• TAT receives PATA’s Travel Poster Awards

On 25 July 2007, The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) officially declared that two of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s posters have won the Marketing Media (poster) Awards. The two posters are Window on the Glorious Past (The reclining Buddha in Phutthaisawan Temple) and Ayudhaya’s Ancient Roots (A Buddha image’s head in a tree).

• Bangkok Won the Best International Destination Award 2007

Bangkok has won The Tourism Award from Libur & Traverama, Malay monthly magazines distributed in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia. Out of 350,000 votes, more than 50% of the readers cast their ballots to Bangkok as the Best International Destination of the year 2007. The plaque has recently been presented to Mr. Wiwatchai Bunyaphak, the Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand Kuala Lumpur Office. This is the second time for Thailand after Koh Samui, an island in the South won this award last year.

• Phuket voted Asia’s Maritime Capital

Phuket has won Asia’s Maritime Capital at the 3rd Christofle Asia Boating Award for its first-class boating facilities, including modern marinas, state-of-the-art boatyards, and prime chartering. The province has also been praised for its remarkable recovery from the 2005 tsunami. According to Phuket’s governor Niran Kanlayanamit, Phuket is aimed at becoming the new marina hub of Asia.

• Thailand was voted one of the most popular destinations for Chinese

National Geographic (Trend Traveller) Magazine China has done an online survey with more than 10,000 votes from January to February 2007. Among 57 countries around the world, Thailand, France, and the Netherlands are the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists.

The Golden List Award was given on April 18, 2007 and Mr. Amnuai Thiamkun, the director of The Tourism Authority of Thailand Beijing Office was the representative to receive this award.

• Thai shadow puppetry troupe won the Unesco Award

Thai shadow puppetry troups of Wat Khanon, Ratchaburi Province received the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Award from the Unesco for its role in conserving Thai shadow puppet performance. This kind of puppet performance is called “Nang Yai” in Thai. It perfectly combines dancing, “Piphat” traditional music, and “Khon”expressive chanting with the puppetry and is usually performed in various episodes of the Ramayana epic. At present, there are only 3 large troupes of this kind in Thailand.

• Thailand is now Irish’s Favourite Destination

At the end of January 2007 in the ITTN Awards Event held at Dublin, Ireland, by Iris Travel Trade News, Thailand received the “Best Asia/Australia Destination” Award.

The votes for Thailand were higher than those for Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

The ITTN Awards has been organized for 15 consecutive years. And Thailand was nominated twice – in 2002 and in 2007.

The Irish target market is a potential one with a steady growth. The 2006 statistics for the period between January and April show that 16,518 Irish tourists visited Thailand, an increase of 14.48% from the same period of 2005.