UAE's Etihad Airways and The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) today signed a landmark $1 million agreement to increase tourism to Thailand.

Under the new agreement, the Abu Dhabi-based airline and TAT will jointly promote travel to Thailand from priority markets including the UAE, UK, France, Germany, Italy, Egypt and Kuwait.

The agreement was signed by Etihad Airways vice president Marketing Tim Burnell and TAT’s deputy governor Tanes Petsuwan at a commemorative event in Bangkok at the Executive Lounge, Grande Centre Point Terminal 21. They were joined by Etihad Airways senior manager Marketing, Lamya Al Nuaimi.

Burnell said: “Etihad Airways has a long and proud association with Thailand – in fact Bangkok was one of our first international routes. It continues to be one of the busiest in our network enjoying strong year-round demand, particularly from the UAE, GCC, Middle East, Africa and Europe.

“With five daily flights to Thailand – four to Bangkok and one to Phuket – Etihad Airways has a significant investment in Thai tourism and the new agreement with Tourism Authority of Thailand supports and extends that commitment.

“Through innovative joint marketing campaigns, we aim to bring hundreds of thousands of first-time and repeat travellers from Europe and the Middle East to Thailand to enjoy this beautiful country and to experience the warm, friendly hospitality for which the Thai people are world-renowned.”

Bangkok continues to be one of Etihad Airways’ busiest routes - around 800,000 guests travelled to and from Bangkok in 2016 alone. In all, more than 6 million guests have flown on the airline’s Thailand routes since 2007 and further growth is expected.

Petsuwan said: “Europe has long been a prime market for Thailand. We have also seen an increase in visitors from the Middle East and Africa. The new partnership with Etihad Airways will be a great benefit to both parties – to Thailand in terms of increased visitor numbers and to Etihad Airways in terms of promoting its international network.”

In 2017, TAT has set a target of 34.5 million international visitors, generating an estimated 1.81 trillion Baht ($50 billion) – a 10 per cent increase year on year – in international tourism receipts.

Etihad Airways launched its Bangkok route with daily flights in April 2004. It added a second daily service in June 2006, a third daily flight in April 2012, and a fourth on July 1, 2015. The airline added Phuket to its Thai network in October 2014. - TradeArabia News Service