[IMG=20610-6388] Thai travel market players asked the government of the country to control the spread of bird flu (in Northern provinces of Thailand a death of a person from bird flu was registered), Agence France-Presse reported on July 31st. The control over bird flu spread will provide safety control for tourists and normal services of travel companies in high season. Apropos, in 2006 13 million tourists are expected to be registered that will bring $12,3 billion tourism income.
Meanwhile, Russian tour operators believe that if the issue of bird flu in Thailand is not covered by mass media, the season will be a success for the Thai market. ‘Last year the issue was also brought up but it did not affect the demand’, said Sergey Prigolovkin, CEO of PAKS Travel Company.
At the moment travel companies are negotiating with airlines and hoteliers in Thailand that is expected to result into 15-20% increase of market representation of Russian travel companies in Thailand. In particular, it might be stimulated by the fact that prices for tour packages to Thailand do not grow considerably. Thus, Tatiana Chuvilkina, General Director of Natalie tours, commented: ‘Aeroflot flights will increase in price by 5%. Besides, it seems that despite the growth of fuel cost the cost of charter flights will not also change a lot’. Moreover, Thai hoteliers do not rush into increasing accommodation rates. Tatiana Vand, Director of Vand International Tour, said: ‘current prices for accommodation in Thailand exceed last year rates maximum by 5-10%. However, tariffs are to be negotiated’.
At the present moment only constant growth of competition on Thai air routes. In particular, starting from July 15th joint sales agreement for Moscow – Bangkok flights between S7 Airlines and Thai Airlines came into force. However, tour operators are not concerned about the situation. Competition in the air also help to sustain the prices, Chuvilkina said.
