New Delhi, 22 November, 2018 – Thailand’s capital city of Bangkok has won the top honour as the Best City – International category in the seventh edition of the India’s Best Awards conferred by the leading publication Travel + Leisure India & South Asia at a ceremony on 12 November, 2018.
The award adds to a string of such accolades conferred on Thailand by readers of Travel + Leisure India & South Asia in the annual poll. Thailand was voted the Best Honeymoon Destination (International) in 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2018, and the Best Wedding Destination in 2011 and 2015, respectively.
Thailand’s blissful and spectacular beaches, tropical climate, misty mountains, diverse and fascinating culture, hospitable people, exotic cuisine, and world-class luxury hotels and resorts attract visitors and keep bringing them back, so much that it features among the most popular tourist destinations in South East Asia.
Bangkok truly deserves the award for Best City – International category, says Mr. Isra Stapanaseth, Director TAT New Delhi Office (above photo, right). This year Amazing Thailand welcomed many top Bollywood stars at the 10th IIFA Awards in Bangkok. In addition, Bangkok was named this year’s Number One city in the world by Mastercard’s 2018 Global Destination Cities Index, the third consecutive year it has been ranked in the top spot.
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, said, “We thank all the readers of Travel + Leisure India for their confidence and votes for Thailand for many years. We are very proud to be recognised thus.
“Bangkok is known the world over for its superb attractions, outstanding cuisine and gastronomical delights, excellent hospitality, friendly people, exemplary service standards, exceptional shopping outlets. Over the next few years, you will see even more positive changes and improvements in what is known as the “City of Life”.
India is one of Thailand top ten sources of visitors, and one of the clubs of countries that generate more than one million visitors a year. In January – September 2018, 1.17 million Indian visitors travelled to Thailand, up by 12% over the same period of 2017, generating an estimated 52.133 billion Baht in tourism revenue, up by 35%. TAT is projecting 1.5 million arrivals from India in 2018.
In 2016, 21.9 million Indians travelled abroad with that figure expected to more than double to about 50 million by 2020. The trip also cultivates Thailand’s good image in India as a preferred destination among Indian travellers through first-hand experiences of the participating travel agents and media members.
Indian leisure travellers generally go shopping and sightseeing in Bangkok and Pattaya with an increasing number also heading to Phuket, Chiang Mai, Ko Samui, Chiang Rai, Krabi, Ayutthaya and Ko Chang (Trat). Recent years have also shown a marked rise in the number of Indian film-makers, MICE delegates, wedding parties and honeymooners.
