Thailand is preparing for another increase in travellers, as a result of a record participation in the Arabian Travel Market, the region's largest trade show, between May 3-6, 2005.

The contingent of 59 Thai hotels, tour operators and travel agents at the Dubai-based travel show was the second largest after Malaysia, and well ahead of the third largest delegation from Australia.

In 2004, visitor arrivals from the Middle East grew by a strong 42.03% to 289,571, especially from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kuwait.

Visitors from Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and UAE are entitled to a 30-day visa-free stay. Visitors from Saudi Arabia get a 15-day visa on arrival.

As of May 2005, there were roughly 84 flights from Middle East points to Thailand, including 66 from the key Gulf cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain. Major airlines serving these sectors are THAI Airways International, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air and Cathay Pacific.

As of June 1, 2005, Etihad Airways will boost its frequencies from Abu Dhabi to Bangkok from four a week to daily. The airline says Asia is emerging as one of the key travel destinations with Bangkok as the major hub in the region.

The Gulf countries are an increasingly important source market for Thailand. Both Arab and expatriate visitors have a high average spending per person per day and a long average length of stay.

Their high season for travel is during the summer school holidays when they come to enjoy the cool monsoon months in Thailand. Hotel rooms are easy to get and rates are at very affordable levels.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Mrs. Juthamas Siriwan said, "We are focussing our marketing campaigns to highlight spas, shopping, health and wellness facilities and golf.

"Although Bangkok and the beaches of peninsula Thailand remain very popular, efforts are also being made to entice visitors to other destinations like North and Northeast Thailand as well as the neighbouring countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion," she said.

Because Middle East visitors are heavy shoppers, they will be particularly interested in the discount campaigns that will be under way this summer.

One campaign brings the TAT together with Visa International to launch the ‘Thailand Visitor Card 2005' which entitles shoppers to discounts of between 5% to 30 % at participating restaurants, spas, hospitals, golf courses and hotels.

Effective until March 31, 2006, the campaign covers, in addition to Bangkok, popular tourist destinations like Chiang Mai, Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin and Cha-am, Samui and Hat Yai.

While that campaign is only for Visa cardholders, another more generic campaign called the "Thailand Grand Sale" takes place every year from June 1 – July 31 and is open to everyone.

It features offers of special discounts up to 50% in participating department stores and retail outlets in Bangkok and nationwide tourist destinations.

As golf is becoming increasingly popular in the Gulf countries, Thailand is attracting people from the Gulf to improve their swing at the country's dozens of first–class golf courses.

Mrs. Juthamas said, "Based on the response we got from the Arabian Travel Market, there is little doubt that we can expect a good summer ahead."