Gujarat and Thailand are eyeing to forge a partnership to expand tourism and other businesses between the two regions. Reports also indicate that Thailand will launch Gujarat bound direct flights to India
Gujarat, the western coastal state of India and Thailand have joined hands to promote tourism between the two regions.
A Thai delegation, led by its envoy to India, Pisan Manawapat, met Gujarat’s Chief Minister, Narendra Modi in a bid to expand ties between the state and the country for developing tourism and other industries.
Reports say that Gujarat’s Chief Minister has accepted the suggestion proposed by the Thai envoy. Also, keeping in mind the presence of ancient Lord Vishnu temples in Thailand, Mr Modi proposed to look into the possibilities of starting a Vishnu circuit between the two regions.
The two parties are also thinking about offering direct air travel connectivity between Gujarat and Thailand.
Pisan Manawapat was quoted in media reports as saying: “We are interested in having a direct flight from Gujarat to Thailand and Thai Airways is exploring its possibilities.”
“Gujarat is the custodian of valuable relics of Lord Buddha. Around 60,000 pilgrims from Thailand visit India; therefore, a direct flight will not only help Thailand to attract tourists from Gujarat but will also help the state,” Mr. Manawapat further added.
The new flight service is likely to offer a viable alternative to people who look for airlines offering cheap flights to India connecting Gujarat.
As per latest figures, the number of travellers taking tickets on flights to India and visiting Gujarat has risen at an impressive rate. The government figures indicate that Foreign Tourists Arrival (FTA) in the country’s coastal state has grown by 26% to 1.75 lakh in 2011-12.
Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has also appealed to the Thai delegation to open a visa office in Ahmedabad.
