SCANDINAVIAN outbound tour operator TUI Nordic will be sending 150,000 holidaymakers to Thailand during the winter season from November to March, up from last year’s 135,000, in spite of increasing costs.
TUI Nordic CEO, Christian Clemens, said the figure was based on the continued strong demand for Thailand, which is firmly entrenched as the tour operator’s second most popular destination. The Canary Islands is its number one destination.
Clemens said tour prices for the coming winter season had been maintained, even as the tour operator battled increasing fuel costs, the stronger Thai currency against the euro and later-booking trends.
He said that TUI Nordic was able to achieve this through fuel hedging and early-booking discounts from hotel partners.
During the winter months, TUI Nordic normally operates six flights per week from 10 Scandinavian cities to Bangkok, Phuket and Krabi. This year, it will start operating the flights from mid-October, extending the high season by an additional month for its 160 Thai hotel partners, and facilitating the use of early-bird discounts.
TUI Nordic has also urged Thai tourism authorities to spend more on destination marketing targeting outbound travel during the summer season from early-April to early-October. The tour operator has only been operating one regular weekly flight between Scandinavia and Thailand for three consecutive summers.
“We need sustained destination marketing support from the Thai tourism authorities,” said Clemens.
By Sirima Eamtako
