TAT welcomes Air Astana’s inaugural flight from Astana to Phuket

Phuket

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is celebrating growing tourism ties between Kazakhstan and Thailand, hosting a warm reception at Phuket International Airport for Air Astana’s inaugural flight from Astana, Kazakhstan, to Phuket.

Ms. Suladda Sarutilavan, TAT Europe Region Executive Director, hosted the event alongside officials and representatives from key public and private sector agencies in Phuket. Together, they celebrated the landing of Air Astana Flight KC163, which departed from Astana on 26 October at 21:40 local time and touched down in Phuket on 27 October at 07:45.

The flight strengthens Thailand’s appeal to Kazakhstani travellers and marks a new milestone in the thriving tourism relationship between Kazakhstan and Thailand.

“Thailand’s partnership with Air Astana strengthens the bond between our countries and allows Kazakhstani tourists greater access to the world-renowned beaches and cultural treasures of Phuket and beyond. This inaugural flight signifies an exciting step forward in fostering sustainable tourism links with Kazakhstan,” Ms. Suladda said.

Kazakhstan’s national airline, Air Astana, has been in operation for over 20 years, and for this high-demand tourism season, running October 2024 through March 2025, it has scheduled 624 flights to Thailand, including regular and charter flights, to both Bangkok and Phuket.

With an estimated 103,584 seats available, this expanded service is expected to significantly support the growing interest among Kazakhstani tourists in Thailand’s premier beach destinations.

Kazakhstan is among Thailand’s fastest-growing tourism markets, with 172,282 Kazakhstani visitors recorded in 2023—a 190% increase from 2022.

The ongoing growth is a result of strategic tourism cooperation agreements, including the recent bilateral visa exemption allowing Kazakhstani citizens to visit Thailand visa-free for up to 30 days.

From January to 20 October 2024, Thailand welcomed over 136,288 Kazakhstani tourists, marking a 16.22% increase over the same period in 2023.

Phuket, along with Chon Buri, Krabi, and Phang-Nga, remains a preferred destination for these visitors, who tend to stay an average of 9.8 nights and spend around 75,080 Baht per person.

The TAT is committed to supporting continued tourism growth in Kazakhstan, focusing on partnerships with local tour operators and tourism marketing activities. TAT’s ongoing initiatives aim to stimulate demand for Thailand as a leading destination in Southeast Asia for both the winter and summer seasons.