The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) had the pleasure of celebrating Malaysia Airlines’ inaugural non-stop flight from Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai.
Flight MH 772 from Kuala Lumpur was greeted with a grand salute from water cannons at Chiang Mai International Airport. Arriving passengers were presented with the traditional Thai welcoming gesture including fresh floral garlands and traditional Northern Thai dance.
Mr. Worawit Chaisawat, Vice Governor of Chiang Mai, said “This new flight marks a significant development for Chiang Mai International Airport, which serves both domestic and international flights from key cities nationwide as well as from China, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Laos, Myanmar, and now also from Malaysia.”
Mr. Worawit presided over the welcoming event at Chiang Mai International Airport. Also present included Ms. Phimpha Ratanapruk, TAT Deputy Executive Director for ASEAN, South Asia and the South Pacific Region, and Emily Tan, Head of Global Marketing, Malaysia Airlines.
Malaysia Airlines will operate on the Kuala Lumpur-Chiang Mai route with five flights per week, utilising its 297-seat Airbus A330neo aircraft.
This adds to about 39 international flights per day between Thai and Malaysian cities operated in 2023 by AirAsia, Thai AirAsia, Firefly, Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways International, and Batik Air.
Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, said “The new direct air access between Chiang Mai and Kuala Lumpur underscores the Thai government’s “Ignite Thailand’s Tourism” vision to establish Thailand as the Hub of ASEAN. The flight will significantly increase the number of Malaysian travellers into Thailand.”
Malaysia is one of Thailand’s top five visitor markets. In 2023, Thailand generated 92 billion Baht in revenue from over 4.6 million Malaysian tourists, including over 1.5 million via overland travel across the Thai-Malaysian border.
TAT sees growth opportunities in this market and is continuously promoting sales activities with partners to establish Thailand as a prime destination for Malaysian tourists. This effort aims to achieve the goal of attracting more than 5 million Malaysian visitors in 2024.
From 1 January to 12 August 2024, the number of Malaysian tourists visiting Thailand reached 3,029,594, an increase of 27.65% when compared to the same period in 2023.
Favourite Thai destinations for Malaysian tourists are Songkhla, Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi, Chon Buri, Chiang Mai, and Surat Thani. Their popular activities include Thai food, massage and spa, nightlife, historical sightseeing, and beach.
