Phuket paradise beckons: TAT teams up with Saudia Airlines for tourism extravaganza

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has joined forces with Saudia Airlines, setting their sights on a jaw-dropping target of 300,000 arrivals and a staggering 27.68 billion baht in revenue.

TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool revealed ambitious plans after a high-stakes meeting in Riyadh with Saudia Airlines bigwigs.

Thapanee disclosed discussions that could make this a game-changer for Saudi tourists seeking sun-soaked bliss. The talks didn’t stop there; they delved into a marketing bonanza, with the tantalising theme Two Kingdoms, One Happiness, linking the Dead Sea to the shores of Phuket.

The TAT governor stated that TAT plans to set up shop in Riyadh, creating an open invitation for Saudia Airlines to showcase its magic at the Thailand Travel Mart Plus fair in Bangkok next year. She believes this tag-team effort will catapult Saudi tourist numbers to new heights.

Thapanee unveiled the Thailand privilege cards, designed to lure affluent Saudi visitors into extending their stay and splurging.

“We’re eyeing over 300,000 Saudi tourists in 2024, raking in a whopping 27.68 billion baht.”

For 2023, the goal is no less impressive – aiming for around 178,000 Saudi tourists and an expected revenue of 17.12 billion baht.

Highlighting the spending prowess of Saudi visitors, the TAT chief revealed that, on average, they treat Thailand to a lavish 14.55 days, shelling out a princely 92,251 baht per trip—making European and American counterparts seem almost frugal, reported The Nation.

As the Saudi-Thailand partnership reaches new heights, Saudia Airlines, currently operating ten flights a week to Bangkok from Jeddah and Riyadh, is undoubtedly poised for more significant glory.

And as if this weren’t enough excitement, TAT’s Phuket office reported a surge in Indian arrivals post the launch of Air India’s New Delhi-Phuket flight on December 15. With the tantalising prospect of Air India upgrading to daily flights next month, the paradise that is Phuket is set to lure even more globetrotters.

With 1.5 million Indian tourists already gracing Thailand’s shores this year, the top destinations being Bangkok, Chonburi, Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga, it seems Thailand’s tourism tale is only just beginning.

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