Phiphat launches new Andaman tourism campaign

The festival, in full called the “Aqua Lumina Illumination Festival, the Miracle of Light from the Andaman Sea” will start on May 14 and continue through to June 12.

“The festival is to revive the economy and stimulate tourism to the area, and build confidence among both Thai and foreigners tourists in the quality of travel to be enjoyed,” Mr Phi Phat said at the press launch event, held at the Central World shopping mall in Bangkok.

“In 2022, the COVID-19 situation around the world is expected to ease and there are a number of quality tourists from around the world who plan to travel abroad,” he said.

“This is an opportunity for Thailand as a tourist destination to shown its potential in tourism by holding activities including sports, arts and culture of Thailand coupled with the combination of innovation in organizing activities that have been recognized internationally in line with the needs of a wide range of tourists and reach the target audience effectively,” Mr Phiphat added.

“The festival will feature music festivals, sports events, a light-and-sound festival as well as food fairs promoting local delicacies and recreational activities that can encourage travel [to the Andman provinces] by both Thai and foreign tourists,” he continued.

“This will help provide stability for tourism industry operators all throughout the supply chain, including hotels and other accommodation operations, airlines, transport, shops, restaurants, and communities dependent on tourism, and even entrepreneurs in the creative economy industry sectors such as entertainment, performing arts, fashion, Thai food and so on,” he said.

“There will be at least 90,000 tourists attending the events, including Thais and foreigners, generating cash flow of not less than B700 million,” Mr Phiphat added.

TAT Deputy Governor of Domestic Marketing Thapanee Kiatpaiboon explained that the festival had been organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

“The objective is to make sure that these three provinces are the first tourists think of when thinking about travelling again,” she said.

“And this will be during the ‘Green Season’ months of May-June, where such activities will help create a trend and attract families on holiday,” she added.

The festival will start in Krabi, from May 14- 25, with events held at the Royal Lanta Boat Museum (also called the HTMS Lanta Museum) and Lan Phra Athit, a popular scenic viewpoint for tourists at the mouth of the Krabi River. The event area covers ​​more than 30,000 square metres, Ms Thapanee said.

The Phuket segment of the tri-province festival will be held from May 20-31 at Nai Harn Beach, where 12,000sqm of space has been allocated, while the festival will conclude from May 27 - June 12 at Memories Beach in Khao Lak, which has ​​over 14,000sqm event space available, she added.

“Each area has its own uniqueness and different activities.” Ms Thepanee said.

Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew explained that the Phuket stage of the Aqua Lumina festival will be held under the theme ‘Land of the Guardians of the Andaman’.

The Phuket festivities will feature a spectacular light-and-sound show on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday only, and there will be live entertainment including a special ‘Glowing Nora’ dance, in which performers will twirl fire sticks while performing the traditional Southern Thailand Nora dance, he added.

“There will also be live performances by local bands as well as activity booths for everyone to join in the fun. We want to encourage everyone to realise the importance of the sea and people of all ages can take part,” he said.

 TAT should go to sleep and woken up  when  high season starts that used to be first weekend December and called  Phuket Kings Cup Regatta 
,for  TAT, Regatta has  something do with sailing ,does this event  still exist?
there was also a( Royal ) Varuna yachtclub just members ,no real sail boats but had the best seats at the 
party,are those the same we see now at royal P Marina? Horst 

[...revive the economy and stimulate tourism to the area...] Love your timing, just as the rainy season bursts on to us in a big way and the small amount of tourists who were here have now gone home to better weather. May I suggest you postpone this until the next "high season" starts at the end of the year.

90k tourists and 700 million in revenue- TAT's magic calculator must have new batteries. Pie in the sky numbers- why do they bother? Its low season for foreigners and domestic tourists are too busy trying to make money at home.

With his vast knowledge of the tourism industry, this should do wonders. BTW, how many years did he spend learning in the world's tourism capitols, i.e. London, Las Vegas, New York, Paris, etc.