Phuket (Thailand) – October 22, 2018 (travelindex.com) – The world's fastest-growing airline has now arrived in Phuket. With five direct flights per week from two Indian cities, GoAir is just getting started.

“Phuket is our first international route. Our inaugural flight landed on the island on October 11, and the interest from Indian travelers has been overwhelming. Thanks to Gulu Lalvani, who convinced me to open Phuket to the Indian market, we are making Phuket our hub in Thailand. We already offer direct flights from Mumbai and Delhi to Phuket and will increase this number to ten cities by the end of next year,” said Jeh Wadia, CEO of GoAir.

India is a country with over 1.3 billion inhabitants and a rapidly growing demand for international travel. World Bank data shows that almost 22 million Indians traveled abroad in 2017, while the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) predicts that India will see 50 million outbound tourists by 2020. That these figures are expected to more than double in three years comes as no surprise to Mr. Gulu Lalvani, Chairman of the Royal Phuket Marina.

“I have been observing India for several years and see great potential for Phuket. Indians are already familiar with Thailand, but there haven't been any direct flights to Phuket until now. After working closely with GoAir and showing them Phuket's potential, I am very pleased that Jeh Wadia and his team have invested in Phuket. I think this is the beginning of a great development for the island.”

The start of direct flights to Phuket couldn't have come at a better time for the island. Phuket's opening up to the world's second-largest country will help mitigate the impact of declining visitor numbers from China.

“The advantages for Phuket are obvious, and the potential is limitless. These three to four direct flights from India will greatly benefit Phuket’s economy. They will not only bring more lucrative Indian weddings to Phuket but are also characterized by high average holiday spending. May and June typically have the lowest hotel occupancy rates in Phuket, but this is precisely when schools in India are on holiday, and many Indians travel. GoAir’s direct flights will give tourism on the island a significant boost during this period,” added Mr. Lalvani.

"India currently has the highest levels of pollution in the world, and once Indian travelers discover they can travel nonstop to the paradise island of Phuket, I would not be surprised if the number of Indian visitors surpassed that of Chinese visitors within three years."

GoAir is part of the Waida Group, one of India's oldest conglomerates, founded in 1736, and is a leading low-cost carrier in India. According to Routes Online, GoAir is currently the fastest-growing airline in the world.

“We will soon be flying to Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok. Thailand plays an important role in our international expansion and is a popular destination for Indian tourists. Phuket is a key hub,” explained Mr. Wadia. “Ninety percent of our fleet is new, and it will be 100 percent within six months. We have ordered 164 aircraft and have received 41 so far. Our plans for Phuket and the region are extensive.”

Further information can be found at www.VisitPhuket.org

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