I had the honour and priviledge to address the much anticipated annual SKÅL / PATA CHRISTMAS lunch. The event was sold out and was FULLY booked.<
PATA’S Ben Montgomery shares a Christmas moment with friend’s and Skålleagues Andrew Wood and Pichai Visutriratana
Travel and tourism WILL restart and we WILL recover.
The elegant ballroom of the Okura Prestige
As to when? It is never good in the new Covid-tainted world to guess – we have been wrong so many times before. It would be unrealistic however to think that International travel will change dramatically in the short term.
Domestically however is another story. Last week I was in Phuket – my hotel was full.
This week on Sunday I had a quick business trip to Pattaya. On the way home in the early evening on HIGHWAY 7, the motorway service station was full too, packed as Bangkokians returned home from a long weekend. I had never seen it busier and I have travelled that route since the motorway first opened.
PATA and Skål members pose before lunch
Yes the government has to reduce travel restrictions and I am confident that will eventually happen. Then we have to mobilise and re-Market Thailand with a vengence.
TAT‘s excellent VISIT THAILAND YEAR 2022 and AMAZING NEW CHAPTERS promotion will be a good spring board.
Our industry has met adversity full-on in the past. We will do so again. We have risen before and we will do so again.
The collective brains, will power and commitment to succeed present today in this room will once again let us lift up our heads with pride.
To once again rebuild our businesses and to rebuild our teams. We maybe down but most certainly we are not OUT.
Thank you all for your support today.
Ladies and Gentlemen your turkey awaits…
In closing let me wish you, your families and
friends Seasons Greetings, Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year! “
Andrew J Wood
President
Skål International Asia