Thailand will be hot during Scandinavian winter

Scandinavian tour operators have reported a phenomenal increase in bookings to Thailand over the upcoming winter holiday, prompting an introduction of new charter services and an increase of frequencies on existing flights.

TUI Nordic product area manager for Italy and South-east Asia, Ms Lin Wessblad said the company estimated its clients from the Nordic countries to all Thai destinations would increase to 130,000 visitors between October 2007 and April 2008, representing a 30 per cent increase from the previous period.

From October to April, TUI Nordic will continue to operate its winter charter flights - five times per week - using a Boeing747 aircraft linking Scandinavian cities with Bangkok and Phuket. Two new charter flight routes to Surat Thani will be operated between December and April, including two flights per month each on the Stockholm-Surat Thani and Helsinki- Surat Thani routes, using a 220-seat B757 aircraft.

Ms Wessblad said to cope with increased demand TUI Nordic would operate two new flights per week, using a B767 aircraft, directly linking Stockholm and Copenhagen with Phuket between April and October next year.

MyTravel Northern Europe contracts manager, Mr Åke Björk, said the number of the company’s clients to Phuket and Krabi was estimated to increase by 50 per cent to around 78,000 during the upcoming winter holiday. (TTG)