TAT welcomes inaugural Chinese flight, with tour groups headed to Phuket and Phang Nga

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) welcomed an inaugural flight from Guiyang to Phuket on Tuesday, on the Chinese airline 9 Air. The flight was almost full with 172 people, a good sign for TAT’s goal of drawing five million Chinese tourists to Thailand this year. The airline is carrying tour groups headed to Phuket and Phang Nga.

The airline is launching regular flights to and from Guiyang to Phuket three times a week, with a 180-seat aircraft. The flights will operate every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, Thai media outlet The Journalist Club reported. The company has also organised activities to stimulate and promote marketing with five partner travel agencies, producing tour packages for sale at prices ranging from 4,000 to 8,000 yuan per person.

The director of TAT’s Phuket office, Lertchai Wangtrakuldee,…