The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is embarking on a strategic partnership with Saudia Airlines (@saudiairlines) to enhance tourism connections with Saudi Arabia, aiming for an ambitious target of 300,000 arrivals and 27.68 billion baht in revenue.
TAT (@tat) governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool recently met with key executives of Saudia Airlines in Riyadh to discuss initiatives to stimulate tourism.
Talks included a proposal for Saudia Airlines to initiate flights between Riyadh and Phuket, promoting the picturesque island as an attractive destination for Saudi tourists.
Thapanee also explored marketing promotion options under the theme “Two Kingdoms, One Happiness,” aiming to connect the Dead Sea to the shores of Phuket.
During the discussions, Thapanee invited Saudia Airlines to participate in the Thailand Travel Mart Plus fair in Bangkok next year, anticipating a boost in Saudi tourist arrivals. She shared plans for TAT to establish an office in Riyadh and briefed the airline on Thailand privilege cards to attract affluent Saudi tourists, with a goal of exceeding 300,000 Saudi visitors in 2024, generating 27.68 billion baht in revenue.
In 2023, TAT targets approximately 178,000 Saudi tourists, expecting revenue of 17.12 billion baht. Thapanee highlighted that, on average, Saudi tourists spend 14.55 days and 92,251 baht per trip in Thailand, surpassing the duration and expenditure of European and American tourists.
Saudia Airlines currently operates seven flights a week to Bangkok from Jeddah and three from Riyadh. Additionally, TAT’s Phuket office reported a surge in Indian arrivals following the launch of Air India’s New Delhi-Phuket flight, with expectations of daily flights in the coming months. As of now, 1.5 million Indian tourists have visited Thailand in the current year, with popular destinations including Bangkok, Chonburi, Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga.
#ThailandTourism #SaudiaAirlines #PhuketDestination #TwoKingdomsOneHappiness #TourismCollaboration
