Bangkok, 22 September, 2017 – Chiang Mai is counting down to the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2018 (ATF) from 22 to 26 January, 2018, as the city makes final arrangements for one of the most significant annual travel events in Asia.
ATF rotates between ASEAN member nations and comprises numerous high-level public and private sector meetings. These include the ASEAN Tourism Ministers Meeting, a gathering of ASEAN National Tourism Organisation chiefs plus airline meetings, press briefings, tourism conferences and the must attend Travel Exchange (TRAVEX) trade fair.
Widely viewed as the region’s best buying and selling platforms for Asia’s burgeoning tourism industry, ATF returns to Thailand for the sixth time with the focus on its iconic northern travel destination of Chiang Mai, also known as the ‘Rose of the North’.
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said, “Chiang Mai is Thailand’s second largest city and the economic engine of Northern Thailand and remains one of the Kingdom’s must-visit destinations.
“However, Chiang Mai maintains its charming traditions and is still known for its lovely Lanna temples and family friendly attractions. Chiang Mai’s travel trade continues to expand its product offering, diversifying recently into adrenaline-based adventure tourism and gastronomy tourism to name just a few activities.”
Chiang Mai was recently named third best city in the world by the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards: The World’s Top 15 Cities for 2017 in a recent reader’s poll.
The Travel + Leisure magazine poll places Chiang Mai tops among Asian cities for the second consecutive year, while Bangkok appears number eight. The score is based on a survey of over 300,000 international Travel + Leisure readers who were asked to rate the ‘best of the best’ in international travel experiences.
The award-winning city also ranked 12th in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards’ Top 25 Destinations in Asia.
Mr. Yuthasak added, “Chiang Mai received the accolades because it remains the perfect place to enjoy unique Thai local experiences; such as, traditional ‘fire massages’ at Ban Rai Kong Khing Community Centre or a sit-down Northern-style Khantoke dinner.
“Blessed with a wonderful climate, rich local cultural, natural heritage and numerous Royal Projects, Chiang Mai continues to benefit from convenient air access with a multitude of flights arriving from around Southeast Asia, North Asia and Europe in addition to numerous domestic flights. Chiang Mai boasts a complete range of accommodation including many top-class resorts and hotels.”
Registration for the ATF 2018 in Chiang Mai is still open for both buyers and media with information available at http://atfthailand2018.com.
