As Thailand is on the verge of fully reopening to British holidaymakers, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is giving agents the chance to win one of three places on an exciting fam trip in early December.
All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is go to Thailand Expert and say why you are the most amazing person to go on the trip. Entries must be in by 12 November.
The seven-night fam, the first for agents organised by the TAT since 2019, will take place just as Thailand enters its high season, which usually runs from November to March.
TAT UK Head of Marketing Chris Lee said it will be the ideal opportunity for agents to see how Thailand has changed – for the better – over the past 18 months.
“They’re going to be pleasantly surprised about the quality of the product on offer, it’s never been better,” he said.
“I managed to get a group of tour operators out to Phuket in July and it was amazing, without all the crowds it was like visiting Phuket 25 years ago.
“Mother Nature has had a rest and the result is cleaner beaches and the water has cleared up really well, it is fantastic to see the changes, it really is amazing.”
Krabi beach 
Samui beach 
Isan, north Thailand
After one of the strictest lockdowns in the world, Thailand began cautiously and steadily reopening to tourists in July, with fully vaccinated visitors required to spend the first 14 days in Phuket, Koh Samui or Khao Lak before being allowed to travel to the rest of the country.
It has since reduced the resort-quarantine for double-jabbed Brits to seven days, but Thailand’s Prime Minister recently announced that vaccinated tourists from low-risk countries like the UK should be able to travel freely from 1 November.
If his plan is approved, the multi-centre fam trip will extend beyond Phuket to include other parts of Thailand, so agents will get a real flavour of what’s on offer.
Since Thailand was removed from the UK’s red travel list, and the Foreign Office lifted its advice against non-essential travel, bookings have been coming in ‘thick and fast’, said Chris. Most are for early next year, rather than last-minute, as customers are waiting to see when Thailand opens up more fully.
“Our focus going forward is that we want people to come back, of course, but we are determined to have a responsible return to tourism,” added Chris. “There will be more emphasis on how we receive people, and on or natural assets.”
A total of eight agents will be invited to take part in the fam trip, with three places awarded in the TAT competition. To be in with a chance of winning a place to see Thailand for yourself this December, go to Thailand Expert and submit your entry before 12 November.
