True and TAT tout Thai tourism campaign for digital nomads

Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Thapanee
Kiatphaibool; True Corp CEO Manat Manavutiveth;
and True Corp Deputy CEO Sharad Mehrotra

Thai operator True Corp announced on Monday it has partnered with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to launch a campaign that it hopes will not only boost Thailand’s tourism sector, but also showcase its 5G chops and boost its prepaid SIM and roaming business.

Under the “True Nationwide, For Everyone” campaign, True and TAT will promote a number of exclusive deals for domestic and international tourists who use True’s network, from food and beverage promotions at airports, cafes and restaurants to free accident insurance and “coffee tourism” activities in secondary cities.

The campaign is also a vehicle for True to showcase the quality of its 5G service, said True’s CMO Tanaphon Manavutiveth.

“The campaign aims to demonstrate True 5G signals, check internet speeds in every area, and elevate the internet user experience across Thailand comprehensively,” he said. “We will check signals in four provinces, including Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Ayutthaya, and Songkhla, focusing on unseen locations in various provinces to promote domestic tourism.”

The “True Nationwide” campaign also aims to capitalise on the global trend of ‘digital nomads’ that travel for leisure whilst also leveraging digital technology to working remotely. That focus naturally puts a premium on reliable and fast internet connectivity in every conceivable tourism spot in the country, said Sharad Mehrotra, deputy CEO of True Corp.

“[Digital Nomads] prioritize high-quality internet signals that enable seamless work experiences,” he said. “True is ready to leverage its strengths, including signal quality, tailored privileges for tourists, and the development of various conveniences to attract tourists.”

True CTO Prathet Tankuranun added that True’s network has expanded it coverage considerably with more base stations and spectrum as it continues its post-merger network integration with Dtac. True has also been leveraging AI to enhance network intelligence as part of the telco’s ongoing modernization project to upgrade its base stations since late 2023 in Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phuket, and Songkhla, as well as the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) development zone.

“A particularly satisfying outcome is the significant improvement in signal quality and maximum speed for both 5G and 4G mobile usage, doubling the capacity. This enhancement ensures a top-notch internet experience for tourists at every attraction, guaranteed,” he said. “Furthermore, the integration of AI and Machine Learning enables us to monitor signal usage, identifying patterns such as high usage during festivals or tourist seasons, allowing for rapid issue resolution in case of emergencies, thereby elevating customer experiences to the highest standards.”

According to The Nation, True plans to modernise 10,000 sites by the end of this year, up from 8,000 last year. True also expects the upgrades and modernisation to raise its 5G coverage from 90% now to 95% in 2025.

TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said the government aims to position Thailand as a tourism hub in 2024 to drive sustainable economic growth across all sectors.

“We aim to generate income from high-spending tourists, develop supply chains with industry partners to welcome high-quality tourist groups, and distribute income widely and fairly,” Thapanee said. “It is expected to generate over 3 trillion baht (US$81.8 billion) in revenue, including 1.92 trillion baht from international tourists and 1.08 trillion baht from domestic tourism.”

Thapanee also said that tourism numbers in Thailand are already exceeding expectations this year, with 9.3 million visitors arriving in the country in the first quarter of 2024, versus a projected 9 million.

That’s also good news for True, according to True Corp CEO Manat Manavutiveth, who told The Nation that over 5 million of those visitors opted for True SIM cards and roaming. Manat said he expects True to win 65% of SIM sales and roaming services for visitors through the TAT campaign.
* Developing Telecoms