Targeting affluent travellers to the smaller islands off Phuket, a new seaplane service plans to link them.
No more will travellers have to brave the bumpy, rough ride over the sea in a speed-boat, or worse, a longboat, as Destination Air, Thailand's only seaplane service, has just launched its first shuttle service from Phuket Airport. Various destinations on the Andaman coast will be linked via this shuttle.
The service has a fleet of two Cessna seaplanes and it is planned to fly 12 flights per day. They will take off every two hours from Phuket to Phi Phi Island, Krabi and Ko Lanta.
Travel time is expected to be 13 minutes to Phi Phi, 20 minutes to Krabi and 30 minutes to Ko Lanta and the planes will land on the waterfronts of the major hotels and resorts, the 5* resorts like Rayavadee Premier Resort and Best Western Premier Resort as well as smaller, bungalow accommodation. Later, other destinations like Ko Racha, and Khao Lak will be included.
The company expects good demand from affluent travellers in the area.
The area has long been the haunt of back packers and affluent travellers who exist close together. Tourism has increased since The Beach, starring Leonardo di Caprio was filmed there. Despite this increase in tourism, the beautiful beaches and crystal waters remain unsullied, and the towering karsts that surge out of the water, the waiting boat with its pink and blue ribbons, and the turquoise sea of the famous picture that beckons tourists, can still be seen there.
Both Phi Phi and Krabi have recovered from the effects of the tsunami and are looking forward to increasing business this year. Beaches have been cleaned, new kiosks built, houses and hotels replaced and one or two new resorts have sprung up. The seaplane has a website at www.destinationair.com
