Intl Flights Cancellation Big Jolt To Brand Vizag

There was no inbound tourism from Malaysia. The low-cost carrier also did not involve agents for promotion and of course, there was no initiative to develop the Buddhist Circuit to woo foreign tourists to Visakhapatnam and other areas of Buddhist interest - K Vijay Mohan, president, TTAA, tells Bizz Buzz

Visakhapatnam: The withdrawal of two flights connecting Visakhapatnam by AirAsia with Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur from this month has come as a double whammy to the efforts to bring international tourists to the largest city in Andhra Pradesh with a population of 2.5 million and a GDP of $15 billion (2023-24).

Both were withdrawn simultaneously, the flight to Kuala Lumpur for the second time since its introduction, due to ‘lower than expected travel demand.’

The decision comes amid appeals by Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu and several other stakeholders to continue the operations of the flights. The low-cost carrier till the eleventh hour had offered base fares to woo budget tourists and took everyone by surprise by cancelling the confirmed tickets done from May 4 onwards without citing any reason. Travel operators point out that till now there is no official announcement on withdrawal of the services while many exuded confidence due to heavy demand, the Bangkok flight may be retained/reintroduced at a later date.