Nok Air to help govt attract high-end Chinese tourists to Thailand

[webfact]

Nok Air to help govt attract high-end Chinese tourists to Thailand

 

  

BANGKOK, 26 September 2016 (NNT) - The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has sought cooperation from Nok Air to promote Thai tourism among Chinese luxury tourists. 

Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul met with Nok Air CEO Patee Sarasin to seek cooperation from the airline to boost domestic tourism, after the government handed down policy aimed at attracting Chinese luxury tourists. 

Mrs. Kobkarn noted that Nok Air already operates flights from the Chinese cities of Qingdao, Nanjing, Tianchang, Shenyang and Chongqing, which are considered relatively affluent. 

Nok Air CEO Patee also said the recent crackdown on zero-dollar tour agencies did not affect the airline, claiming that none of its Chinese passengers used such services. The Nok Air executive added that 70 percent of passengers flying with Nok Scoot, the airline's joint venture with Singapore-based Scoot, are Chinese nationals with considerable spending power. 

High end-tour packages will be developed and piloted in Qingdao, before expanding to other Chinese cities. Nok Air is also planning to launch new flights to Kunming, Guangzhou, and three other cities in November from Don Mueang International Airport. 

 

-- nnt 2016-09-26

[clockman]

Panic mode! But as long as your husband is a general. No problem.

[taichiplanet]

I cannot see how getting a low cost airline will help getting high-end tourists!

[JAG]

I'm not sure that Nokia Air would be that much of a beacon for afluent travellers. 

 

Unless they are vintage Boeing airliner enthusiasts...

[matta330]

If they are really serious about this, Nok has to upgrade their products.  Domestically, Nok has no business class, and internationally, Nokscoot's business class is more like a premium economy class.  There are luxury Chinese tourists, and they know quality.  I am not sure that Nok has what it takes.

 

[klauskunkel]

Nok Air, Thailand's premier air tuk-tuk

[craigt3365]

At least they are trying.  Keep up the good work!  Better than going after zero cost tours.

[Nicolas32]

Well for a start first time travelers on mainland China normally start with Thailand or Hong Kong to get there feet wet but the normal people who prefer to travel around Asia prefer S. Korea or Japan, Taiwan, Singapore   ... 

[arithai12]

1 hour ago, JAG said:

I'm not sure that Nokia Air would be that much of a beacon for afluent travellers. 

 

Unless they are vintage Boeing airliner enthusiasts...

Well at least Nokia Air doesn't explode in mid flight like Samsung Air.

[Sphere]

1 hour ago, taichiplanet said:

I cannot see how getting a low cost airline will help getting high-end tourists!

 

In related news, roadside noodle shops in Chinatown were asked to stock up on Perrier.

[Squeegee]

Lack of insight

Childish hubris

Desperate

Fail

 

 

Another still-born brain burp out of Thailand.

[trainman34014]

She should walk the streets of London , Paris , and New York if she wants to meet high end Chinese tourists.   She could then ask them why they are not in Thailand and receive some very interesting answers !

[HauptmannUK]

I frequently work in China and have educated and affluent friends there. Most of them have visited Thailand - usually first on a group tour and later independently. One of my friends from Nanjing has been to Thailand twice this year already with his family - I would describe him as affluent.

The Nok flights are popular because they are direct. For example from Nanjing you can fly ditect with Nok, via Hong Kong with HK Airlines or via Guangzhou with China Southern. The Nok fare is usually most expensive but its much more convenient. Flights are often sold out months in advance at peak season.

[Ulic]

I guess NOK is going to start offering an expanded business class seat service, maybe even flat-beds.

[Johpa]

The words coming from the office of Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul are becoming a chronic embarrassment to the Kingdom.

[Redline]

Keep up the good gimmicks, I mean, good work.  It's going to take something serious to get really wealthy people to come to Thailand.  PS they don't fly NOK AIR

[Brer Fox]

At least this brain burst is a step up from one of her more recent efforts to attract tourists. That being to eliminate prostitution in Thailand so as to improve the "image" of the country.

[NongKhaiKid]

Didn't the PM threaten to withdraw Nok's licence and yet she's looking to cooperate with them to attract high end tourists ?

[waldroj]

"...The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has sought cooperation from Nok Air to promote Thai tourism among Chinese luxury tourists..."

 

They may as well try the Chinese " luxury tourists" after the latest aviation safety rankings in the annual survey of the world airlines by AirlineRatings.com:

http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/thailand-is-home-to-4-of-the-worst-airlines-for-safety-in-the-world/128383/

 

The flag of these prospective customers has three more stars on it than Nok Air's current safety ranking!