Welcome \ About \ In the News

Portal aims to whet the appetites of tourists — The Nation
July 27, 2000

BANGKOK (The Nation) - A handful of tourism-related businesses are hoping the popularity of Thai food will help attract new customers to their businesses through the Internet portal thailand.com.

The portal yesterday announced its new tourism partners: Citibank, Budget Car and Truck Rental, East Siam, Diethelm Travel, Turismo Thai, and Mcdang.com.

Thailand.com's tourism section will be officially launched in September as the tourist high season begins. It will act as an online travel agent, providing hotel and rental car reservations, tour bookings and information on tourism destinations.

Thailand.com is owned by Thai Portal Co, a subsidiary of the Nation Multimedia Group, publisher of The Nation.

Thai Portal president Sermsin Samalapa said sales on the tourism section should total about Bt10 million a month, of which the website hopes to earn about Bt1.5 million.

Thailand.com earned Bt40 million during the first two months of operation. It hopes total revenue for the first twelve months will top Bt300 million, Sermsin said.

Thai Portal chairman Thanachai Theerapatvong said the success of a portal site depends on its alliances, and its newly joined partners should contribute to that success.

Thanachai said thailand.com will start an international advertising campaign next month which will include ads in such high-profile media as the Asian Wall Street Journal and Forbes magazine.

BY CHOOSAK JIRASAKUNTHAI

Show Press Releases

Show all News Items