Thailand High on the Holiday Ratings List

Published : November 03, 2009 :: 21:11:02 [ 182 views ]

Thailand High on the Holiday Ratings List

Lonely Planet‘s ‘Best in Travel 2010‘ guide has just announced that Thailand is the world‘s second best-value destination, remaining "perennially good value" and the tourism epicentre of Southeast Asia. This apparently is especially true for European tourists for whom Thailand represents one of the least expensive long-haul holiday destinations.

Pattaya, November 3, 2009, [PDN]: The Lonely Planet’s website describes Thailand as a golden land, not because there is precious metal buried underground but because the country gives off a certain lustre, be it the fertile rice fields of the central plains, white sandy beaches or the warm hospitality of its citizenry.

Even last year, despite the setbacks with the airport fiascos and riots, Thailand ranked highly in the holiday ratings, actually being designated the Best Country Brand for Value for Money at the World Trade Market in London by the coveted Country Brand Index (CBI). CBI ranks countries according to authenticity, sports, business, fine dining and value for money.

In terms of European spending power, CBI illustrated that the 100 Euro would buy a 5-star hotel room or a romantic buffet dinner cruise for 60 Euro. At the other end of the scale, budget-holidaymakers could enjoy an exotic beach bungalow for 15 Euro and a typical dish of shrimp fried rice for less than a Euro. These examples Indicating that in these days of economic hardship, Thailand has become among the world’s leading tourism destinations for those seeking to maximise their hard-earned income.

Attractions were listed as world-class spas, massage, golf, women-only, family-friendly, ’green’ i.e. eco-friendly, beaches, diving and medical tourism. Thailand was ranked by CBI as the 3rd Best Country Brand for Authenticity, citing distinctive cuisine, angelic dance, and ancient Thai boxing; the 4th Best Country Brand for Shopping, recommending the malls of Bangkok; and the 4th Best Country Brand for Nightlife.

A few years before German readers of GLOBO travel magazine rated Thailand as the top for its food and beverage delights and given it high marks for a range of other attractions like shopping and culture. The readers voted Thailand first place in Food and Beverage, fourth Best Tourist Attraction, third Best Cultural Attraction, second Best Value for Money destination, third Best Shopping destination and Fourth Best “Dream Beach destination.

It seems Thailand travel publicists don’t need to traipse round the globe trying to sell the country, the world already knows of its reputation as the “golden land of smiles.

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