THAILAND IS ‘BEST TOURIST COUNTRY

DANISH TRAVEL AWARDS 2009:
THAILAND IS ‘BEST TOURIST COUNTRY’ FOR DANISH TRAVELLERS FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN FIVE YEARS

     Thailand has once again won the Danish Travel Award for ‘Best Tourist Country’, making this the third consecutive win and the fourth time that Thailand has received the award in five years. Prior to this, Thailand was also honoured with the ‘Best Tourist Country’ award in 2005, 2007 and 2008.

     The award presentation ceremony for the 14th Danish Travel Awards in 2009, held at the Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Tower, on November 19, 2009, was attended by some 500 Danish travel executives.

     Her Excellency Mrs Cholchineepan Chiranond — Thai Ambassador to Denmark, Mr Manit Boonchim — Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Stockholm office and Mr Preecha Nawongse — Manager of the Thai Airways International office in Copenhagen accepted the award on behalf of the Kingdom of Thailand.


     The annual Danish Travel Awards are organized by Stand By Scandinavian travel trade journal, one of the leading travel publications read by Scandinavian travellers. This year, the selection of winners is based on total scores allocated by some 2,000 individual Danish travellers and members of the Danish travel industry. Over 30 countries from around the world were nominated for consideration.

     In 2008, the Kingdom of Thailand welcomed 151,903 Danish visitors representing a 12.52 per cent increase over the 2007 total of 135,006, and generating 8.5 billion baht in tourism revenue — an increase of 19.72 per cent.

     In spite of the global economic downturn, TAT Stockholm is expecting a decrease of only 5 per cent in total visitor arrivals from Denmark in 2009.

     “Thailand’s long reputation as a welcoming country is firmly reinforced by the friendliness and warm hospitality extended by the Thai people, consistently. This has won the hearts of many Danish travellers. Our key destination strengths combined with the excellent cooperation between the Thai team and our travel and tourism trade partners (in Denmark), are key reasons why Thailand remains the leading travel destination for Danish travellers. This has enabled Thailand to maintain its top ranking despite the global economic downturn,” explains TAT Director Manit Boonchim.

Stand By
Web site: www.standby.dk