EUROPEAN TOUR COLOSSUS TUI CHOOSES KHAO LAK FOR 2012 SUMMER BROCHURE LAUNCH GALA

EUROPEAN TOUR COLOSSUS TUI CHOOSES KHAO LAK FOR 2012 SUMMER BROCHURE LAUNCH GALA

Thailand, Phang Nga, November, 2011 - TUI AG, Europe’s leading travel group, will launch its Summer Holiday Brochure for 2012 at a grand media event in Khao Lak, Phang Nga province during 9-14 November 2011.

More than 150 media from trade magazines, newspapers and news agencies have been invited to participate in the launch of TUI’s global holidays, which includes new tours, new destinations as well as special deals and value-added offers. This is TUI’s biggest annual event which is also attended by representatives of NTOs from other countries selling their respective destinations.

Holidays to Thailand figure prominently in the 2012 brochure, both as a single-country destination as well as in combination with other countries in the ASEAN and Asia-Pacific region. Thailand remains TUI’s top long-haul destination in Asia.

Mr. Manit Boonchim, Executive Director of the Europe, Africa and Middle East Region, Tourism Authority of Thailand, will deliver a welcome speech at a gala dinner on 10 November 2011 at the JW Marriott Khao Lak.

The TAT is taking advantage of the presence of so many media members to offer a broad-range of 11 excursion trips: 1) Tsunami Memorial 2) Khao Lak Lamtu National Park 3) Thai Cooking Class 4) Phang Nga Bay 5) Khao Sok National Park and Elephant Experience 6) Similan Islands 7) Phuket City Tour Bangkok by Bike 9) Khlong Tour with a Visit of Wat Arun 10) Grand Palace and Wat Pho 11) Tour on the Chao Phraya.

TUI is one of the biggest tour operators in Germany (with a market share of 27.4% with 14 tour operators and 1,400 travel agents, 15 online sales offices and 41 aircraft). It is a part of TUI AG which covers three sectors: TUI Travel (tour operating, online sales, high street outlets, airlines and incoming agencies), TUI Hotels and Resorts and the cruise ship business. It also has a stake in the container shipping industry.

Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik Deputy Governor for Domestic Marketing said, “We are very pleased that TUI has chosen Thailand and specifically Phang Nga province for the brochure launch. We believe it will go a long way towards increasing the positive exposure of how beautiful and relaxing that area is.

“We also believe it sends a strong signal of confidence to the travel trade, MICE organisers and all our travel partners around the world that in spite of the flooding crisis in Central Thailand, all the rest of the country is functioning normally and remains open for business.”

Phang Nga province lies on the Andaman coast on the Thai mainland north of Phuket. Its huge variety of outstanding natural attractions include the stunning Phang Nga Bay, the idyllic Surin and Similan Islands, and the sandy coast of Khao Lak.