Thailand – Airline companies Thai Airways and Thai Smile, as well as the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), an organization of Thailand under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, have signed a letter of intent (LOI) to promote Thai tourism in the Indian market at Thai Airways’ head office.
This collaboration aims to boost the recovery of Thai tourism businesses and the Thai economy after the pandemic. In addition to the collaboration in the Indian market, Thai Airways operates flights on over 34 continental and intercontinental routes in its summer 2022 schedule. Passengers may travel further with Thai Smile and Star Alliance member airlines.
Suvadhana Sibunruang, Thai Airways’ acting CEO, shared, “Thai Airways, Thai Smile, and TAT signed the LOI to enhance the travel experience and develop marketing activities for the Indian market, to offer passengers privileges and joint promotions especially for leisure, golfer, visiting friends and relatives, and wedding travellers, and to exchange the information in the tourism industry for sustainable development in the industry.”
Meanwhile, Napintorn Srisunpang, the vice minister of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, said that the Indian market is a significant market in Southern Asia both in market size and tourist purchasing power, and this market is necessary for every country driven by a tourism economy.
“This collaboration is the opportunity to boost the recovery of the Indian market following the Air Travel Bubble agreement between Thailand and India. According to the Economics Tourism and Sports Division, Ministry of Tourism and Sports, in 2019, Thailand welcomed 1,995,516 inbound tourists from India, 24.85% higher, and earned THB86,372.01m, an increase of 27.45%. This reflects the potential of the Indian market,” said Srisunpang.
Tanes Petsuwan, TAT’s deputy governor for international marketing in Asia and South Pacific, said that as part of the ‘Visit Thailand Year 2022’ campaign, TAT will focus on quality inbound tourists from this particular market through celebrities and influencers marketing to the millennial target audience.
“TAT Delhi and Mumbai offices will also notify local tour agents about Thailand’s immigration measures and new travel products and services to plan the joint promotion activities for luxurious tourists. In addition, Amazing Thailand Wedding EXPO 2022 will be held this month to boost wedding travellers later this year. Meanwhile, TAT is joining the South Asia Travel and Tourism Exchange (SATTE) 2022 in Delhi from 18 to 20 May 2022 to promote Thailand on its readiness for tourism aspect,” added Petsuwan.
