TAT joins four airlines to bump up low-season traffic

TAT joins four airlines to bump up low-season traffic

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is collaborating with the national carrier and three Arab airlines to woo Western travellers from main and secondary cities to visit Thailand.

The short-term partnership will include Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways and Thai Airways International (THAI).

The TAT expects to renew its agreement with Etihad and Emirates around September.

TAT offices in Europe have joined with THAI to boost sales in the third quarter during the low tourism season in Europe. Target cities include London, Stockholm, Paris, Frankfurt and Rome.

Juthaporn Rerngronasa, the TAT's deputy governor for international marketing in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas, said Middle Eastern airlines see Thailand as their hub in East Asia.

"Their collaboration with the TAT is a win-win situation," she said.

The TAT's strong marketing network at home and abroad is attractive to the three Arab airlines.

Tanes Petsuwan, the agency's executive director for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, said each Arab airline has about 200 monthly flights to Thailand and uses wide-body jets such as the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777.

Entering secondary cities in Western markets is viewed as a key strategy. THAI will offer special airfares for booking and travelling from May to June and again in September during the low season in Europe.

The TAT will award accommodation vouchers to lift sales during the period, Ms Juthaporn said.

Tourist arrivals from Europe to Thailand are expected to grow 9% to 988,000 visitors in the second quarter this year, generating a 12% rise in income to 73.4 billion baht.

The agency set a target of 5.66 million European visitors this year, up 6% from last year, with 4.38% revenue growth to 420 billion baht. Spending is projected at 74,205 baht per person per trip this year, up 6.3% from last year.

The expansion of Middle Eastern airlines has influenced the Thai tourism industry. Qatar plans flights to Krabi and Chiang Mai this December.

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said the agency will organise the 15th Thailand Travel Mart Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion (TTM+) to serve the government policy to focus on Asean tourism. TTM+ will run from June 8-10 at Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Center with 385 sellers and 459 global buyers joining the event.

Mr Yuthasak expects it to generate 300-500 million baht for the industry this year.

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