Thailand tourism introduces new mobile app, ‘Amazing Thailand’

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has raised its digital profile by successfully using technology to promote and support tourism through online marketing channels, including mobile applications.

Disclosing its 2011 digital marketing strategy, TAT recently introduced a new mobile app called ‘Amazing Thailand’ for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android and other popular devices such as iPad and iPod Touch. According to Suraphon Svetasreni, Governor of TAT, the new application will help to promote Thailand’s tourism to more than 300 million potential target users worldwide.

In a press release from TAT, Svetasreni said, “We introduced the ‘Amazing Thailand’ mobile application because they succeed in promoting tourism through the online market to catch up to the digital world by using digital marketing and social media marketing.”

With over 120,000 fans, ‘Amazing Thailand’ has attained the number one position in Asia’s tourism promotion page as well as Twitter @ThailandFanClub for tourists and @Go2Thailand for Thai travellers.

TAT highlights some of the major features of the mobile application as including comprehensive content, location-based services as well as an enhanced user experience. With more than 10,000 information bits about tourism in Thailand primarily on the ‘Destination’ and ‘Events’ menus, the app highlights the top 10 destinations throughout Thailand along with a detailed destination guide.

Users can also make use of the smartphone’s GPS technology to search for nearby tourist attractions displayed on Google maps for easy navigation. Keyword search is also enabled within the app. Furthermore, TAT hopes tourists can make use of social media like Facebook, Twitter or email to share travel experiences.

With the application release, TAT speculates business travellers to be the first to sign on for the application followed by other leisure travellers in the future. With support for every platform and popular device, TAT plans to expand the application capabilities by increasing ease of use creating categories that align with users’ interests, such as “diving” and “weddings.”  

Moving forward, TAT also plans to incorporate advanced features within the application such as reviews and ratings, personal travel plans, flights schedules, hotel reservations, real-time real-location promotional activities and check in.