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TAT and PATA Thailand Chapter strengthen partnership
PATA
Thailand Chairman, Mr. Bob James (left, front row) presents Tourism
Authority of Thailand Governor, Ms Phornsiri Manoharn, with a bouquet of
flowers following the TAT-Chapter dialogue session at TAT head office in
Bangkok on April 10.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand last Tuesday, April
10, strengthened its partnership and understanding with the PATA
Thailand Chapter, a joint private-public sector body representing
hotels, tour operators, airlines and travel-related companies in
Thailand. The TAT Governor, Ms Phornsiri Manoharn, exchanged statistical
updates and views with the Chapter’s executive committee.
In the briefing, Ms Phornsiri expressed short-term
concern at the downturn in international arrivals from Japan and
Singapore, and from the business and meetings sectors in general, due to
the current uncertain political environment in Thailand.
However, tour operator members of the Chapter said
that while demand from Asian markets had softened, European leisure
demand was increasing to compensate. In the past, 50% of online leisure
booking requests were turned down due to excess demand. With fewer
business visitors, more hotel beds and airline seats were now available
to holiday buyers.
The Governor told PATA Chapter leaders that the TAT
did not fear competition from neighbouring countries due to Thailand’s
variety: "Thailand has everything except casinos and snow,"
she said, adding that such variety plus Bangkok’s role as an aviation
hub serving 98 airlines gave it a distinct advantage over its
neighbours.
With over 50% of tourists to Thailand - and over 60%
of Japanese - being repeat visitors, she said Thailand would continue to
gain valuable business by being a gateway hub to the Mekong region. For
example, over 87% of all visitors to Myanmar enter from Thailand, she
said. In addition, the newly appointed Governor told the Chapter’s
executives that the TAT would increasingly concentrate on attracting
weekend shopping, dining and golf traffic from Singapore and Hong Kong.
She cited the Indian wedding market and film
productions shot on location in Thailand as sectors that had potential
for growth. To capitalise on emerging markets, the TAT will open offices
in Moscow, Dubai and Ho Chi Minh City.
The PATA Thailand Chapter Chairman, Mr. Bob James,
offered the Chapter’s full support for TAT objectives, including
support for the TAT’s crisis communications team.
Governor Phornsiri confirmed that the PATA Thailand Chapter would now
be invited to attend tourism working groups organised by the TAT.
Emirates to increase Thailand
capacity next year
Emirates is considering the introduction of a new Airbus 380
on its flights operating to and from Bangkok, the airline’s hub for East Asia
and Australasia.
Area manager for Thailand and Indochina, Mr. Jeyhun Efendi,
said the airline expected to take delivery of one or two A380 aircraft next
year. He said the airline had a firm order of 45 A380s to be delivered within
the next five years.
"We will definitely introduce A380s on Thailand routes.
Thailand is a must destination due to high load factors," he said.
The airline records an average rate of more than 90 per cent
occupancy across all 36 flights operating from Bangkok. This includes 19-weekly
flights to its home-base Dubai, 10 weekly flights to Hong Hong and a daily
flight to Auckland in New Zealand, via Sydney. It currently operates Boeing
777-300ER and Boeing 777-300 aircraft on these routes.(TTG)
LTU fly daily non-stop to Germany - now even in the summer
German
airline LTU now offers eight flights a week from Bangkok and Phuket to Munich
and Düsseldorf.
While many airlines continue to reduce their flight
frequencies during low season in Thailand, LTU will be an exception to the rule
as it continues its daily non-stop flights between Bangkok and Phuket to Munich
and Düsseldorf.
Due to LTU’s improved network that offers forty connecting
flights, it is now an easy and convenient option for travellers who wish to
journey home or onto other destinations in Europe. Passengers can choose between
economy and business class at very reasonable fares and join LTU’s frequent
flyer program, Redpoints, which offers an attractive bonus system.
The fast connections within Europe and a well-priced business
class, offering separate check-in counters, luxury seats, and gourmet menus,
make LTU one of the smartest options for business travellers.
The emergence of LTU as a major carrier on the world scene
has witnessed many German, Thai and other nationals flying abroad for the first
time, courtesy of the distinctive red and white paint schemed aircraft. Major
investment in aircraft, infrastructure and service has also made LTU one of the
safest carriers flying in the world’s skies.
With the expansion of air traffic worldwide, the need for air
cargo and international freight services has also increased exponentially. LTU
is proud to be a cargo operator providing competitive prices. As this business
segment grows, LTU is able to meet the demand with flexible fare structuring
along with a wide range of inter-continental air routes.
Every year, LTU carries more than 5.9 million passengers to more than 70
destinations worldwide on its Airbus fleet of 26 aircraft. The airline operates
its service to Thailand on Airbus A330-200’s, wide body aircraft with 18
business seats and 305 economy seats.
Bang Saen barks up
the right Doubletree
Destination Properties, a Thai resort realty developer and investor, has
inked a deal with Hilton Hotels Corporation to open Asia’s first
Doubletree by Hilton Golf Resort and Spa in Bang Saen later this year.
Destination Properties director of marketing, Ms
Panasporn Nopasri, said: "The project is also the first international
branded resort and first international golf resort in Bang Saen, which has
the potential to rise as the next Hua Hin."
Doubletree by Hilton Golf Resort and Spa will be located
on the site of the former Sriracha Golf Club, about 20 minutes by car from
Pattaya, and 30 minutes from Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Covering 96 hectares of lush hills, the golf resort will
feature 344 rooms and suites in clusters of low-rise buildings. All rooms
will overlook the fairway of the 18-hole golf course, designed by renowned
golfer and architect, Mr. Gary Player.
Facilities will include day and night golfing, a large
cascading swimming pool, squash and tennis courts, rock climbing facilities,
a kid’s club, a traditional Thai spa, a Japanese pool spa and a golf
academy. Its clubhouse will have a function room for 200 people.
Not being a beachfront property, the resort will have a
beachfront club - a signature feature of Destination Properties - on Bang
Saen Beach, about 20 minutes away by free shuttle from the golf course.
Ms Panasporn said given the golf resort’s proximity to
Thailand’s eastern seaboard, the property aimed to capture accounts from
MNCs (multinational corporations) based in the area.
"We are also targeting the golf resort as a weekend
escape for Bangkok residents as its comprehensive facilities are suitable
for both golfers and weekenders."
Once Doubletree by Hilton opened, MNCs would be able to book just one
accommodation for their different tiers of management, given the resort’s
varied room categories, she added. (eTN Asia)
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