Targeting the Thai market

Targeting the Thai market

As per the PM’s directions, tour operators are preparing packages for the lean season 

Tourism: Following the prime minister’s instructions, tour operators and hoteliers in the country have begun working on developing packages to attract Thai tourists during the leaner months of June, July, and August this year.

Some tour operators have already set targets and started appointing marketing representatives in Thailand, while hoteliers are working out discounts they could offer besides Thai specific services.

Last month, lyonchhoen instructed the tour operators to develop packages to attract Thai to commemorate Bhutan’s 25 years of diplomatic relation with Thailand.  The initiative was also expected to help promote tourism during lean seasons and make Bhutan an all year round tourist destination.

The target is to bring in 3,000 to 4,000 Thai tourists in June, July and August this year.  The least visited months of June, July and August in 2012 saw 6,580 tourists, while 3,229 visited Bhutan in January and February.

Tour operators said, although they have just about three months to market, the proximity with Thailand didn’t require much preparation.

“We have to try our best to bring in more Thai tourists,” a tour operator said. “It means competition, unlike the peak season, when we have the protective tariff where our cut is already included.”

Being a new initiative, another tour operator said they have to bring down their profit margins. “The amount of profit will depend on our bargaining power with hotels, guides and transporters.”

But despite the short notice, many tour operators appreciated the initiative, as it would help everyone in tourism to upgrade their services.

For instance, it would help hotels recruit permanent staff even during lean seasons.

“We’re hoping the initiative would help take the weight off the peak season, during which we lack capacity,” said another tour operator, whose agency is targeting 600 Thai tourists.

Hoteliers are working out room charges, depending on the number of tourists tour operators bring in.  All tourists are required to be provided accommodation in hotels rated three-stars and above.

A three star hotel in Thimphu charges Nu 3,000 to 4,000 a night, depending on the facilities.

One of the hoteliers in Thimphu said he would be able to give up to 30 percent discounts during the lean months for Thai tourists. “It’s a good initiative and our business depends on how many tourists we’re able to attract,” he said, adding they were hopeful that the initiative works, so that there is something to look forward to during leaner months.

An official from Zhiwaling hotel said they were preparing for Thai tourists with certain products. “We’re planning to hire a Thai chef, besides providing a lean season discount of about 25 percent,” the official said.

There are 75 tourist standard hotels in the country categorised three-star and above.  Paro has the highest number of hotels, resorts and guesthouse at 37, followed by Thimphu and Bumthang with 27 and 23 each.  Another 63 are currently under construction, records with TCB show.

The association of Bhutanese tour operators’ president, Karma Lotey, said, more than 30 tour operators have signed up with the tourism council to attend a travel fair in Bangkok.

The national airlines, Drukair, is also exploring off-season discounts of more than 30 percent.

Drukair’s chief executive officer, Tandin Jamso, said they would provide a discount of more than 30 percent from June to August to attract Thai tourists. “In collaboration with local tour operators, packages are also being developed.”

Today, the airfare for foreigners for the Bangkok-Paro sector, inclusive of taxes, is about USD 830 for a round trip, and about USD 420 for a one-way ticket.

From 2,235 Thai tourists in 2011, the country recorded 3,573 Thai tourists in 2012, making Thailand the fourth top source market.  Last year, there was a slight drop with 3494 visitors.

Source: Kuensel

By Kinga Dema

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Druk Air New Route To Singapore

Air link established with Singapore

The national airline made its maiden flight to the island state on Tuesday
HRH Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck cuts welcome ceremony cake
Expanding Bhutan’s air connectivity to five countries, a direct air link between Singapore and Bhutan was established after national airline Druk Air flew its inaugural flight to the island state, on Tuesday.

Her Royal Highness Princess Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck was on board as chief guest, leading a delegation, comprising DHI, Druk Air, and government representatives, among others.

On arrival, HRH Chimi Yangzom Wangchuk also inaugurated a photo exhibition entitled “Bhutan: the Untouched Kingdom” that will be on display for a month at Changi international airport’s terminal three.
Druk Air will fly twice a week to Singapore (Changi Airport Terminal 1) commencing September 1, Wednesdays and Saturdays. The current airfare to Singapore for local passengers is Nu 21,425 one way, and Nu 43,300 round trip. (Source: Druk Air)


The exhibition, which is complemented by an exhibits of arts and crafts, also provides an opportunity for travellers to don the gho andkira, and even to try their hand at archery, all as part of an attempt to raise awareness about the country as a tourist destination.

The operator of the airport, the Changi airport group (CAG), later hosted a welcome ceremony that was attended by information and communications minister, Nandalal Rai, and Singaporean minister for transport, Lui Tuck Yew.

“Singapore is indeed privileged to be chosen by Drukair as it expands operations here to south-east Asia,” said the CEO of CAG, Lee Seow Hiang. “This represents the strong bilateral ties that both countries enjoy.” He added, “It is also an affirmation and encouragement for us at Changi, in the sense that it demonstrates the kind of connectivity that we can provide new entrants like Druk Air.”

Lee Seow Hiang also pointed out that CAG has and will continue collaborating with the tourism council of Bhutan and Drukair to market Bhutan as a tourist destination, not only in Singapore but Australia as well.

Both Druk Air and the CAG see Australian tourists using Singapore to fly to Bhutan. The Singapore connection is expected to reduce travel time from the island state to Bhutan by almost half, from 12 to six hours, as stopovers in Bangkok, Thailand, can be avoided.

Speaking to this paper, Drukair CEO Tandin Jamso, said that Singapore was chosen, based on increasing tourist arrivals from Australia and New Zealand. He added that, following the visit of Their Majesties the King and the Queen to Singapore, interest in visiting Bhutan has been generated, and is increasing.

He said that Singapore also establishes a second gateway to Bhutan from the southeast market, besides Bangkok, allowing tapping into markets like Indonesia.

On whether Druk Air sees Singapore, a major aviation hub, replacing Bangkok at its busiest sector, Tandin Jamso said that, while there may be some loss of traffic on the Bangkok sector, as Japanese and Australian tourists opt to fly to Bhutan via Singapore, Bangkok will remain a “very important hub”. He said that both airports would cater to different markets and, while traffic may lessen on the Bangkok sector, it is expected that overall tourist numbers to Bhutan should increase. Currently, Drukair is operating a record 13 flights a week to Bangkok.

The expansion of Druk Air’s route network is another significant milestone for Bhutanese aviation.

The president of the hotel’s association of Bhutan, Tobgye S Dorji, who was also on the inaugural flight, highlighted how far aviation has come, not just from 1983, when Druk Air established its first scheduled flights between Kolkata and Paro using a twin propeller 19-seater Dornier 228, but from the 1960s.

Tobgye S Dorji said that he had experienced flying into Paro in a Dakota DC-type aircraft in the late 1960s. “Those days, the Dakota, a non-pressurised aircraft, ‘clacketed’ all the way into Bhutan, wing tips touching the valleys literally, now, it’s luxurious, who’d have imagined flying to Singapore then.”

Meanwhile, Drukair has deferred commencement of scheduled flights to Mumbai, India to the end of the year, based on lower anticipated traffic figures. But Tandin Jamso said that Mumbai would become an additional gateway in India to Bhutan.

Tandin Jamso pointed out that Druk Air has submitted to the government that an air services agreement with Hong Kong be established, so that it can commence operations to the Chinese business hub.

Source: Kuensel.

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