On 18 November 2012, at Hua Hin International Airport, the Deputy Governor of Prachuap Khirikhan Ms. Suwanna Anantakitpaisal, the executive board manager of Hello Hua Hin Co. Ltd. Mr. Andy Cheng, the Hua Hin Mayor Mr. Nopporn Wutthikul, the Mayor of Nong Plab Sub-District Mr. Kriengkrai Thaweekarn, the advisor to Hua Hin Mayor Mr. Dusit Rienrungreung, the Hua Hin District Chief Mr. Kittichai Srithongchuay, the chairman of Cha- Am/Hua Hin Tourism Business Association Dr. Rungrot Sileaungsawas, along with representatives from public and private organizations, namely Hua Hin International Airport, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Tourist Police Office, Customs Officers and local business in Hua Hin, gave a warm welcome to 30 tourists and representatives of tourism business companies from Malaysia who took the ATR-72 plane of 72 seats from Malaysia. The flight was operated by Berjaya Air, Malaysia.
According to Mr. Nopporn, Hua Hin is now becoming one step more international after the Malaysian airline and tourism business entrepreneurs there realized the capacity of Hua Hin thanks to its safety, hard working officers and excellent accommodations. More importantly, the city is a gateway to southern provinces of Thailand like Chum Phon, Surat Thani, Phuket and Had Yai besides other neighboring provinces like Phetchaburi and Nakhon Pathom.
Mr. Nopporn added that Malaysian tourists like Hua Hin because they are attracted to high standard golf courses here. When Thailand becomes a member of ASEAN Community in 2015, Hua Hin and Malaysia will certainly be connected in terms of tourism. Mr. Cheng informed that the flight made from Malaysia to Hua Hin was the first one made to Thailand. It was also an official opening of the Hua Hin-Malaysia and vice versa flight made by this airline. He added that Berjaya operated direct flights from Malaysia to Hua Hin without any transit in Bangkok, thus saving time and money spent for a visit to Cha -Am and Hua Hin.
The Malaysia-Hua Hin flight will attract Malaysian golfers to play golf in Hua Hin more because they can conveniently come to Hua Hin and play golf here at many famous golf courses, such as The Eagle, Banyan, Black Mountain, Majestic and Springfield among others, said Mr. Cheng. Berjaya Air will offer 3 flights weekly on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Each flight takes around 2 hours and will be interesting to both Thai and foreign visitors. Now, the promotional price for a return ticket is around 7,000 Baht.
The Deputy Director of TAT’s Prachuap Khirikhan Office Mr. Natpakhan Akkharawit said that it was a good occasion that Berjaya Air offered a new route to Hua Hin directly from Malaysia because more tourists there would come here easily and spend more time for their holiday here. He added that, in 2011 alone, 1,900,000 visitors from Thailand and other countries came to Hua Hin. This means an income of over 17 billion Baht for the business here. It is expected that at the end of 2012, there will be 3% more of tourists and income to the city. For more information on the flights by Berjaya Air and ticket buying, please contact Hello Hua Hin Co. Ltd. at 32/91 Soi Hua Hin 10, Phetchakasem Road, Hua Hin, or tel. 032 520 717 on working days from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
