Skål International Koh Samui has been chosen to host the Skål Asian Area Congress in 2008 from May 23-26.
The Skål Asian Area Congress 2008 will be the first international event ever held on the island of Koh Samui which will bring international tourism professionals to the island. Between 250 to 300 international participants from all regions of the world are expected to attend the 2008 Congress.
Skål is a professional organisation of tourism leaders around the world, promoting global tourism and friendship. It is the only international group uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry. Its members ? the industry's managers and executives ? meet at local, national, regional and international levels to discuss and pursue topics of common interest.
Skål International today has approximately 22,000 members in 500 clubs throughout 90 countries.
?The most important goal of this Congress is to enhance and increase the popularity and reputation of Koh Samui as a first class holiday destination in Southeast Asia,? Mr Horst Hornung, President of Skål International Koh Samui explained.
?As international Skål members are all representatives of various tourism businesses, such as travel agencies, hotels and airlines, feedback from the Congress will generate important and long-term follow-up businesses for the Samui travel scene?, Mr Hornung added.
As the host of the 2008 Skål Asian Area Congress, Skål Samui members will actively participate in the 2007 Skål Asian Area Congress being hosted in Macau from May 25-28, 2007, where the club will host a lunch for participating Skål members to encourage the highest possible participation of international Skål colleagues at the 2008 Congress to be hosted in Samui.
Skål Samui will also present additional PR activities during the next Skål World Congress in Antalya, Turkey in November 2007 where club members hope to mobilize and generate as many potential participants for the 2008 Skål Asian Area Congress in Samui.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has extended support to Skål International Koh Samui for participation in the 2007 Skål Asian Area Congress in Macau where club members will be helping to promote Thailand by raising the visibility and awareness for Koh Samui and Thailand as world-class travel destinations. TAT is also extending support to the club in the organisation of the Skål Asian Area Congress 2008.
Skål International Koh Samui was established in April 2004 and with more than 50 members is the second biggest Skål club in Thailand. is the biggest Skål club in Thailand. There are other clubs in Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai.
The City of Pattaya won the bid to host the 2006 Congress after it bested London in an election held in 2002.
Introducing Skål InternationalSkål is a professional organisation of tourism leaders around the world, promoting global tourism and friendship. It is the only international group uniting all branches of the travel and tourism industry. Its members ? the industry's managers and executives ? meet at local, national, regional and international levels to discuss and pursue topics of common interest.

The first Club was founded in 1932 in Paris by travel managers, following an educational tour of Scandinavia. The idea of international goodwill and friendship grew and, in 1934, the ?Association Internationale des Skål Clubs? was formed with Florimond Volckaert as its first President, who is considered the ?Father of Skål?.
Skål International is headquartered at the General Secretariat in Torremolinos, Spain. The organisation is governed by an Executive Committee of seven members, elected by delegates to an annual General Assembly, held during the World Congress, hosted by a different country each year. This allows members first-hand observation of the travel and tourism potential around the world