Hotel & Tours Group

Tourism in Thailand's southern resort island of Phuket is brightening after more direct flights from China are now being offered for Chinese tourists.

Last week's inaugural flight from Guangzhou to Phuket was launched by private Chinese firm, CGZL International Travel Service, which charters aircraft from national flag carrier China Southern Airlines (CZ).

Offering two flights a week for one year - 104 flights overall - the route is expected to bring 16,000 Chinese tourists to Thailand's Andaman Sea resort isle. According to Phuket Governor Wichai Praisangob the 166-seat charter aircraft from Guangzhou will help boost tourism in the province.

Mr. Wichai added the success of the recent ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum held in Phuket helped boost confidence among foreign holiday planners.

Meanwhile, Settaphan Buddha-ni, director of the Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said more Chinese tourists are visiting the province, as direct flights from other Chinese cities such as Kunming and Shanghai are flying to Phuket twice weekly.

Mr. Settaphan said the World Eminence Chinese Business Association (WECBA) agreed to bring some 10,000 Chinese couples to marry at Thailand's main tourist destinations - Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and thee resort towns of Pattaya, Samui and Phuket, starting this month until July next year. (TNA)