Bangkok, 30 October, 2017 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is in discussion with Thai airlines nationwide to boost air access to key destination across the country in time for the upcoming peak season arrivals.
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor recently held meetings with Thai airlines discussing opportunities to boost tourism on both trunk and secondary routes to stimulate inbound and domestic travel from key markets including Europe, the Americas, Middle East, and Asia Pacific as well as from the neighbouring countries.
“This is in line with our plan to increase the foreign tourism revenue for 2018 by at least 10 per cent,” he said. “The increased air access also corresponds with the Amazing Thailand Tourism Year 2018, starting from 1 November this year.”
Airlines attending the 20 October meeting at the TAT Headquarters have included Thai Airways International, Bangkok Airways, Thai AirAsia, Thai AirAsia X, Thai Smile Airways, Nok Air, Nok Scoot, Thai Lion Air, NewGen Airways, and MJet. These airlines recently announced new and increased services.
Thai Airways International (THAI) launches a new Bangkok-Vienna service from 16 November, and also partners with Thai Smile Airways to fly between Bangkok and Kaohsiung from 1 October.
From 29 October, THAI will increase its existing Beijing–Phuket service from four to seven flights per week. Bangkok Airways will start flying between Bangkok and Vietnam’s Phu Quoc, and Nok Air will fly direct between Mae Sot and Yangon. From 3 December, NewGen Airways will operate new services to Chiang Mai and Phuket from Korat.
These are just a few of the many new routes launched since the beginning of 2017 by Thailand-based and overseas airlines as previously reported by TAT Newsroom (New flights strengthen Thailand’s status as global aviation hub).
“All this comes as great news and is perfectly times, especially since UN International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recently lifted its warnings on Thai airlines from its website,” said Mr. Yuthasak.
According to local media reports, THAI is planning more routes to Japan, South Korea and the United States while Nok Air is eyeing expanding its network to Japan and South Korea. Thai AirAsia X is also expected to open new routes to South Korea and Japan.
