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Somasroy Chakraborty

Kolkata May 15 Some places in South East Asia, primarily Bangkok in Thailand, are emerging as potential holiday destinations for people living in eastern India.

According to tour operators and travel agents, Bangkok enjoys cost advantages over preferred holiday destinations in India such as Goa and Kerala.

"Thailand still remains the cheapest overseas destination for leisure tourists from eastern India," said Mr Manoj Saraf, Managing Committee Member of Travel Agents Association of India .

While airfare from Kolkata to Bangkok is estimated at Rs 7,000-9,000, while that from Kolkata to Goa is nearly Rs 14,000-15,000. "A five-star hotel in Bangkok is as cheap as a three-star hotel in India," Mr Saraf told Business Line.

Besides, Bangkok is well connected to Kolkata through flights. There are 26 direct flights from Kolkata to Bangkok in a week. While Air India, Jet Airways and Thai Airways have seven direct flights each, Druk Airways has five direct flights from the city to Bangkok in a week. Compared to this, Goa is not directly connected to Kolkata by air.

"It is a fact that better connectivity always helps. The packages offered by these airlines are also attractive. Bangkok is emerging as a potential holiday destination not only for people in Kolkata but also for people from Sikkim, Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam," Dr G.D. Gautama, Principal Secretary of State Tourism Department, said.

While annual outbound tourists from India to Thailand is estimated at 4 lakh,Kolkata accounts for nearly five per cent of this.

More Stories on : Tourism | West Bengal

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