Bangkok--3 Sep--VisitBritain
With value offers left and right, a stronger baht and limitless activities available to everyone, how’s today’s traveler to decide what goes into their holiday?
VisitBritain, Britain’s national tourist agency, is partnering up with key travel trade players to develop a stellar pool of BritAgents, expert travel agents who can plan a personalized British holiday for virtually any type of traveler, whether it be watching your favourite football team at their home stadium or planning your romantic getaway in the English Country home or mapping your driving route throughout Britain with a self drive program.
These experts will train under the BritAgent Specialist Programme, an e-learning programme designed to equip travel trade frontliners with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively market Britain as a destination.
Part of VisitBritain’s continuous effort to engage and support the travel industry in Thailand, the BritAgent programme aims to address the changing and increasing demands of the travelling public. Although many travelers continue to rely heavily on the planned itineraries from travel agencies, more and more people are looking for different ideas, beyond what is currently being offered. They are looking at a more unique experience, destinations off a beaten track, maybe, for their itinerary and travel agencies needs to keep up with their savvier customers. By retraining agents to be Britain experts, these agencies can better provide what travelers in Thailand are looking for. They will be able to put together customized holidays, and collaborate with premium suppliers in Britain for one of a kind experiences.
Consumers can look forward to obtaining the best holiday ideas, insider tips and top value packages from VisitBritain’s Preffered Agents who will receive their BRITAGENT specialist status in early 2010. BritAgents will be able to customize travel itineraries for any type of British holiday including itineraries for families looking for fun and value, youth seeking adventure and budget options and for the privileged traveler who seeks the exclusive luxury getaway in Britain. A list of qualified BritAgents will be available on www.visitbritain.com/th/TH from February 2011.
Editor’s notes:
VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, is responsible for inspiring the world to explore Britain and for developing the UK’s visitor economy. With representatives in 35 countries around the world, we are the international tourism promotional arm for Britain and the nations and regions of Britain. We work in partnership with the national tourist boards in England, Scotland and Wales to promote the ?114billion visitor economy in the UK. VisitBritain Thai operations is based in Bangkok and is a part of VisitBritain’s overseas network, the Bangkok office is part of the Australasia-Southeast Asia hub.
The Britagent Programme is a modular training programme that has been developed to provide travel agents with a structured framework that takes them through various aspects of successful destination selling. The framework incorporates an assessment element at the end of each module to ensure that students acquire comprehensive understanding of the subject matter before moving on to a more in-depth module.
Module 1: Britain the Basics
This module gives an insight on the basic information and tools you need to book and plan your client’s visit to Britain. The key learning points that will be covered in this module include: how to plan and book the different elements of a holiday to Britain for your client and maximize the commission you earn; the ‘must-see’ attractions of a trip to London and the rest of Britain, and suggestions on what to eat and drink when in Britain.
Module 2: Destination Britain
This module identifies unique selling points of different countries that make up Britain. It takes an in-depth look into the key differences and product offerings each region offers, and how these can appeal to repeat visitors. This module forms the core material to equip agents with a solid foundation of Britain. With this module, agents would be able to plan itineraries suitable for key market segments.
Module 3: Experience Britain
The job is never complete without proper planning and understanding how to make the most of tourism opportunities that Britain offers. This module covers unique selling experiences that can satisfy your clients’ special interests and diverse lifestyles. There are also essential facts about the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics taking place in London that will help you plan your clients’ visits to the event, or away from the event to the rest of the other regions of Britain.
Thailand Visitor Trends to Britain
Britain welcomed 69,000 Thais in 2009, a 38% increase in arrivals compared to 2008.
Thais stayed an average of 16 nights, and spent an average of ?1,183 per visit.
The first quarter of 2010 saw an 18% increase in visitor numbers, compared to the same period in 2009.