Saturday 27 / April / 2024
Muscat: More Omanis are expected to visit Thailand in 2016, a senior official at the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Dubai and Middle East office told Times of Oman.
“We are expecting to welcome 100,000 Omani visitors this year, compared to 80,000 in 2015,” Tanes Petsuwan, executive director of TAT said, adding that 80 per cent of Omani visitors visit Thailand for medical treatment.
Read also: India preferred destination for medical treatment
Explaining why his country is a major hub for medical tourism, Petsuwan said that affordable prices of hospitals, well-trained medical personnel, and easy access to doctors make Thailand a major destination for people who seek quality healthcare.
While the GCC region is braving austerity measures, Petsuwan was optimistic, noting that the Omani currency remains very strong, while the drop in oil prices would not affect the flow of tourists from the Sultanate to Thailand.
He was speaking on the sidelines of a road-show, an event held at the Grand Hyatt Muscat on April 19 to promote Thailand as a “Quality Leisure Destination through Thainess”.
He said Oman is a ‘rising star’ with a large potential market in tourism in the Middle East region.
Some 26 leading hotels, hospital representatives and other businesses from many parts of Thailand participated in the event.
Commenting on the road-show, Petsuwan said, “This event helps us build a new relationship and strengthens our ties with our local friends and partners.
“We would also like to invite women to travel to Thailand, as it is a destination known for bespoke shopping and pampering experiences.”
Thailand remains one of the highly visited travel destination and is a popular choice for Arab travellers because of its Muslim-friendly accommodations and Halal food options.
