The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and EVA Airways Corporation (EVA) have signed a letter of intent (LOI) to collaborate on promoting Thai tourism as a preferred destination across EVA’s extensive global route network, with the aim of increasing the number of visitors from key markets to the kingdom.
TAT will assist EVA in developing passenger traffic from strategic markets by providing support to tour operators and travel agents across the airline’s network through promotional giveaways, packages, incentives, and marketing initiatives.
The LOI also includes plans for TAT and EVA to organise familiarisation trips for influencers, tour operators, travel agents, and other tourism and media personnel in Thailand. Additionally, the two parties will explore the possibility of joint exhibitor participation at TAT roadshow events and joint advertising campaigns in key markets.
The signing ceremony took place at Park Hyatt Bangkok Hotel, Central Embassy, on July 27, 2023.
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of TAT, said, “Together, TAT and EVA will seamlessly facilitate travellers in embarking on extraordinary journeys to Thailand, discovering the captivating wonders of the kingdom, and experiencing the vast tapestry of attractions, from the bustling streets of Bangkok and the tranquil beaches of Phuket to the ancient ruins of Ayutthaya and the serene temples of Chiang Mai.”
Mr. Clay Sun, President of EVA, stated, “We are delighted to work with TAT on marketing initiatives that showcase Thailand’s enchanting landscapes, vibrant cities, and warm hospitality. By leveraging our extensive global network, we can help ensure that Thailand is permanently positioned on the international tourism map.
EVA is an international airline with the operational resilience to accommodate a wide range of passengers. The airline is strategically expanding its presence in the Thai market.
“By the second quarter of 2023, we expect to have reopened all our routes and ramped up frequencies back to 80 percent of our pre-pandemic level. Our goal for this year is to fully restore our transpacific network to pre-pandemic levels,” revealed Mr. Sun.
EVA’s short-haul network includes 28 direct flights a week between Bangkok and Taipei, seven direct flights between Chiang Mai and Taipei, daily flights between Bangkok and Japan (Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda, Naha, Kansai, Fukuoka, Komatsu, Sendai, and Sapporo) via Taipei, and four flights per week between Bangkok and South Korea (Seoul) via Taipei.
Its long-haul network comprises 84 flights a week between Bangkok and North America, linking Thailand with the gateway cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Seattle, and Houston in the United States, and Toronto and Vancouver in Canada, via Taipei. EVA also operates 14 direct flights a week between Bangkok and key European destinations such as London, Vienna, Amsterdam; also via Taipei to Paris, Milan, and Munich. EVA’s European schedule now totals 32 weekly flights, exceeding its pre-Covid operation.
Mr. Sun also shared an unexpected trend in travel that could potentially boost the Thai tourism industry: “In the wake of the pandemic, we’ve noticed that the age range for passengers traveling in business and premium economy classes has dropped. Now, a significant number of younger travellers are booking our premium classes, and we don’t have enough seat availability.”
Moreover, EVA boasts unparalleled service and utmost safety as its core values, earning a prestigious status among global airlines.
EVA has been recognised as a “Five Star Airline” by Skytrax for the eighth consecutive year. The Skytrax World Airline Awards 2023 ranked EVA ninth among the “World’s Top 10 Airlines” and first for the “World’s Best Premium Economy Class,” “World’s Best Premium Economy Class Catering,” and “Best Premium Economy Class Airlines in Asia.” Back in 1992, EVA was the first airline to introduce a premium economy class, which later became an industry-wide staple.
In addition, EVA earned a “Five Star Global Airline” rating for 2023 from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) and has been ranked among the “Top 20 Best Airlines in the World for 2023” and, for the tenth consecutive year, as one of the “World’s Safest Airlines for 2023” by Airline Ratings.
“We built service quality and safety into our core since our first flight in 1991. Service quality and safety, with careful attention to detail, are woven into our foundation. In the future, we are committed to making our network more efficient by continuing to expand to new destinations and increase the number of flights to those we currently serve. We’re also upgrading and enhancing our fleet by continuously replacing older aircraft and elevating cabins and services. Our aim is always to provide our passengers with the most convenient and comfortable flights possible,” concluded Mr. Sun.
