Destinations known | The Thailand Authority of Thailand has partnered with Tinder – like many Covid-19 unions, it’s already being tested
- To promote domestic travel among singletons, the Tourism Authority of Thailand has united with dating app Tinder
- As the country faces a second-wave of infections, the star-crossed collaboration seems certain to fall foul of new restrictions
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has local lovers covered, thanks to a partnership with dating app Tinder that has been designed, according to the Bangkok Post, to “trap singles” while promoting domestic travel among uncoupled individuals.
Consisting of nine upcoming one-off tours – in Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lopburi-Saraburi, Udon Thani-Loei, Chumphon-Suratthani, Phuket, Pattaya and Ayutthaya – the “Single Journeys” campaign launched on December 20 with a complimentary cruise that took “single tourists who would like to pray for a relationship” along Bangkok’s Chao Phraya river. The cruisers visited nine temples and enjoyed dinner on board, reported the Bangkok Post.
“Tourism connects people, and some people might end up being lifetime partners,” said TAT deputy governor for tourism products and businesses Thapanee Kiatphaibool, of the collaboration. “Tourists can also help support tourism and the economy during tough times.” Sounds like everyone’s a winner, especially the tourism industry if the campaign meets its target of inspiring 7 million domestic trips.
The next Singles Journey has been arranged for January 9, and will include “a beach party and concert at Koh Khai, off the coast of Phuket”, for 50 affection seekers, according to Lonely Planet. “The third tour accommodates up to 50 singletons and is scheduled for January 23 and is a one-day trip across the vast Pa Sak Jolasid Dam in Lopburi, Thailand’s ‘Monkey City’, and dinner at the dam,” reports the travel guide publisher.
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However, timing is everything, and like so many new relationships that blossomed in 2020, that between TAT and Tinder is already being tested by the pandemic. Thailand closed its borders to international travellers in March and implemented a nationwide lockdown that largely succeeded at stopping the spread of the coronavirus while devastating the country’s tourism-dependent economy.