Golf bags travel free

BANGKOK, 13 May 2013: Thai Airways International will waive golf bag fees to support a “Golf Friendly Airline” campaign targeting Indian travellers.

The national airline is backing a Tourism Authority of Thailand campaign in India to draw more up-scale sports tourists to Thailand.

“Luggage fees will be waived on golf bag for flights to and from India on both THAI and THAI Smile, but the announcement said it was for selected classes and only valid until 31 October 2013.”

To really make a mark in the lucrative golf market the two airlines will have to do better than  offering a deal subject to travel class and season. Until October, the southwest monsoon blows across the country bringing heavy rains, less than ideal conditions for a four to six-hour game of golf.

Also, golfers may be in an upscale category financially,  but they will still  consider flying economy class when embarking on a golf holiday.

Thai Airways International has 52 nonstop flights weekly from India to Thailand. It operates from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore, apart from seasonal services to Varanasi and Gaya.

The airline recently launched THAI Smile, a sub brand airline that flies nonstop service twice weekly from New Delhi to Phuket, Mumbai to Phuket, and Ahmedabad to Bangkok.

At present, there are over 250 courses (probably half up to competition standard) in Thailand mainly around Bangkok and at beach destinations such as Pattaya, Hua Hin, Samui and Phuket. Other notable golf destinations are Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Khao Yai.

Thailand hosts the annual Honda LPGA and the Royal Trophy – Europe vs Asia Golf Championships.

Recently, Thailand hosted the Touché Golf League in Bangkok, Indian Golf Tourism Association (IGTA) tournament in Phuket, and Take Solutions-World Corporate Golf Challenge (WCGC) tournament in Bangkok.

Golfing is one of the niche markets identified by the TAT. The others are ecotourism, health and wellness, and wedding and honeymoon.

All the niches will be promoted at the Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2013, 5 to 7 June, at the Exhibition Centre Hall, IMPACT, Muang Thong Thani, when specialised companies offering tours for these specific market segments will meet overseas suppliers.

However, apart from during the TTM week, there is very little coordination between the airlines, TAT and the private sector companies that organise sports tourism events and tour content.

Ideally, the national airline needs to back  specialised tour  companies with preferential offers and ad- on features that go beyond fares to information packs delivered to the sport groups during the flight, giveaways and upgraded airport services at both ends of the trip.

TAT and TG have to identify the companies in the sports tourism sector that  they can partner with to give the same kind of ground services that incentive groups are given and recognition for quality sports tour companies to encourage them to develop business. This level of coordination and support across industry segments is missing.

Sourced: ttrweekly