More than 30 UK tour operators registered for ASEAN Tourism Forum 2000 to meet with suppliers from right across Southeast Asia. Here’s what they said about the event:
“I found fewer special deals around compared to the last couple of years. No doubt this is because the travel business has bounced back in most ASEAN countries following the economic upheavals that started in June 1997. Nevertheless, as there is still an oversupply of rooms in most ASEAN countries, there will inevitably be some deals around. I found the event well organised despite the relatively remote location of the conference centre (in an industrial suburb of Bangkok) and the poor administration prior to the show.”
Alastair Scott, product manager, Travel 2
“As I am new to the Asia market this was a good opportunity to meet with lots of people that we work with. We did some contracting at the forum because we are about to bring out a third edition of our brochure with prices up to April 30 2001, and we got some good deals.”
Rob Haynes, director, Premier Holidays
“We attend the ASEAN forum every year, and we find it gives us a good base from which to start contracting for the following year. Also, we were able to pick up some special offers for travel up to the end of June this year which we have put together in a Lates and Special edition. Examples include 14 nights in Phuket from £695, 10 nights in Koh Samui from £875 and two nights in Bangkok followed by 10 in Pattaya from £659, all of which represent savings of about £100 per person.”
Paul Ford, product manager for the Far East, Thomas Cook Holidays