Kenny Lim
Feb 12, 2009

Tourism Authority of Thailand launches campaign to boost domestic travel

BANGKOK - The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched a Leo Burnett-produced television drive to encourage locals to take up more domestic trips to boost the ailing travel sector in the Kingdom.

Tourism Authority of Thailand launches campaign to boost domestic travel
The “Bustling Thai Tourism, Burgeoning Thai Economy” campaign, which began running on national TV last Friday, aims to convince Thais that taking more domestic trips not only gives them affordable, memorable experiences, but would also help disseminate income among grass-root communities while giving a much needed boost to the country’s tourism sector.

The TVC features the country’s leading celebrity, Thongchai McIntyre (or “Bird”), cajoling his countrymen into action. 

On-Usa Lamliengpol, CEO of Leo Burnett Bangkok, explained that her team recognised in McIntyre the charisma needed to “bustle up” the local tourism scene. 

“What with the global economic crisis and recent domestic political unrest, the outlook for most Thai citizens has been gloomy,” she said. 

“People are more cautious than ever about their spending, and holidays and entertainment are low on their list of priorities. Thongchai McIntyre’s loveable character appeals to all society, and we believe that his charm and optimistic spirit are exactly what we need to encourage all Thais to lighten up and start traveling again.”

Watch the ad

Follow us

Top news, insights and analysis every weekday

Sign up for Campaign Bulletins

Related Articles

Just Published

Jan 29, 2026

Gemini 3 becomes the default model for AI Overviews

A pair of updates from Google see the tech giant attempt to gain a further foothold in the battle for AI-powered search supremacy.

Jan 29, 2026

Google criticised after blocking measurement ...

YouTube owner sent a 'cease and desist' letter to Barb and Kantar Media.

Jan 29, 2026

Inside Campaign Connect Indonesia: what matters to ...

Candid conversations on growth, AI and the cultural trade-offs of scaling brands, with more than 100 marketers in the room.

Jan 29, 2026

Meta hits $200 billion revenue milestone on ...

Meta reports double‑digit year-on-year revenue growth, with advertising once again accounting for almost all of the top line.