Turkey tours in Thai market

Kuoni Travel has restructured a partnership with Turkish Airlines to promoting five-star luxury travel to southern Turkey.

“We opted  to promote Turkey through Turkish Airlines because the airline brand is global and matches Kuoni’s quality and innovation standards,” said Kuoni Travel Destination Management general manager sales Thailand, Fiona Rodel.

The partnership allows Kuoni to sell its products on to the airline’s appointed agents such as Takerng Tour and Regency Travel.

In the Thai market, Kuoni Travel sells classic routes and five-star luxury routes to Turkey focusing on high-end travellers.

“Turkey is the airline’s home base so they know what they are selling and we get really good deals,” she said.

The 2010 tour programme covers an eight-day Izmir-Pamukkale-Konya-Cappadoccia in southern Turkey. All flights are operated by Turkish Airlines while the tour is operated by Kuoni’s appointed agent, VIP Tourism.

Attractions include House of Virgin Mary in Izmir, Hierapolis Ancient and Cotton Steps in Pamukkale, Mevlana Museum in Konya, Goreme Museum, Kaymakli, and Zelve Valley in Cappadoccia, Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and shopping at Spice Market in Istanbul.

It costs around Bt69,900 depending on  the air fare component. Leisure group are usually limited to 25 people. For incentives, the group can extend to 40 people.

Popular travel periods in the Thai market are April, October and December, with the upcoming Songkran festival a peak for long-haul travel.

“Turkey is an affordable destination for leisure. Although it is in Europe, it has almost the same price as New Zealand and Istanbul is one of the top MICE cities in Europe,” said Ms Rodel.

Generally, tour programme to Turkey cost between Bt50,000 and Bt70,000.

Kuoni Group has a head Office in Zurich, Switzerland. For Asia, the regional head office is in Hong Kong. The Kuoni Group continues to pursue its growth strategy in 2010, by acquiring the US-based TBA Global, LLC as its American destination management division effective 1 February.

In 2006, Kuoni bought Asian Trails, one of the largest tour operators in Southeast Asia as its anchor destination management business in the region.