TripAdvisor-branded website. Thailand has also won numerous other awards, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).
Posted by Siba Sami Ammari
