The upgraded service has proved successful for Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI), which has been operating for three decades in Auckland.

“We’re committed to helping grow and strengthen New Zealand’s market ties with Thailand through our new daily Dreamliner service, which offers business travellers 30 ‘royal silk class’ business seats to Bangkok daily, and boosts business class capacity by 40 per cent per week,” said Karun Sirarojanakul, the Thai Airways general manager for New Zealand.

The full services delivered a pleasurable experience, including business-class seating and sleeping on board the long-haul 787-9 Dreamliner that recently replaced the airline’s 777-200ER aircraft used on the route to Auckland since 2008

“THAI is the only airline that operates the Bangkok-Auckland-Bangkok route,” said Karun. Flight frequency on the route increased in 2016 from four flights to five flights per week, boosting weekly capacity by 25 per cent. That was again stepped up in 2017 to daily flights, boosting total capacity by 40 per cent per week.

Thailand is now New Zealand’s eighth largest trading partner, with goods trading between the countries increasing almost 150 per cent since the Closer Economic Partnership was signed in 2005, according to New Zealand Export and Trade website.

Total trade figures between New Zealand and Thailand now total $3.62 billion (Bt113.32 billion) and it is estimated the new THAI service is worth $53 million to New Zealand’s economy.

“The increase in service is great news for New Zealand and will inject $53 million annually into the New Zealand economy,” said Scott Tasker, Auckland Airport’s general manager for aeronautical commercial on the Auckland Airport website.

Beside its alliance, the four-star airline also operates code-share with non-alliance members including Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia, making it easier for passengers to access local destinations.

New Zealanders have a visa exemption for a one-month visit to Thailand.

“Thailand is a popular holiday destination for Kiwis, with more than 120,000 New Zealanders travelling there during the past year,” Karun said.

“The upgraded service will bring more travellers to Thailand, which is the travel and business hub of Asia. On the other hand, Thais can enjoy exploring adventurous experiences and attractive Maori culture here,” he added.

THAI has joined with Destination Rotorua, Ngai Tahu Tourism, and Auckland International Airport to promote travel between Thailand and New Zealand with special campaigns that end this month.

Joining the recent media trip, I experienced cultural destinations in Rotorua, an island city located in New Zealand’s North Island that is renowned for its geothermal activity and Maori culture.

THAI has launched the “Hello New Zealand” campaign for customers to mark the special occasion of its increased flights.

A special fare for economy-class travel on the Bangkok-Auckland-Bangkok route starts at Bt25,720 per person (fares are inclusive of applicable airport taxes for a minimum of two travel partners).

Royal Orchid Plus joined hands with New Zealand Immigration and offers ROP members (Platinum Member, Gold Card and Silver Card) plus one non-ROP member travel partner who holds a Thai passport and resides in Thailand, the chance to apply for a New Zealand Visa without presenting a bank statement. This offer will be valid until March 31, 2018 and is applicable for ROP members who have held silver card status for at least 12 months.

“Hello New Zealand” tour packages are available for those who prefer freedom when they travel. This includes a four-day North Island fly-and-drive package starting from Bt42,500 and a 10-day North and South Island fly-and-drive package starting from Bt74,900. These prices include economy class tickets, accommodation with breakfast and car rental (unlimited distance). The package also includes an iFREE Global Travel Sim card.

Meanwhile, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) and its subsidiaries have announced their results for 2017 with an operating profit of Bt2.85 billion (29.8 per cent lower than the same period last year). They attribute the drop to a 24.2 per cent increase in jet fuel prices, while average passenger yields decreased by 7.7 per cent due to the heavier competition and the reduction of fuel surcharges even though the average cabin factor was higher than last year.

After deduction of one-time expenses, mainly from the impairment of assets and aircraft and the loss on foreign currency exchange, THAI and  its subsidiaries reported a net loss of just over Bt 2.07 billion.

The DOT said that in line with the Asean policy to boost tourism within the region, it is assisting tourism personnel in the upper Northeast to deepen their knowledge on Issan history and cultural heritage as well as to improve their skills and abilities to serve the visitors efficiently.

“It’s necessary for people in the tourism industry to give impressive experiences to the visitors which will bring in more tourists and more repeated visits,” said Anan Wongbenjarat, director general of the DOT.

The retreats accommodate up to 10 persons and include accommodations, breakfast and lunch, five group sessions covering physical and mental relaxation and mental resilience, one hour personal coaching session and four hours of spa treatments. They will run from 16th April – 12th May 2018, the resort said in a press stattement.

David Arni is a Neuro Linguistic Programming Master and certified coach in Kinesiology, Systemic Constellations and European Coaching Association. He conducts resilience workshops for companies in Switzerland and Germany and personal coaching for business professionals and private persons. He designed this wellness retreat to incorporate systematic tools, yoga and Qi Gong, spa treatments and individual coaching to improve self-understanding and personal resilience. Participants would emerge relaxed, revitalised and better-equipped to deal with stress.

Centara’s Koh Chang Tropicana Resort, set on Klong Prao Beach in the centre of the island’s west coast, is an ideal destination to escape the tensions of city life and practice healthier physical and mental habits. The calm blue sea, landscaped tropical gardens, and verdant mountain backdrop provide clean air and a tranquil, natural environment. Participants can opt for spacious rooms or Cabana suites for their stay.

“David is an outstanding coach,” said the resort’s General Manager, Pius M. Luechinger. “He has the expertise to help people identify the sources of their stress and develop mental and physical approaches to overcome them. We are fortunate to host his program in this beautiful natural location.”

The announcement, which was witnessed by Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang and senior leaders of Vietnam and India, marked a breakthrough on the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam-India diplomatic relationship and the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership between Vietnam and India.

The first route is planned to connect Ho Chi Minh City with New Delhi with four flights per week.

India is well-known for its marvelous nature and grand architecture certified as world heritage sites. Among them are Valley of Flowers National Park (Uttarakhand), Lotus Temple (New Delhi), Taj Mahal (Uttar Pradesh) and Red Fort (New Delhi).

The six Asean member states on the list are Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Other countries on the list were Japan, South Korea, Maldives and the United States.

According to the report, outbound visits by Chinese residents hit a record high of more than 130 million and they spent US$115.29 billion (Bt3.6 trillion) in 2017, making China the world’s biggest source of outbound travellers.

File photo: Chinese tourists in Thailand

The report found that China’s outbound tourists demand high-quality tourism products, with more of them preferring premium and customised trips, looking for a “more foreign experience”.

Living conditions and services, rather than shopping and sightseeing, were given more weight by Chinese tourists. Outbound travel has now also grown into a gauge measuring the happiness of Chinese.