The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects more tourists from the United States following the return of direct flights between the two countries after more than a decade’s absence.
TAT governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool said tourism would be one of the sectors to benefit from the resumption of direct flights between Thailand and the US.
She made the statement on Sunday after taking part in a ceremony at Suvarnabhumi airport welcoming the inaugural flight resumption by United Airlines.
It was the first direct flight between the US and Thailand in 11 years. United now offers daily flights between Los Angeles and Bangkok through Hong Kong.
Direct flights mean passengers do not need to change planes and use the same flight number throughout the trip.
The inaugural flight of UA820 left Los Angeles at 11.15pm (local time) on Friday and arrived in Bangkok at 11.25am on Sunday. The return leg for the US Pacific coastal city, UA821, left Suvarnabhumi airport at 4.55pm on Sunday. The US carrier uses a Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the route.
“This new service not only strengthens bilateral tourism and economic ties but also responds to the growing interest among American travellers seeking meaningful experiences in Thailand,’ the tourism chief said on the TAT website.
About 800,000 US travellers have visited the country this year, a 5% increase year on year, TAT data from Jan 1 to last Friday showed. Thailand targeted 1 million arrivals from the US this year.
The resumption of direct flights between the two countries follows the decision by the US Federal Aviation Administration to put Thailand back on its list of countries complying with US aviation standards earlier this year.
Thai Airways International is still not keen on returning to US destinations. The national carrier flew to Seattle, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York before terminating its trans-Pacific service.