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One of the biggest names in European tourism is joining forces with a German
airline to launch a new
Phuket
charter service at the start of the high season.
Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium, founded in 2002 and based at Brussels Airport,
and low-cost carrier Condor Flugdienst plan to operate flights to Phuket between
November and April next year.
“Europe will
return to Phuket again this winter, thanks to Thomas Cook AG and tour operator
Neckermann Reisen’s joint promotion of Phuket to the European market, to the
media and to Thomas Cook's trade partners,” Dr Peter Fankhauser, a member of the
Thomas Cook AG Executive and CEO Germany, said.
“The company is offering good rates and fares in order to increase capacity,
in addition to marketing via the international press in Germany and the rest of
Europe,” he said. Thomas Cook AG is one of the biggest names among European tour
operators.
“After the tsunami’s impact on the Andaman provinces, Thomas Cook AG’s
business dropped 15% nationwide, but Phuket business suffered most,” Dr
Fankhauser said.
“In an average year we used to have 45,000 passengers from Europe to Phuket.
Now, after our marketing activities throughout Europe, we are hoping that the
number of passengers flying to Phuket will reach about 25,000 during this
six-month promotional period.”
Thomas Cook AG recognizes that Phuket is a beautiful place to visit, Dr
Fankhauser said, and the company believes that tourists who had been to Phuket
before will want to return.
“We want to show that Phuket is safe and ready to welcome tourists; that
Phuket is back to normal,” he added.
Pattanapong Aikwanich, President of the Phuket Tourism Association, thanked
Thomas Cook AG for promoting Phuket in Europe. “I believe that Thomas Cook’s
support will increase the confidence of investors in the tourism industry,” he
said.
Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura added that he and staff of the Tourism
Authority of Thailand will visit
Japan next month to promote Phuket further.
“We will make presentations to the Japanese about our evacuation drills and
we will do practice drills again at Phuket International Airport on September 9.
“We can demonstrate that we are up to date in terms of equipment and staff
training, which will go a long way to restoring Japanese tourists’ confidence in
Phuket,” the Governor said.
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