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TAT, Thai Airways draw Vietnamese to SEA Games

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Thai Airways International are working with Vietnamese partners to attract local tourists to the Southeast Asian Games, or SEA Games, in Thailand in December.


Pichai Raktasinha, director of TAT in HCMC, said some 300 guests had booked packages including a trip to SEA Games scheduled to officially kick off on December 6.

Pichai said TAT would work with Vietnam Airlines and travel firms over packages for more Vietnamese to come to Thailand during the multi-sport event.

He said at an award ceremony of Thai Airways International here on Tuesday evening that TAT and the airline would organize a tour for representatives of Vietnamese travel firms to inspect the sites for SEA Games matches.

They will also meet with their Thai counterparts, he told the daily, adding he expected at least 1,000 Vietnamese tourists would go to Thailand during the 24th SEA Games.

Nond Kalinta, general manager of Thai Airways International in Vietnam, said the carrier would add one flight on its Bangkok-HCMC schedule on Thursday to meet the increasing demand as well as to prepare for SEA Games.

"The additional flight is to meet the increasing demand for air travel between Thailand and Vietnam and as part of our preparation to carry more Vietnamese people during the SEA Games," Nond said.

With the new flight, Thai Airways will bring the weekly number to 17 flights on the Bangkok-HCMC run, with three flights on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and two daily flights on the other days of the week.

The carrier knocks nearly 50% off the return economy and Royal Silk class fares to US$111 and US$280 respectively for travel on the flights departing at 6.40pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from November 1 to December 10.

The lower rates do not include tax and surcharges, Nond told the Daily before Thai Airways presented prizes to the best tour operators and booking agents.

Nond forecast Thai Airways would register average seat occupancy rate of 80% and year-on-year revenue growth of 20% this year.

* In related news, Singapore Airlines will add two flights to the weekly Hanoi-Singapore schedule from November 2, bringing the total number to nine.

With the new flights, Singapore Airlines will operate 26 flights weekly between the island state and Vietnam. The carrier will also operate one more cargo flight to and from Hanoi from November 1.

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