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A Lifetime of SKÅL
Pictured being presented
with an Honorary Award by Skål International Asian Area President Mr.
Earl Wieman, is Thailand’s ‘Mr. Skål’ Khun Malai Sakolviphak. Khun
Malai’s award was made during the 36th Skål Asian Area Congress in Macau
and is in recognition of more than 40 years of active membership of Skål
International. Khun Malai is currently President of Skål International
Thailand
Thailand will be hot during Scandinavian winter
Scandinavian tour operators have reported a phenomenal increase in bookings to
Thailand over the upcoming winter holiday, prompting an introduction of new
charter services and an increase of frequencies on existing flights.
TUI Nordic product area manager for Italy and South-east Asia, Ms Lin Wessblad
said the company estimated its clients from the Nordic countries to all Thai
destinations would increase to 130,000 visitors between October 2007 and April
2008, representing a 30 per cent increase from the previous period.
From October to April, TUI Nordic will continue to operate its winter charter
flights - five times per week - using a Boeing747 aircraft linking Scandinavian
cities with Bangkok and Phuket. Two new charter flight routes to Surat Thani
will be operated between December and April, including two flights per month
each on the Stockholm-Surat Thani and Helsinki-Surat Thani routes, using a
220-seat B757 aircraft.
Ms Wessblad said to cope with increased demand TUI Nordic would operate two new
flights per week, using a B767 aircraft, directly linking Stockholm and
Copenhagen with Phuket between April and October next year.
MyTravel Northern Europe contracts manager, Mr Åke Björk, said the number of the
company’s clients to Phuket and Krabi was estimated to increase by 50 per cent
to around 78,000 during the upcoming winter holiday. (TTG)
Thailand’s push to attract rich neighbours
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has come up with two
promotional activities to attract wealthy international travellers and tourists
from its regional neighbours.
The 72-hour Amazing Thailand campaign is scheduled to launch next month while
the luxury tourism product booklet is in the design stage.
TAT deputy governor for international marketing, Ms Juthaporn Rerngronasa, said
72-hour Amazing Thailand was aimed at short-haul FIT and expatriate travellers
from Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam. “(We aim) to stimulate more
traffic from these declining markets,” she said.
In the initial stage, TAT will distribute at least 2,500 English booklets
highlighting more than 200 tourism products including golf courses, spas, hotels
and restaurants in Bangkok and nearby destinations. Travellers who hold a Master
Card are entitled to discounts at selected merchants as the credit card company
is sponsoring the campaign.
Ms Juthaporn said, if successful, the campaign would also be launched in
Japanese and would cover more tourism destinations within the country.
Meanwhile, the TAT is also compiling the country’s luxury tourism products in a
booklet aimed at attracting rich travellers from around the world. The booklet
will single out specific products such as the Rain Suite at Pathumwan Princess
Hotel in Bangkok. The suite was created to welcome its first guest, South Korean
pop heartthrob, Rain. (TTG)
Qantas/British Airways launch travel agent club
Qantas and British Airways have launched a dedicated trade
website in Thailand, providing agents with 24-hour access to information about
the carriers.
The free website (www. speedbirdclub.com/th) features news and information on
products, services and policies, latest route and schedule news, and interactive
menus and search functions.
Agents can register their details with Qantas and British Airways Speedbird Club
and gain access to a range of additional benefits including special offers for
registered users only, participation in interactive activities and exclusive
training sessions and competitions. Qantas and British Airways now operate 120
flights to and from Bangkok a month. (TTG)
TAT admits 2007 arrivals target will not be met
Tourism Authority of Thailand governor, Ms Phornsiri Manoharn, has finally
admitted visitor arrivals to the kingdom are likely to be 300,000 short of
the 14.8 million target, following a slow 2.7 per cent growth in arrivals at
Suvarnabhumi Airport during the first five months of this year.
However, she is confident tourism revenue would exceed its target of 547.50
billion baht (US$16.70 billion) as a result of increased hotels’ average
room rate and higher tourist expenditure.
The five-month arrival figures at Suvarnabhumi Airport recorded a 21.7 per
cent and 4.59 per cent drop respectively in Chinese and Japanese tourists.
Meanwhile, the European and South Asian markets have increased respectively
by 12.75 per cent and 10.2 per cent.
To counter declining arrivals from Asian markets amid safety concerns over
political uncertainty and demonstrations in Bangkok, Ms Phornsiri has told
all overseas office directors to encourage airlines and travel companies to
organise direct charter services to international airports in Phuket, Krabi,
Koh Samui and Chiang Mai.
The charter flight promotion is another bid by the TAT in addition to its
plan to launch a series of public relations, advertising and media
activities particularly in Asian markets. As a result, starting from July,
Thai Sky Airlines will operate four charter flights per week between Incheon
in South Korea and Phuket, while China Southern Airlines will introduce four
flights per week on the Guangzhou-Phuket route. (TTG)
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