A crack in Thailand's tourism industry has become more apparent after the country's seven major tourism associations recently resigned from the Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT), preparing to revive the Federation of Thai Tourism Associations (Fetta) in an effort to adjust the balance of power.
Fetta is scheduled to hold a press conference on Wednesday, during which the presidents of the seven associations, led by the Thai Hotels Association (THA), the Association of Thai Travel Agents (Atta) and Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA), will provide additional details about the cooperation.
Atta president Sisdivachr Cheewarattanaporn said Fetta has been in existence for more than a decade, but has not been active.
The objective of reviving the federation is to push important tourism policies in discussion with the government as the current structure of the TCT does not allow bigger associations to take such action, said Mr Sisdivachr.
According to the Tourism Council of Thailand Act, the election of the TCT's committee counts on votes from associations founded under Thai law that have objectives and operate to promote the Thai tourism industry.
He said this rule favours particular groups that can take control over provincial tourism associations or other smaller groups, which regularly win elections via such methods.
While big associations can join the TCT committee, they do not possess the power to push an agenda for their members as they did in previous years, said Mr Sisdivachr.
"Atta has more than 1,900 members and a global international network. We have data that could benefit the entire tourism industry," he said.
"Unfortunately, we cannot create as much of an impact as we ought to under the existing structure."
In light of this situation, the seven associations decided to resign from the TCT and revive Fetta in order to express their own views.
THA president Marisa Sukosol Nunbhakdi said it is almost impossible for tourism's larger associations to win TCT elections, despite being leaders in each segment.
Atta is the biggest inbound tourism association in the country, while THA is one of the most influential hotel industry associations in Thailand, representing more than 30% of legal properties, accounting for 170,000 rooms in total.
However, with limited authority in the TCT, it has been difficult to bring many of the policies suggested by THA's members into practice, according to Mrs Marisa.
"We don't want Fetta to compete with anybody, but we intend to speak for our members, which comprise the majority of this industry," she said.
"In Fetta, there will be no president nor any executive position, as we will work together as a single team."
Fetta also includes the Association of Domestic Travel, the Thai Transportation Operators Association, the Professional Tourist Guides Association of Thailand and the Thai Tourism Promotion Association.
