Praful Patel arrives in inaugural flight of Indian

Bangkok, Apr 15 (UNI) Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel arrived in the Thai capital this afternoon on the inaugural Nagpur-Bangkok flight of 'Indian'.

The biweekly Nagpur-Bangkok-Nagupr flight has increased the number of 'Indian' flights per week between India and Thailand to 31, said 'Indian' Managing Director Vishwapati Trivedi.

Addressing Bangkok-based tour operators and airline agents at a dinner reception tonight, Mr Patel said Indian was modernising its fleet with the acquistion of new aircraft to improve the quality and efficiency of service.

Indian Ambassador to Thailand Vivek Katju said that while around 400,000 Indians visit Thailand annually, only about 40,000 people travel from Thailand to India every year.

Mr Patel said the government was keen to help correct this imbalance in bilateral passenger traffic. India has much to offer to Thai visitors in tourist destinations and shared historical cultural bonds.

More and more Indians are keen to visit foreign lands and Thailand is a close, convenient and affordable foreign destination for Indians wishing to travel aboard, he said.

Mr Patel was accompanied by three members of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda.

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