Thailand’s most popular destinations among int’l travelers

According to a report from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Thailand recently won awards for the three tourist destinations from the MasterCard Asia Pacific Destinations Index 2015 and Euromonitor International.

The first, MasterCard’s Asia Pacific Destinations Index, which is an offshoot of the annual Global Destination Cities Index, revealed that Bangkok topped the most popular cities in 2015. The city welcomed 21.9 million international overnight visitors, representing a 28.6 percent growth over the previous year.

When comparing among destination cities in the Asia-Pacific region, Bangkok retained its position at number one. This ranking has remained unchanged since 2013, when the Thai capital became the first Asian city to top the global list.

This is followed by Phuket, which recorded 9.3 million, or a 15.5 percent growth, and Pattaya, which saw 8.1 million, a 10 percent growth in international overnight visitors in 2015.

Euromonitor International, which is the world’s leading independent provider of strategic market research, has released its fifth annual survey on "Top 100 City Destinations” in terms of international tourist arrivals in 2014. Its "Top 100 City Destinations Ranking,” reported by Caroline Bremner on 28 January 2016, named three Thai destinations among the world’s top 25, with Bangkok coming at the 4th rank, followed by Phuket in the 17th and Pattaya in the 19th place.

TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn stated that Thailand is honored to be recognized by the two prestigious organizations. Despite the challenges the country had to go through in 2015, global travelers remain confident in Thailand and continue to make it their travel destination.

Bangkok is well-known among international travelers for a variety of shopping choices, delicious authentic Thai food, cultural heritage, lively nightlife, and beautiful historical attractions. Pattaya and Phuket are both famous beach resort cities and recreational destinations. Each year, they attract a wide range of international tourists from holidaymakers, families, honeymooners, and adventure and sports enthusiasts.

In 2015, the Thai tourism industry hit the highest record in its history, attracting 29.8 million international tourist arrivals. The number represents an increase of 20 per cent over 2014. In terms of tourism revenue, Thailand earned 1.4 trillion baht, accounting for a 23 percent year-on-year increase.

The country was successful in its "Discover Thainess” tourism campaign, which will continue in 2016 to emphasize its cultural treasures and the beautiful Thai way of life, along with world-famous Thai hospitality.