BANGKOK (NNT) - The government is setting its sights on attracting 40 million foreign tourists in 2024, up from 27 million in 2023, bolstered by the launch of nine new airlines. This target comes as the nation’s tourism industry shows signs of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, aided by relaxed travel restrictions and the reopening of international borders.

 

The new airlines set to begin operations are Asian Aerospace Service, Siam Seaplane, Really Cool Air, Avanti Air Sarter, Landarch Airlines, Bangkok Helicopter Services, Pattaya Airways, Asia Atlantic Airlines, and P80 Air. While some will concentrate on regional and domestic flights, others are expected to add capacity to Thailand’s aviation market, potentially including international routes.

 

These airlines are receiving financial support from the government, which anticipates they will create jobs and spur economic growth. In 2023, Thai airports saw around 100 million passengers, and the Airports of Thailand Plc (AOT) forecasts a further increase to 130 million passengers in the fiscal year 2024. This projection indicates a return to near pre-pandemic passenger levels experienced in 2019.

 

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) also predicts a resurgence in the aviation industry in 2024, aligning with the overall expectation of a recovery to nearly pre-COVID conditions. This development is poised to significantly contribute to Thailand’s tourism and economic sectors in the coming year.

 

By Paphamon Arayasukawat

 

Full story: NNT 2024-01-02

 

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29 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

These airlines are receiving financial support from the government,

This government loves to spend money to help big businesses.

And the poor are left.........more poor?

600 baht a month for old folk. Wow!

2 hours ago, Tropicalevo said:

600 baht a month

   .......and the promised 600 baht daily wage is actually a 2 baht a day increase. Perhaps employers should consider dishing the increase out as 8 x 25 satang coins rather than a single coin, at least it will jiggle in your pocket. The redness in the locals' faces is not from lao khao but from being smacked by their once beloved party.

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Pattaya Airways

Come on now, no jokes.

Better get their finger out and make some moves, 2024 is already here and will be half gone before they stop talking about it and do something.

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The government is setting its sights on attracting 40 million foreign tourists in 2024, up from 27 million in 2023, bolstered by the launch of nine new airlines.

We all know what happens to those targets.

I bet 5 new airlines will be broke by the end of next year

14 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Pattaya Airways

👍

Will be interesting to see how many of these 'new airlines' survive the next 12 months. Not to mention their passengers ...

They've been running essentially the same article every few weeks for the last several months, so we already know about these grand plans. How about if we hold off on more stories until there's actually real progress to report?

British Airways seems to have permanently deleted Thailand from its schedule? Nothing since 2020..