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Bangkok, Thailand, 10 June 2009 — To help cultivate stronger links between Thailand and the United Kingdom travel market, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) today announced that four executives from Northern Ireland’s Glentoran Football Club are visiting Bangkok as the TAT’s guests during the week of 7 to 14 June 2009. They include Club Chairman Aubrey Ralph, George Neil, Club Manager, Shane Patrick McCabe, Player of the Year, and Ralph Morris, Club Representative in UK Mainland.
The Glentoran FC executives are in Thailand to plan and prepare for the Club’s first visit to the country in June 2010. While here, they will meet with officials from the Football Association of Thailand and Peter Reid, Manager of the Thai National Team, to finalize details for three friendly matches that will take place next year. During the 10-day visit in June 2010, Glentoran FC will play a friendly match with the Thai national team plus two more matches with teams selected from the Thai Football League.
Thanks to the courtesy of the British Ambassador, H.E. Mr.Quinton Quayle, the press conference took place today at his residence at the British Embassy in Bangkok. Also present were Mr Santichai Euachongprasit, Deputy Governor for International Marketing, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Mr. Steve Darby, Representative from the Football Association of Thailand, and Mr. Aubry Ralph, Chairman of the Glentoran FC.
Bringing more Irish to Thailand and therefore increasing arrival figure, the TAT’s overall aim is to encourage as many Glentoran FC fans to travel to the event, with their family and friends, to follow their team and extend with a holiday. The aim is to bring Irish visitors through the organised ticket and tour packages promoted under the ‘Three Away Games in Paradise’ theme.
“This visit by Glentoran FC will greatly increase Thailand’s profile among Irish fans,” said
Mr Santichai Euachongprasit. “A higher profile will help to expand our market base in the UK, which accounted for 750,000 UK visitors to Thailand last year. The Glentoran FC visit will also introduce Thai football fans to an exciting new team and give Thai players a chance to hone their skills against some of the UK’s top footballers.”
Glentoran Chairman Aubry Ralph remarked, “This is a wonderful opportunity for Glentoran and our supporters. To have a unique experience travelling with the new Irish Premier Champions in a magnificent country for tourism is without precedence, and we are absolutely delighted at the opportunity.”
Founded in 1882, Glentoran FC recently won the Irish Premier Championship under the leadership of Alan McDonald, Manager, and Scott Young, Coach. One of 12 clubs in the Irish Football Association Premiership, the second-oldest national league in the world, the team is nicknamed “The Glens.” It plays home matches at The Oval in East Belfast.
Contact information:
International Public Relation Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.th
Web site: www.tatnews.org
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