THE Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Airports of Thailand have signed an MoU to increase the number of passengers passing through Thailand’s airports through marketing, promotional, research and human resource activities.
The signing is the first of its kind between two state-owned enterprises and will take effect from September 1, 2013 to August 31, 2016.
Under the MoU, they will also promote domestic travel for the off-peak season and carry out other initiatives such as organising joint seminars, conducting research, holding information exchange and feedback, publicising travel news and working with respective partners.
Suraphon Svetasreni, governor, TAT, said in a statement that the MoU would bring significant benefits to airlines flying into Thailand, especially in the run up to the launch of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. Air connectivity would be crucial in making the region’s gateway and secondary cities accessible.
Likewise, Airports of Thailand vice chairman and acting managing director, Pongsak Semson, commented: “Airports of Thailand and TAT are both linked by shared interests in facilitating the air transport sector and tourism promotion. Aviation linkages will be critical for the success of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015 and there is no doubt that we can be more effective by pooling our resources and expertise.”
Airports of Thailand, the largely government-owned airport operator, owns and runs six key international gateway airports of Thailand: Suvarnabhumi Airport, Don Mueang Airport, Phuket International Airport, Hat Yai International Airport, Chiang Mai International Airport and Chiang Rai International Airport.
More than 80 per cent of Thailand’s total visitor arrivals come by air via these gateways.
