THAILAND continues to reap strong interest as a longhaul holiday destination, said buyers at Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2013.
Viacheslav Akaevich, director of MICE and travel department, Samolet Russia, said: “Russian outbound to Thailand has grown an average of 20 per cent over the last few years. Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya are the most popular destinations, although we’re now trying to promote multi-city programmes such as Bangkok-Kuala Lumpur tours too.”
Thailand remains the top South-east Asian destination for the Russian outbound market (TTG Asia e-Daily, September 27, 2012), as the country has greater “charm” than its neighbours, Akaevich opined.
Despite the lack of direct flights since Aerosvit Airlines’ Kiev-Bangkok service was plugged in January, Liliya Gongolevskaya, head of sales department of Vintage Creative Travel in Ukraine, said: “South-east Asia is becoming more and more popular as a holiday destination among Ukrainians. Krabi, Koh Samui and Phuket are popular among Ukrainians, while regional countries are viewed as an add-on to a Thailand itinerary.
She said the Kiev-based company had seen outbound business to Thailand grow between eight and 12 per cent annually, with FITs comprising 70 per cent. Groups, corporates and MICE make up the rest.
Similarly, Domenico Liantonio, marketing director of Bangkok-based Touring Asia Online, which specialises in the Italian outbound market to Thailand, said Italian FITs were still doing “well”, but not quite so for MICE.
Meanwhile, the Greek outbound market to Thailand is “picking up slowly”, according to Lai Wah Chow, executive director of IGI-MICE, European division of Best Travel Deals in Greece.
Away from Europe, Visanu Jaroensilp, director of the Americas market division, Tourism Authority of Thailand, reported: “Over 200,000 Canadians visited Thailand last year, marking an increase of 10 per cent from the year before. This is partly driven by the Chinese communities in Canada visiting Thailand too during their tours in Asia.”
