Thailand chosen Best Value Destination by readers of Lonely Planet Magazine India

MUMBAI - Thailand was chosen as the world’s Best Value Destination for 2015 by the well-travelled readers of Lonely Planet Magazine India.

The LPMI Travel Awards 2015, powered by Flight Shop, were held on June 22, 2015, at the JW Marriott Hotel Mumbai Sahar. Lonely Planet Magazine India called upon India’s discerning travellers to choose their favourite destinations and hotels. Nominations for the awards were shortlisted by a panel of travel experts and professionals, and LPMI readers voted both online and in the magazine.

The panel comprised LPMI Editor Vardhan Kondvikar; Veena Patil, Managing Director, Veena World; Manu Kashyap, Director, Windmill Holidays; Sucheta Potnis and Hans Tuinman, Founders, Travellers-palm.com; Madhavan Menon, Managing Director, Thomas Cook India Ltd; and Deep Kalra, CEO, Makemytrip.com.

Vardhan Kondvikar, Editor of Lonely Planet Magazine India, said, “The Lonely Planet Magazine India Travel Awards, firmly established as the industry-best measure of what Indian travellers love, is now in its third year, taking the concept of relevant traveller-voted awards to new heights.” He said the awards demonstrated “The widening range of experiences that Indian are willing to open their hearts to.”

Mrs. Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT’s Acting Governor said, “Being selected as the Best Value Destination is very encouraging for us because it proves the success of our marketing campaigns to position Thailand exactly as that –an excellent value for money destination for all categories of travellers. We would like to thank all the readers who voted for us, and the panel of experts for their confidence.”

Mr. Nat Pinyowattanacheep, Consul-General of Thailand in Mumbai (left), received the award on behalf of Thailand.

In 2013, based on an average daily expenditure per person of USD 179.15, and average length of stay of 7.14 days, Indian visitors generated tourism revenue of USD 1,315.50 million in 2013.

A breakdown of the daily average spend shows that 37.21% was spent on shopping, 23.74% on accommodation, 15.24% on food & beverage, 9.74% on entertainment, 8.88% on local transportation, 3.56% on sightseeing and 1.64% on miscellaneous.

India is one of Thailand’s fastest growing source-markets. In January – March 2015, Thailand welcomed 231,012 Indian visitors, an increase of 13.73% over the same period of last year. TAT is projecting with 1.05 million arrivals from India in 2015.

Indian visitors know Thailand as a hospitable and a year-round tourism destination with a high quality of value-for-money products and services. Indians get visa on arrival facilities at Thailand’s international checkpoints.

Indian leisure travellers generally go shopping and sightseeing in Bangkok, Pattaya, with an increasing number also heading to Phuket, Chiang Mai, Samui, Chiang Rai, Krabi, Ayutthaya and Ko Chang. Recent years have also shown a marked rise in the number of Indian film-makers, MICE delegates, wedding parties and honeymooners.

In 2014, Thailand won eight Indian tourism awards such as Best Wedding Destination, Best Destination, Best International Tourism Board, Best Spa Destination and Best Value Destination.

sourced:traveldailynews.asia