10th Thailand Tourism Awards Held on World Tourism Day

Bangkok (Thailand) – September 27, 2015 (travelindex.com) – Thailand Tourism Awards, the highest recognition of the kingdom’s best travel and tourism products and services, are to be conferred in a grand ceremony to be held on 27 September, 2015, at the Impact Muang Thong Thani, Exhibition and Convention Centre. Initiated by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in 1996, the biannual awards are designed to reward best practices in Thai travel and tourism. TAT has chosen World Tourism Day for the ceremony to highlight the importance of these biannual awards in encouraging a new generation of creative, high-standard, sustainable tourism products and services in an upcoming era of high competition and constant change. H.E. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, will preside over the opening ceremony and Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, will give a report at the Grand Diamond Ballroom, Impact Forum 2, Impact Muang Thong Thani. The afternoon ceremony will be preceded by a morning of educational seminars by industry executives, marketing consultants and advertising gurus.

This year, the judging criteria stressed the pursuit of Thainess including the management of tourism products that are environmentally friendly in line with the principles of His Majesty the King’s Sufficiency Economy, deliver innovative and creative marketing campaigns, particularly via social media, and value creation. In line with the UN World Tourism Organisation’s principles of sustainability, the judging criteria required applicants to show how they were helping conserve the country’s natural resources, mitigate climate change, contribute to economic and social development, practice good governance and pursue innovation.

The full list of six award categories this year include:
1. Hall of Fame (7 Awards)
2. Tourism Support and Promotion Organisations (14 Awards)
3. Tourist Attractions (13 Awards of Excellence and 31 Outstanding Awards)
4. Tourist Accommodation (7 Awards of Excellence and 8 Outstanding Awards)
5, Health Tourism (9 Awards of Excellence, 10 Outstanding Awards)
6. Tour Programmes (6 Awards of Excellence and 12 Outstanding Awards)

Mr. Sugree Sithivanich, TAT Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, said; the judging committee comprised some of the most respected people in the Thai tourism industry, all considered experts in their fields. We would like to thank all the committee members for spending so much of their valuable time and effort in evaluating the many applications we received.

In addition to the award, a Kinnaree image which indicates a quality guarantee of their tourism products and services, all the winners are provided with help in promoting their products and services through the TAT’s marketing events and media channels, both domestically and internationally, including via TV commercials, radio slots, online channels and the print media. They also get a chance to be included in the TAT’s familiarisation trips for media and travel agents.

Contact information:
International Public Relations Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel; +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419
E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.th
Website: www.tatnews.org