[IMG=21302-7161]At the beginning of the winter season 2006-2007 several leading tour operators divided into two pools and announced a launch of charter programs on the Moscow – Phuket route among their plans. Representatives of the first pool of tour operators – Lanta-tour Voyage, CAPITAL TOUR, Bureau South Cross, PAKS and Aniko-tour, positively assess the first results of their charter program launched on October 7th. Thus, Tatiana Korshunova, Promotion Vice President of Lanta-tour Voyage, stated as follows: ‘sales depth is good at the moment. There are bookings for the end of November. Besides, New Year tours are actively booked’. She also pointed out high demand for the destination, therefore, according to Tatiana Korshunova, the second charter program on the route will not be excessive. Meanwhile, the competing pool – Tez Tour and Natalie Tours, is also satisfied with its sales activity. According to the companies’ representatives, November flights are practically fully booked and they soon plan to announce stop-sale for New Year flights.
Furthermore, the increase in price by around 10% provoked by hotel base improvement after the tsunami did not affect the demand for the island. Roman Ribakov, PR Director of TEZ TOUR, explains the current demand for Phuket by the increased prices for tours to Egypt that traditionally competed with the Thai destination. Simultaneously, the tour operator is prepared for the December drop in demand. ‘We will make every effort to be successful during December. We can stimulate clients by special offers and discounted prices’, said Ribakov. Meanwhile, Natalie Tours hope to operate flights at their full capacity without traditional for the period special offers. ‘Knowing traditional ups and downs in demand for the destination we calculated prices and offered discounts upon the principle ‘buy in advance – get a discount’, explained Tatiana Chuvilkina, Deputy Director in PR.
