Bangkok – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Visa International (VISA) have teamed up again for the third year to organise a seven-week extravaganza of Thai cuisine and culture known as the “Thailand Splash and Spice Festival”.

To run from 10 April – 31 May, the festival will showcase the variety and unique flavours of Thai food to visitors along with discount and promotional packages in Thailand’s major provinces. It will go a long way towards helping Thai hotels, restaurants and other products and services in the travel and tourism chain make a rapid recovery after nearly three months of political unrest.

Mrs. Vilaiwan Twichasri, TAT’s Deputy Governor for Tourism Products and Business, said that “The fact that this festival is being held during both the summer school holiday and Thai New Year periods (Songkran) will make it livelier. It will go a long way towards enhancing our brand-image concept of ‘Thainess’ in term of Thai cuisine which is well-known all over the world. We expect that this festival will play a major role in helping us achieve our visitor arrivals targets for 2014.”

TAT and VISA originally initiated the “Thailand Splash & Spice” campaign in 2012 in order to capitalise on the popularity of Thai cuisine and drive business to the many world-class international restaurants that have opened in Bangkok and popular tourist spots nationwide. The campaign also leads to a commensurate growth in average visitor expenditure and length of stay.

In addition, TAT has worked with its partner organisations in selecting 145 restaurants (as of 25 March 2014) in 5 provinces to participate in the “Thailand Splash & Spice” 2014 programme. These include Bangkok (43), Chiang Mai (12), Pattaya (65), Phuket (15) and Samui (10). Some highlights of the campaign offers include special “one-price” menus starting from Baht 399 ++, 749 ++ and 1499 ++. It also includes special room-rate packages with meals included.

Also, TAT will publicise the campaign via its offices in the targeting countries; roadshows in China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Australia, Vietnam, via its website, media events and continuous public relations, including distribution of campaign brochures at the TAT booth at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Moreover, VISA will do its share via its website, direct promotions to Visa cardholders in Thailand and specific targeted countries worldwide. It will also sponsor all the publicity banners in the Ratchaprasong area along with refurbishment of the BTS Sky Walk areas.

Mr. Somboon Krobteeranon, Visa Country Manager, Myanmar and Thailand, said that “We are honoured to be partnering with the Tourism Authority of Thailand once again to promote Thailand Splash & Spice 2014. This event celebrates the best hotels, restaurants, and cuisine the Kingdom has to offer and provides some exciting privileges and discounts for Visa cardholders. We are committed to working with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to help local business to get back on track and to promote Thailand as the world class destination as it is.”

Participating hotels and restaurants will publicise and promote the discount offers to their clients and via their Internet and social media channels.

The campaign has gained added value in the wake of top-ranked ratings achieved by restaurants in Thailand in the awards ceremony for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Award organised in Singapore last February by William Reed Business Media.

Nahm restaurant in Bangkok secured the coveted No.1 spot and was also named The S. Pellegrino Best Restaurant in Thailand. The Indian restaurant Gaggan, was ranked No. 3, leaping seven places from 2013, the Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin (No. 21), Bo.lan (No. 28), Eat Me (No. 37), and the new entry this year is Issaya Siamese Club in Bangkok debuting at No. 31.