The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Taking a swing in picturesque Thailand

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 28, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Taking a swing in picturesque Thailand

Sharath S. Srivatsa

Nok Air is inducing golfers from India to play in Thailand

— PHOTO: K. MURALI KUMAR

Better pastures: With golf becoming popular in Bangalore, Nok Air is inducing golfers with attractive discounts.

BANGALORE: The lush green international golf courses set amidst the picturesque backdrop in Thailand could soon be the second home for avid golfers from Bangalore.

For, the recently launched budget airline Nok Air is trying to induce golfers from Bangalore to experience the world-class facilities of Thai golf courses.

If Thailand welcomed compulsive shoppers so far, it is now the turn of the budget airline to carry golfers. The inducement comes at a time when golf is becoming popular in Bangalore.

General Manager of Nok Air Rajiv Bhatia told The Hindu that golfers were approaching Nok Air for tailor-made packages, and that the airline was keen on taking golfers to some of the internationally renowned golf courses in Thailand.

“We will tie up with leading golf courses in Thailand and get attractive discounts for golfers from India,” he added.

Every important city in Thailand, including its capital Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Changmai has international-class golf courses, and golfers from Bangalore could look forward to playing on these courses, Mr. Bhatia said.

“Golfers can also experience water sports in Phuket and Pattaya besides visiting some of the famous temples in Thailand,” he added.

Nok Air, he said, was trying to expose travellers to the trendy side of Thailand. Nok Air has already finalised a four-fold increase in the number of flights into India from Bangkok by next summer, and would be operating 28 flights a week, he added.

Mr. Bhatia said that after starting daily flights from Bangalore in June, it would start operating daily flights from Chennai in October, from Hyderabad in April 2008 and from New Delhi in October 2008.

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