Picture this: boundless blue skies, the undulating rhythms of the sea, and the spicy-sweet aroma of Thai cuisine welcoming travelers from far and wide. Enter Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), a woman with a vision to further unlock the wonders of Thailand to the world, particularly to our neighbors from the Middle East.
In the heart of Riyadh, whispers of potential new friendships and ventures filled the air as Thapanee engaged with the likes of Wael Basaffar, right-hand man to the vice president of Saudia Airlines, and Abdulrahman Alabdulwahab, the maestro of the airline’s sales symphony. The promise that hung between them? A direct flight connecting the gilded city of Riyadh with the tropical haven of Phuket, a prospect set to sprinkle the shores of Thailand with even more Saudi explorers.
The meeting danced around a delightful concept, “Two Kingdoms, One Happiness,” a marketing brainchild designed to link the austere beauty of the Dead Sea with the vibrant beaches of Phuket. And as if orchestrating a grand cultural symphony, Thapanee unveiled her strategic chorus: a TAT office blossoming right in Riyadh and an open invitation for Saudia’s stars to shine at the renowned Thailand Travel Mart Plus in bustling Bangkok.
Imagine, if you will, the buzz of anticipation as TAT’s governor whispered tales of the illustrious Thailand privilege cards to Saudia’s executives, a golden key offering the kingdom’s affluent guests an extended embrace within Thailand’s exotic land.
With stars in her eyes, Thapanee proclaimed a dazzling future – a vision of more than 300,000 Saudi tourists gracing Thailand’s shores by 2024, each bringing a trail of prosperity amounting to a staggering 27.68 billion baht. For the more immediate horizon of 2023, the fanciful number of 178,000 Saudi visitors was etched into expectations, promising a bounty of 17.12 billion baht.
Our Saudi friends are not your average travelers; with the heart of the affluent wanderer, they linger for an average of 14.55 days, each visit infusing a substantial 92,251 baht into our economy. This is a testament to the captivating allure of Thailand – an allure that seems to dwarf the traditional European and American footprints both in time and treasure.
As we speak, the wings of Saudia Airlines are already carving the skies, with a stately seven flights each week from Jeddah and a triad of flights from Riyadh to Bangkok. This airborne ballet is set to become even more enchanting with whispers of the new routes to Phuket.
Not to be outdone, the TAT’s Phuket chapter has exclaimed a jubilant chapter of its own with the unveiling of Air India’s New Delhi-Phuket connection in December. These flights bring with them the echoes of vibrant Bollywood beats, aboard the sleek A320 Neo, four times a week. The crescendo of this story? An expected leap to daily sojourns in the coming month.
And let’s not forget, India itself has cast a gracious 1.5 million visitors upon our lands this year alone, with favorites such as Bangkok, Chonburi, Phuket, Krabi, and Phang Nga making the highlight reel of these travelers’ escapades.
Yes, the land of smiles is smiling wider, with every touchdown on its tarmacs, every spicy bite of its food, and every splash in its azure seas. Here’s to the hope of new routes, new friends, and new adventures as Thailand opens its arms wider to the world. And you, dear traveler, are most cordially invited to be part of this spellbinding story.
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