At the Chiang Mai and North Travel Show 2006

The Philippine delegation arrived at the spanking new Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok and connected straight to Chiang Mai, in time to attend the Welcome Cocktails the next day, hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association at the famous entertainment complex Khum Khan Toke, where we later sat down to a multi-course Thai dinner along with an extravaganza of colorful and lush Thai folkloric dances.

The following day, we attended the meeting of sellers (110 local exhibitors) and 180 buyers from TAT Overseas Offices - our delegation had three official travel agents/buyers - along with 50 local buyers. Chiang Mai & the Northern Provinces offer white water rafting & elephant safari, hill tribe trekking (a lot of quaint hill tribes abound in the area), golfing with spa, spa treatments and meditations, traditional Thai healing clinics, even modern medical treatments in a spa setting. There are elephant camps where you can be mahout during your stay. There are also day tours to Laos and Myanmar. Take your pick... the choices are varied and out of the ordinary tourist offerings.

We were impressed by the beautiful booths and friendly travel trade operators we met during that day-long culmination of the travel show, considered the biggest in Northern Thailand. It is held once every two years. This was the third time and we look forward to the next Travel Show on August 4 - 7, 2008.

Yin dii (thank you) for a wonderful experience!