The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) today introduced a smartphone application in the hopes of attracting a younger, more sophisticated traveler to the Kingdom.
The Lifestyle Thailand application provides users access to 20 to 50 percent discounts at 300 selected accommodation establishments, restaurants and tourist attractions “selected for their unique characters and qualities that suit the lifestyles and demands of the target groups,” Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT deputy governor for International Marketing of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, said.
The information provided when downloading the application – available on the App Store and Android Market – clearly indicates that it is for everyone, and so is Thailand:
“To celebrate life, to add magic to life, to fulfill life, to live life to the extreme, to contemplate life whatever way you treat your life, Thailand has all the answers.”
It’s nice to know that Thailand has all the answers no matter how you treat your life, but what is TAT really offering with this application and to whom are they offering it?
Ms. Juthaporn explained that the main target groups are both international and local tourists, particularly “the savvy smartphone users.” The app offers eight different “travel experiences” geared toward hip, young tech-toting travelers: Chic, Romantic, Breezy, Thainess, Adventure, Wellness, Easy n’ Slow and Family.
The Chic option is for “trendy shoppers” and nightlife hoppers (hands-free shopping, private limos and jets). The Romantic, Adventure, Wellness and Family options are self-explanatory, while Breezy is for those seeking beaches, Thainess for a dose of Thai tradition and Easy n’ Slow is for travelers who want to enoy the quiet of nature, Ms. Juthaporn said.
The application also allows users to take 360-degree virtual tours of tourism sites, create trips and search routes via Google Maps, and to use interactive maps to share tourism information on social networks, she said.
The application is to be updated monthly with new information, to-do lists and promotions. The TAT has also launched the Lifestyle Thailand Mini Site accessible through the tourismthailand.org website.
