Tour bookings improve for Thailand

“Bookings are coming from key markets, including China, Taiwan, Russia, Iran and the Middle East, as well as a lot of Indian weddings for about 300 to 400 guests per event,” said TCT president Piyaman Techapaiboon.

Based on TCT’s survey with operators of tourism-related establishments in key Thai cities, particularly those with popular tourist areas in the south and north, average occupancy rate should not be less than 80 per cent for the upcoming peak period.

TCT said the increased number of international flights, including chartered services, helped to stimulate more bookings into Thailand. Improved air access would be aided further with Qatar Airways’ six-weekly Doha-Phuket flights, which will be launched on November 1, and another 30 winter chartered-flights on a 500-seat aircraft from Sweden.

Piyaman said the healthy forward bookings, coupled with continued aggressive stimulus measures by Thai public and private sectors, would allow Thailand to record about 15.1 to 15.7 million visitors this year.

(Sources: Sirima Eamtako, Bangkok, TTGAsia)