Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) have signed a $1.25 million agreement to increase tourism to Thailand.

Under the new agreement, the Abu Dhabi-based airline and TAT will jointly promote travel to Thailand from priority markets, including the UAE, the UK, Ireland, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, South Africa, Iran and Kuwait.

The agreement was signed by Etihad Airways’ SVP Marketing Shane O’Hare, and TAT’s Acting Gov. Juthaporn Rerngronasa at a commemorative event in the Etihad Airways-Alitalia Pavilion at Expo Milan 2015. They were joined by Thailand’s Minister of Tourism Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul and sports and high-ranking officials from both organizations.

O’Hare said: “Etihad Airways has a long and proud association with Thailand — in fact Bangkok was one of our first international routes. It continues to be one of the busiest in our network enjoying strong year-round demand, particularly from the UAE, the GCC, the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

“With five daily flights to Thailand — four to Bangkok and one to Phuket — Etihad Airways has a significant investment in Thai tourism, and the new agreement with Tourism Authority of Thailand supports and extends that commitment.

Rerngronasa said: “Europe has long been a prime market for Thailand. We have also seen an increase in visitors from the MEA. The new partnership with Etihad Airways will be a great benefit to both parties – to Thailand in terms of increased visitor numbers and to Etihad Airways in terms of promoting its international network.”

In 2015, TAT has set a target of 28 million international visitors generating an estimated 1.35 trillion baht ($41 billion).

Etihad Airways launched its Bangkok route with daily flights in April 2004. The airline added Phuket to its Thai network in October 2014.