Tourexpi
TAT welcomes Air Astana’s inaugural flight from Astana to Phuket
The
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is celebrating growing tourism ties between
Kazakhstan and Thailand, hosting a warm reception at Phuket International
Airport for Air Astana’s inaugural flight from Astana, Kazakhstan, to Phuket.
Ms.
Suladda Sarutilavan, TAT Europe Region Executive Director, hosted the
event alongside officials and representatives from key public and private
sector agencies in Phuket. Together, they celebrated the landing of Air Astana
Flight KC163, which departed from Astana on 26 October at 21:40 local time and
touched down in Phuket on 27 October at 07:45.
The
flight strengthens Thailand’s appeal to Kazakhstani travellers and marks a new
milestone in the thriving tourism relationship between Kazakhstan and Thailand.
“Thailand’s
partnership with Air Astana strengthens the bond between our countries and
allows Kazakhstani tourists greater access to the world-renowned beaches and
cultural treasures of Phuket and beyond. This inaugural flight signifies an
exciting step forward in fostering sustainable tourism links with
Kazakhstan,” Ms. Suladda said.
Kazakhstan’s
national airline, Air Astana, has been in operation for over 20 years, and for
this high-demand tourism season, running October 2024 through March 2025, it
has scheduled 624 flights to Thailand, including regular and charter flights,
to both Bangkok and Phuket.
With
an estimated 103,584 seats available, this expanded service is expected to
significantly support the growing interest among Kazakhstani tourists in
Thailand’s premier beach destinations.
Kazakhstan
is among Thailand’s fastest-growing tourism markets, with 172,282 Kazakhstani
visitors recorded in 2023—a 190% increase from 2022.
The
ongoing growth is a result of strategic tourism cooperation agreements,
including the recent bilateral visa exemption allowing Kazakhstani citizens to
visit Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days.
From
January to 20 October 2024, Thailand welcomed over 136,288 Kazakhstani
tourists, marking a 16.22% increase over the same period in 2023.
Phuket,
along with Chon Buri, Krabi, and Phang-Nga, remains a preferred destination for
these visitors, who tend to stay an average of 9.8 nights and spend around
75,080 Baht per person.
The
TAT is committed to supporting continued tourism growth in Kazakhstan, focusing
on partnerships with local tour operators and tourism marketing activities.
TAT’s ongoing initiatives aim to stimulate demand for Thailand as a leading
destination in Southeast Asia for both the winter and summer seasons.
Image
Credit: © TAT
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