New Thai PM Srettha Thavisin has held talks with the country’s aviation bosses, aimed at boosting the number of tourist arrivals during the last quarter of the year. According to a Thai PBS World report, the PM met with representatives from Airports of Thailand, the Civil Aviation Authority, and 8 airlines.
Thailand’s tourism recovery has been plagued by both expensive air fares along with a reduced schedule of international flights.
The talks took place on August 28, with the newly-elected PM seeking the cooperation of all to increase tourist numbers during the last 3 months of the year. Srettha says the last quarter of 2023 will be the peak tourism season and the period is crucial for Thailand’s economic growth. He adds that the country needs to take steps now to ensure it can accommodate a surge in visitor numbers.
AoT president Kerati Kitmanawat, who was at the meeting, says the 8 airlines will report back to the PM and his team today on how they plan to accommodate increased flights from China at the 6 main airports in the kingdom.
Meanwhile, the CEO of Bangkok Airways, and president of the Thai Airlines Association, says domestic airlines are ready to work with the government. Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth adds that if all the facilities are in place, more tourists will come.
During his visit to Phuket and Phang Nga over the weekend the Pheu Thai team were positive about the rebooting of a plan to build a new airport in the Kok Kloi area of Phang Nga, noting that extending the infrastructure at Phuket Airport would be very difficult, given its constraints by the adjacent neighbourhood.
SOURCE: Thai PBS World
