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Bangkok, Chiang Mai Ranked Best Tourism Cities in Asia

18/08/2006, Bangkok and Chiang Mai have been voted the two Best Cities in Asia in 2006, according to an Internet survey conducted by Travel + Leisure Magazine, a publication of the American Express Publishing Corporation. At a global level, Bangkok came in as the third Best City in the World and Chiang Mai fifth.

Other high-level rankings attained by Thai products services in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best

Classic Place Hotel is on a site that communicates in any directions you wish to go, whether for business or recreation, dining, shopping and sightseeing

Awards Readers’ Poll included Chiva-som International Health Resort as the World’s Best Destination Spa and the Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai as the best hotel spa in the Asia/Pacific/Africa/Middle East.

Commenting on the awards, Mrs. Juthamas Siriwan, TAT Governor, said, “This is clearly a testimony to the hard-work, professionalism and creativity of the entire industry. I compliment all the award-winners and urge everyone to continue their efforts to reap more such awards in future.”

Travel + Leisure claims to be the world's leading travel magazine with a circulation of almost one million readers. For 13 years, it has conducted an annual poll to rank tourism cities, islands, hotels, airlines, spas, cruise lines and car rental agencies around the world and honour them with the World’s Best award.

The World’s Best Award 2006 questionnaire developed by the editors of Travel & Leisure in association with Harris Interactive was made available to subscribers at www.tlworldsbest.com between 16 January and 21 March 2006. The complete survey methodology is available in the August issue of Travel & Leisure and online at www.travelandleisure.com/worldbest.

This year’s winners featured a strong line-up of Thai products, places and services.
In addition to the cities and spas, six Thai hotels were in the top-100 hotels of the world, with the Peninsula Hotel, Bangkok, being ranked number four.

Mrs. Juthamas noted that the criteria for “best cities” had included sights, culture and arts, restaurants/food, people, shopping and value for money.

She said, “This shows how Bangkok and Chiang Mai have changed. The awards reflect their great success in terms of both product development and marketing. Just 10 years ago, Bangkok was known more for its traffic and nightlife. And Chiang Mai has also improved phenomenally.”

She complimented all the award winners, noting that it is their commitment to high standards and professionalism that helps attract more visitors to Thailand and encourages them to stay longer.

Bangkok owes its success to a number of factors. It is a great cosmopolitan city with a rich history and heritage, an excellent image, a solid economy, fabulous hotels and excellent tourism products recognised the world over.

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It is the centre of Thailand’s economy but still retains a lot of its old charm, allowing high-rise buildings to co-exist harmoniously together with the impressive array of glittering temples and palaces.

Visitors who once faced severe traffic problems now easily get around via two new mass-transit systems like the Skytrain and the subway. In recent years, the quality of movie theatres and shopping centres has also improved.

In addition, Bangkok’s second airport, Suvarnabhumi, is projected to open for commercial operations in September 28, 2006. It will vastly facilitate the development of Bangkok as a major aviation hub of the Asia-Pacific region.

Chiang Mai, known as the Rose of the North, is the economic, communications, cultural and tourism centre of Northern Thailand. It is peaceful, calm and uniquely charming little town with a historic heritage of hilltribes, wood-carving factories and the country’s largest village of traditional handicrafts, including the famous umbrella-painters.

Later this year, Chiang Mai will gain even more global prominence when it hosts the International Horticultural Exposition known as the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006 from 1 November 2006 to 31 January 2007.

The fair is designed to commemorate His Majesty the King's passion for agriculture and nature, in the year marking the King’s 60th anniversary of accession to the throne, making him the longest reigning monarch in Thai history.

Thirty-two nations have so far confirmed their participation in the expo, the first of its kind in Thailand and Southeast Asia.

In other Travel + Leisure awards, Phuket was ranked the second of Top Three Islands in Asia and the tenth on the list of the World’s Best Islands.

Source: http://www.tourismthailand.org/

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