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Emirates solidifies its commitment in Thailand with cabin crew recruitment drive
Pictured are Mr. Soonthorn Suree (standing -
middle), Emirates’ Area Manager for Thailand and Indochina, flanked by
Emirates’ staff Jutarat Tantiwattanaphan (left) - Passenger Sales & Service
Agent, and Panrawee Meekumsat (right) - Senior Sales Assistant, and the new
recruits in Thailand.
Emirates Airline continues to show its commitment to the Thai market by
introducing a year-round flight attendants recruitment program in the
kingdom.
Mr. Soonthorn Suree, Area Manager for Thailand and Indochina, said,
“Emirates aims at excellence in everything it does and our cabin crews are
the ones that proudly sustain that image. Therefore, we continue to focus on
our valuable employees by paying attention to every detail from their very
first day with Emirates. The orientation for new recruits and their families
will help provide some useful information about our company, services,
customers and Dubai before they enroll in our unique cabin crew training and
development program.”
The new group of 36 recruits will be trained to acquire Emirates’
world-class standard services in Dubai before joining over 5,600 Emirates
crews onboard in a truly multicultural talent base made up of more than 100
different nationalities. Currently, over 300 Thai cabin crews have joined
this Dubai-based international airline.
Thailand begins India
and China courtship
THE Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has proposed
spending 270 million baht (US$7 million) on tourism stimulus strategies to
encourage more inbound travel from China and India in August and September.
TAT governor, Ms Juthamas Siriwan, said amounts of 170 million baht and 100
million baht had been earmarked for Chinese and Indian stimulus packages,
respectively.
The TAT said it hoped to attract around 1.5 million Chinese tourists to
Thailand this year and increase the number to three million tourists within
five years. Thailand attracted around 900,000 Chinese tourists last year.
The plan includes working closely with Chinese travel agents and airlines to
entice Chinese consumers with promotional discounts and privileges.
Indian honeymooners are the TAT’s main targets, as August and September are
the most popular months for marriages in India.
The number of Indian tourists to Thailand is expected to increase 10 to 15
per cent this year. (TTG)
Lao PDR doubles visa
on arrival stay period
Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) has decided to extend the visa on
arrival stay period, doubling it to a month’s duration.
The updated regulation will play a major role in helping boost visitor
arrivals to Lao PDR, already one of the fastest growing tourism destinations
in the southeast Asian region.
The visa fee remains unchanged at US$30, except for Vietnamese and Chinese
nationals who pay US$20.
Lao PDR reported 1.09 million arrivals in 2005, up 22 percent over 2004. Of
those, 60 percent were Thais, comprising the largest market share of
arrivals. Lao PDR has 12 international checkpoints, including three airports
and nine overland crossings, of which four are with Thailand.
According to Thailand tourism authorities, the vast majority of
international visitors to Lao PDR come via Thailand, either over the Thai
Lao Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai or by air via Bangkok to the
international airports at Vientiane and Luang Prabang. The extended Visa
regulations will be of considerable benefit for business travelers as well
as special interest visitors on study tours. They also harmonize the length
of stay eligibility period for 30 days, which is granted if the visas are
applied for in advance at any of the Lao PDR diplomatic missions abroad.
Overland travel from Thailand to Lao PDR will get another boost in December
2006 with the projected opening of the second bridge between the two
countries.
Construction of the bridge, linking Mukdaharn province in northeastern
Thailand to Lao PDR’s southern province of Suvannakhet, began in December,
2003. The US$69 million bridge was partly financed by the Japanese
government. (eTN Asia)
Thailand air connectivity gets boosts from LCCs in the Asia Pacific region
By Satish G.
Capitalizing on Thai aviation policy of open skies, Singapore-based low cost
airline Tiger Airways has decided to commence additional flights to Thai
destinations of Bangkok, Hat Yai and Krabi in response to increased demand.
The fares start from S$29.98, (approx. Bt.1300) one way excluding taxes and
fees. The additional flights to Thailand will fly more than 100,000
passengers between the two countries.
“The Thai aviation policy of Open Skies has made this possible and it has
resulted in a big boost to business and tourism between Singapore and
Thailand. The growing demand has encouraged us to add even more flights from
August to these hot destinations,” said Tiger Airways chief executive
officer Tony Davis.
Tiger Airways will also be adding three additional flights to its
Singapore-Bangkok route starting from August 19, (currently 11 flights
weekly); two additional flights to its Singapore-Hat Yai route from August
14, (currently seven flights weekly); and two additional flights to its
Singapore-Krabi route (currently four flights weekly).
The development follows the recent increase of Tiger Airways flights between
Singapore and Phuket, which began in July.
Recently, connectivity to Phuket got a major boost with the announcement of
new direct flights to the island from key markets Hong Kong and Australia.
Orient Thai started daily service between Hong Kong and Phuket, while Hong
Kong Express is to offer charter flights to the island from August for
US$386 (Bt.14,600) a ticket.
Jetstar is to introduce a thrice-weekly Sydney-Phuket service from November
onwards. (eTN Asia)
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