According to the views of avid business and leisure travelers,
Thailand remains at the forefront among the world’s best travel destinations.

                        Thailand continues to be at the forefront among the world’s best travel destinations according to the views of avid business and leisure travelers.  The country is also keen for tourists to come and experience the riches it has to offer.

                        In the course of 2008, Thailand and its capital, Bangkok, have been named among best travel destinations by leading business and travel magazines in many countries.  Travel & Leisure awarded Bangkok the World’s Best City based on the survey of its readers who ranked cities in terms of sights, culture and arts, restaurants and food, people, shopping and value.  Fagbladet Travel News, a Norwegian travel trade magazine, also selected Thailand for its “World’s Best Tourist Country” award for 2008, this being the fifth consecutive year that Thailand won this prestigious Norwegian Grand Travel Award.  Likewise, Thailand was voted by more than 450 Swedish travel agents as the “World’s Best Tourist Country”, earning the Swedish Grand Travel Award for the sixth consecutive year.  Meanwhile, Today’s Traveler, India’s leading business and leisure travel magazine, awarded Thailand the Platinum Award for “The Best International Family Holiday Destination of 2008.”

                        Foreign tourists in Thailand maintain favorable views of the country and their experiences, even while news reports talk about the on-going political demonstration in Bangkok.  In recent random interviews of foreign tourists at various popular tourism sites around Bangkok conducted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in early September 2008, all those asked responded positively saying the political situation had not affected their visit to Thailand. 

                        The 42nd Bangkok Gems & Jewelry Fair, which was held on 11-15 September 2008 in Bangkok, was also well attended by foreign businesspeople and trader.  According to the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association, more than 8,000 foreign traders participated in the Fair on its first day, with no less than 20 billion baht worth of deals expected to be made during the five-day Fair.  On 14-19 October 2008, the Department of Export Promotion will organize another scheduled biannual event – the Bangkok International Gifts Fair & Bangkok International Houseware Fair 2008.

                        The TAT has also geared up campaigns and activities to promote tourism in the remaining months of 2008 and in 2009.  Among other things, the TAT will host during 8-12 October 2008 a “Thailand Invitation” mega familiarization trip for over 800 media representatives and travel operators from around the world to experience tourism products and services in the country.  The TAT also plans to organize eight international “Amazing Thailand” roadshows from September to November 2008, starting with China, Vietnam, Sweden and Denmark.