Diageo Moet Hennessy (Thailand), the Tourism Authority of Thailand and the Ratchaprasong Square Trade Association have launched a project called “Plan W: Improve Your English, Improve Your Life, Empowering Women in Hospitality Industry through English Language Training”.

Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhaya Ayudhya, executive director of TAT’s advertising and public relations department, said Ratchaprasong Square was a strategic location that attracts considerable numbers of foreign tourists and businesspeople, especially during festive seasons such as New Year’s Eve.

The project is in line with TAT’s strategic plan focusing on female travellers, as this market has been growing rapidly.

The top sources of female tourist arrivals to Thailand in 2014 were China (2,283,100), Malaysia (1,503,499), Russia (828,803), South Korea (469,4940) and Laos (410,654).

According to TAT research, 75 per cent of females around the world plan to travel individually. About 32 million single females in the PANK (Professional Aunt, No Kid) category travel at least once a year and they tend to prefer near-luxury trips.

Last year’s statistics showed that female tourists loved trying Thai food, visiting beaches and seas, and getting spa and wellness treatments, in that order.

Thanakorn Kuptajit, corporate relations director at Diageo Moet Hennessy (Thailand), said the joint programme would focus on language training and communication skills.

The importer and distributor of premium wines and spirits hopes the project will fulfil part of its objective of empowering 2 million women from all socio-economic profiles in 17 countries across the Asia-Pacific region by 2017 under four core pillars: Our Company, Our Industry, Our Communities and Our Consumers.

Around 70 per cent of the 20,000 people employed in service and tourism industries in the Ratchaprasong area are women.