Bangkok seats go a-begging from Kolkata – it is out of favor with Bengalis

It is a very sad state of affairs that Puja flights to Bangkok have rows of seats still empty and Thailand struggles to woo tourists from the east. The trend is attributed to political unrest over the past year and possibly a Phuket-Pattaya overkill. As a result, Thailand has been dropped from the list of favorites.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 16 October 2015.

In the festive season of Durga Puja, around 18,000 Calcuttans fly abroad. This is about 50 per cent more than the average for that period in any other month except the winter and summer holiday seasons. Experience has shown that more than 40 per cent of the Puja holiday traffic is to Southeast Asia. Then comes West Asia and Africa (mainly Egypt) that account for around 30 per cent followed by Europe which accounts for 20 per cent. The rest is divided between the United States and Australia.
Among the Southeast Asian countries, Thailand had been the most popular sector for more than a decade. Calcuttans treated Thailand at par with Digha, Puri or Darjeeling – Thailand was nearer home and was full of activity options and, it was also affordable. But – tour operators are puzzled at the sudden new trend.
Incidentally, Thai Airways had added an afternoon flight for five days between October 15 and 24 in anticipation of the usual rush – they are now left staring at the empty seats. And - travel agents who had blocked seats in bulk are stuck with unsold tickets.
(Image courtesy wikmediacommons.org)

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