KHALEEJ TIMES, Saturday, Feb 26, 2022 | Rajab 25, 1443
Emirates signs agreement with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to promote tourism
Emirates: Emirates has pledged its support to promoting tourism in
Thailand through a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed with the Tourism
Authority of Thailand (TAT).
Under the agreement, both the tourism body and Emirates will explore joint
initiatives and opportunities for collaboration that will enhance each party’s
marketing and promotional efforts to attract travellers to Thailand.
The MoC was signed by Orhan Abbas, SVP of Commercial Operations – Far East at
Emirates, and Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, deputy governor for International
Marketing (Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas), in the presence of Sheikh
Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Emirates Group Chairman and Phiphat
Ratchakitprakarn, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports.
Also present at the signing ceremony were Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the
Tourism Authority of Thailand, Chairat Sirivat, consul-general of Thailand to
the UAE, and Adnan Kazim, chief commercial officer, Emirates.
Through the MoC, Emirates will develop initiatives to boost tourism to the
Kingdom by showcasing it to customers across its global network. The airline
will also engage in efforts to promote the country through its network of agents
in key strategic markets in addition to collaborating on joint familiarisation
trips designed to appeal to various customer segments.
Orhan Abbas, SVP of Commercial Operations – Far East at Emirates, said:
"Emirates launched operations to Thailand more than 30 years ago, and its
destinations are among the most popular in our Southeast Asian network,
especially amongst holidaymakers from the US, Europe, and the Middle East. We
are delighted to join hands with the Tourism Authority of Thailand to boost
tourism to the country, and build on the success achieved over the years, thanks
to our long-standing relationship. We look forward to highlighting its diverse
offerings to industry stakeholders and customers and helping them achieve their
tourism targets, to support Thailand’s post-pandemic recovery."
Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT governor, said: "This Memorandum of Cooperation will pave
the way for strategic tourism collaboration efforts between TAT and Emirates.
TAT will assist Emirates in developing airline passenger traffic from key
strategy markets by supporting tour operators and travel agents in agreed target
markets across the Emirates network with promotional giveaways, special
promotional packages, incentives, and marketing spend."
Thailand continues to be an important part of the Emirates network spanning
almost 130 destinations. Emirates’ services to Bangkok were launched in 1990
and, in 2012, its direct flights to the resort island of Phuket were
established, proving to be a very popular holiday destination amongst its global
customers.
Emirates resumed operations to Bangkok in September 2020 and currently provides
two daily services to Bangkok utilising the Boeing 777-300ER as well as an
additional daily flight aboard its flagship A380 aircraft. Emirates also flies
to Thailand’s exotic holiday spot, Phuket, 11 times weekly.