TAT talks with Japanese, Korean airlines on luring ‘quality tourists’

TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn said it would hold discussions with Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways in Japan and Asiana Airlines and Korean Air in South Korea and ask these premium airlines to help encourage tourists to visit Thailand, especially to new destinations being promoted.
“Japan and South Korea are important markets for Thailand, but many tourists are unable to travel to Thailand during peak season because of a shortage of available seats,” Yuthasak said.
“As these airlines are premium carriers, they should [be able to bring in] more quality tourists or high spenders from Japan and South Korea.” 
The agency’s increased cooperation with foreign airlines is aimed at attracting tourists to alternative or second-tier destinations that TAT is promoting. 
Yuthasak yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding with Goh Choon Phong, chief executive officer of Singapore Airlines, in order to promote travel to Thailand from priority markets including Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Last year, more than 900,000 tourists from Australia and New Zealand visited Thailand. The number is expected to reach 1 million after the MoU signing. Moreover, Singapore Airlines should beckon tourists from long-haul markets such as the United States, as it is now operating direct flights between Singapore and that country.
“Singapore Airlines Group is planning more activities this year as it sees strong demand from Oceania as well as from long-haul routes,” Goh said.
Singapore Airlines and its subsidiary SilkAir currently operate 89 flights per week to Thailand. Singapore Airlines operates 35 weekly flights to Bangkok, while SilkAir operates 35 weekly flights to Phuket, 14 per week to Koh Samui, and five weekly to Chiang Mai.
Meanwhile, about 78,000 tourists from South Africa entered the Kingdom last year and the figure should surpass 100,000 this year after TAT began collaborating with Singapore Airlines.
Earlier, TAT signed MoUs with Etihad Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways and EVA Air in a tourism drive.
Yuthasak said TAT was planning to open offices in Toronto and Sao Paolo. These two new branches are expected to help boost arrivals from long-haul markets.
TAT hopes for 34.1 million international tourists this year and estimates Bt1.8 trillion in revenue, up 10 per cent from 2016. As of Saturday, Thailand had welcomed 6 million international arrivals since the start of the year, a 5.5-per-cent increase from the same period last year.
Although tourism is booming, TAT has expressed worries about inconvenience at major airports such as Suvarnabhumi and Phuket, as it heard some tourists missed their flights because of inefficient passenger management and overall operations. 
Operators of tourism-related companies recently called on the government to improve poor facilities and services, particularly at major destinations. They also urged the authorities to prepare airport management during runway closures for renovation at Suvarnabhumi Airport.