Klook, a leading travel and leisure e-commerce platform, and Central Pattana plc, Thailand’s leading retail-led mixed-use real estate developer and operator of Central shopping centres, residential and office buildings, and hotels nationwide, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost inbound tourism to Thailand. This partnership leverages the strengths of Central Pattana’s leading retail presence, which encompasses over 37 shopping centres across Thailand’s most popular destinations (19 branches located in 15 provinces), both in major and secondary cities. And Klook’s digital reach and global user base position Thailand as the destination of choice for travellers from key Asian markets, including Singapore, India, Malaysia and Vietnam.
First-ever travel platform and retail partnership in Thailand
“We’re excited to be the first travel and leisure e-commerce platform to partner Central Pattana on an integrated marketing campaign to drive tourist arrivals and increase spending in Thailand,“ said Marcus Yong, Vice President, Global Marketing at Klook. “This partnership enables us to tap on our respective strengths and innovate on offerings that combine travel and retail to help build travelers’ confidence and drive recovery”.
The partnership, which begins in October 2022, will include a variety of digital marketing initiatives and online-to-offline (O2O) campaigns to increase the visibility of Thailand’s tourism businesses and exposure to international markets. The two companies aim to establish a presence across the entire purchasing journey of travellers – from inspiration and discovery to booking and travelling – and position Thailand as a top destination for global travellers.
Klook will also collaborate with Centara Hotels & Resorts, the leading Thailand-based hotel chain, to offer customers specially curated deals and seamless accommodation booking experiences.
Propelling the next stage of Thailand’s travel recovery
“Central Pattana and Klook share a common goal in reviving Thailand’s tourism industry. This partnership will enable Central Pattana to leverage Klook’s digital capabilities, strong user base and presence in multiple markets to capture new audiences. We look forward to working closely with Klook to create joint offerings that will attract and help us welcome more tourists back to Thailand by launching exclusive promotions for foreign customers: get a free Starbucks e-Coupon worth 100 baht when spending 2,000 baht, a free Klook discount code worth 200 baht when spending 2,000 baht on shopping at Central Ayutthaya or 2,500 baht at centralwOrld and Central Phuket. Organizing the ‘Pick Up & Drop Off One-Day Tour’ area for international tourists at both centralwOrld and Central Ayutthaya in addition to Klook Downtown Service Counter at centralwOrld, the first comprehensive tourism service in Bangkok.” said Dr Nattakit Tangpoonsinthana, Executive Vice President of Marketing for Central Pattana plc.
According to Klook’s data, Thailand has experienced a formidable rebound since the start of 2022. Aside from a steady uptick for bookings in well-known cities such as Bangkok and Phuket, Klook also sees strong demand for car rentals in Thailand, suggesting that travellers are going beyond the usual hotspots and exploring untouched areas such as Chiang Rai and Pang-Nga.
“At Klook, we are ramping up to support and drive the next stage of travel recovery in Thailand, which will not only see tourists resuming their favorite pre-pandemic activities like eating local cuisines and shopping, but also branching out to discover more of what Thailand has to offer, “ added Yong.
