AirAsia launches regional marketing campaign to support Thailand tourism

AirAsia launched (16-Dec-08) a massive regional marketing campaign themed “Get Your Baht To Thailand”, “Mai Pen Rai Thailand” and “Same Same Thailand” as part of its initiative to support Thailand’s travel, trade and tourism by offering 100, 000 free seats* from its hubs primarily in Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Johor), Thailand (Bangkok) and Indonesia (Jakarta).

 

 
Prior to this, the Thailand tourism sector has been severely affected evident with the declining number of visitors attributed to the recent political upheaval. Thus this proactive campaign initiated by the ‘People’s Airline’, is a joint collaboration between AirAsia and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) aimed to bring back tourists and businessmen by reinstating the core message that it is now safe to travel back to the ‘Land of Smiles’.

Dato’ Sri Tony Fernandes, Group CEO of AirAsia Berhad said “As an ‘Asean Airline’, we are pleased to be the first airline to respond to this recent political instability climate by driving the traffic back to the country with this free seat campaign. It is also part of our continuous efforts to promote and contribute to the growth of Thailand’s tourism industry by sustaining the country’s reputation as a premier tourist destination. We hope that this campaign will instill the confidence among travelers and also help to boost tourism which is vital at this juncture. It is also noteworthy to highlight that prior to this, we have also provided rescue flights on a daily basis between Kuala Lumpur and U-Tapao since the naval base was opened to commercial flights on November 28. With close to 800 domestic and international flights weekly to and from the various points in Thailand, we are more than confident that the country’s tourism will bounce back.”
 
Ms. Phornsiri Manoharn, Governer of Tourism Authority of Thailand commented, "We are more than happy to collaborate with AirAsia in this campaign. Again, we would like to thank AirAsia for actively contributing to the growth of Thailand’s tourism industry and for helping the country uphold its reputation as a premier tourist destination.”
 
The 100,000 free*seats * allocation includes all international flights on AirAsia’s route network in Thailand- from Bangkok hub to Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi), Cambodia (Phnom Penh), Myammar (Rangoon), Jakarta, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru), Singapore, China (Shenzhen, Hong Kong and Macau) and from Phuket to Singapore. Free seats are also available for domestic destinations from Bangkok to Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani, Hat Yai, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Narathiawat and Ranong. The free seats also include routes from Kuala Lumpur to Phuket, Chiang Mai and Krabi.
 
This regional campaign will be launched exclusively online at www.airasia.com for the booking period between 17-Dec-08 to 19- Dec-08 for travel between 06-Jan-09 to 31-Mar-09.
 
 
(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 17-Dec-08

 

For in-depth analysis of the low cost airline sector worldwide, subscribe now to the peerless Peanuts! Weekly