CHINA flights to Phuket are expected to resume in July - provided the authorities can be persuaded to lift the travel alert for Phuket, if not for the whole of Thailand, says Phuket regional Tourism Authority of Thailand director Bangornrat Shinaprayoon.
Only one flight has come to Phuket from China and Taiwan since the alert was declared, a flight from Taipei that arrived last night carrying 374 passengers.
A letter is being sent to the mainland Chinese Government to seek cancellation of the alert. Chinese media and tour agents would be brought on familiarisation tours immediately to see that Phuket and the Andaman provinces are safe. Then the airlines would begin operating charter flights again.
''The China market knows Phuket well,'' Khun Bangornrat said. ''But the country's leaders have to say that it's safe to return first.''
In the short term, Thailand groups planning seminars should choose destinations within Thailand instead of overseas, she said. On June 10 owners of 40 businesses on Phuket and in Phang Nga are invited to Bangkok to meet with tour operators, agents and promoters.
There's a road show to Chiang Mai and Udon Thani in July to develop the full benefit of direct frlights now operating to Phuket. Thai Airways has a plan to fly direct from Oaka in Japan to Phuket, but the route has yet to be scheduled.
AirAsia is likely to add direct flights from four key cities in India to Phuket before then, she said.
In September, Khun Bangornrat will be going to Brisbane and Melbourne in Australia tp pursue the markets that have opened up with new direct flights to Phuket.
Great interest is being shown in joining with Malaysia Airlines so Middle east tourists can mix a holiday on Phuket with a visit to Kuala Lumpur.
''I am sure the Phuket market will return sooner rather than later,'' Khun Bangornrat said. ''The destination brand is very strong.''
Only one flight has come to Phuket from China and Taiwan since the alert was declared, a flight from Taipei that arrived last night carrying 374 passengers.
A letter is being sent to the mainland Chinese Government to seek cancellation of the alert. Chinese media and tour agents would be brought on familiarisation tours immediately to see that Phuket and the Andaman provinces are safe. Then the airlines would begin operating charter flights again.
''The China market knows Phuket well,'' Khun Bangornrat said. ''But the country's leaders have to say that it's safe to return first.''
In the short term, Thailand groups planning seminars should choose destinations within Thailand instead of overseas, she said. On June 10 owners of 40 businesses on Phuket and in Phang Nga are invited to Bangkok to meet with tour operators, agents and promoters.
There's a road show to Chiang Mai and Udon Thani in July to develop the full benefit of direct frlights now operating to Phuket. Thai Airways has a plan to fly direct from Oaka in Japan to Phuket, but the route has yet to be scheduled.
AirAsia is likely to add direct flights from four key cities in India to Phuket before then, she said.
In September, Khun Bangornrat will be going to Brisbane and Melbourne in Australia tp pursue the markets that have opened up with new direct flights to Phuket.
Great interest is being shown in joining with Malaysia Airlines so Middle east tourists can mix a holiday on Phuket with a visit to Kuala Lumpur.
''I am sure the Phuket market will return sooner rather than later,'' Khun Bangornrat said. ''The destination brand is very strong.''
Yes. Have fun with the Big C tourists, driving in big buses, eating at "all you can eat" meat buffets for 100 Baht but with discount, crowding Phuket City Hotels and seldom go to Patong Beach for "fun".
Mainland Chinese tourists matter in numbers.
Phuket is missing the Koreans, Japanese and Taiwan Chinese. Please do not replace them.
Posted by Lena on May 31, 2010 15:41