On 8 January 2020, Miss Sweeya Santipitaks, Consul-General of Thailand in Kolkata, attended Thai Airways International PCL Kolkata’s “Appreciation Luncheon by THAI” at Studio 1, JW Marriott, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. Among other 40 participants were staff members of Thai Airways International (THAI) PCL Kolkata and representatives from local travel agencies.

             Mr. Kris Theerarak, General Manager, THAI PCL Kolkata, delivered his welcoming address and mentioned the 60^th Anniversary of THAI’s foundation in 2020, as well as the historic international route between Bangkok and Kolkata, which was the second route of the airline. He briefed about the company’s tentative plan and activities for 2020, and thanked the distinguished guests for their continuous support to the airline’s operation and activities in Kolkata.

              In her speech, Consul-General of Thailand commended the fruitful collaboration between the Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kolkata, and THAI PCL Kolkata, in the Team Thailand spirit, which resulted in successful conclusion of many events and activities throughout 2019 in Kolkata. She took this opportunity to congratulate THAI for receiving two Skytrax Awards in 2019 for the World’s Best Airline Lounge Spa and the Best Airline Staff in Asia. THAI won the award in the category of World’s Best Airline Lounge Spa for the fifth consecutive year.

             Moreover, the Consul-General made announcements about the visa fee exemption scheme of the visa on arrival for Indian tourists travelling to Thailand, which had been extended to 30 April 2020. She congratulated the local travel agency representatives who had played their part and contributed to the increase of foreign tourists to Thailand throughout 2019 to 39 million, marking in the global picture a 4 percent increase comparing to 2018’s figure. Among the growing number of tourists, the rise in number of Indian travellers to Thailand amounted to 22 percent. As Thailand anticipated 40 million visitors in 2020, the Consul-General encouraged all parties to work together to achieve this target, which would mutually benefit Thailand and India much beyond tourism aspects, ranging from economic, trade and investment aspects to cultural exhanges.

             At the end of the event, the General Manager of THAI gifted the representatives of local travel agencies with mementos and souvenirs as tokens of appreciation. The Consul-General was invited to grace a lucky draw, following which the winner among the invited guest was awarded 2 Thai Airways return tickets of the route Kolkata – Bangkok – Kolkata.