Friends of Thailand honoured

BANGKOK, 27 May 2013: Tourism Authority of Thailand will present its “Friends of Thailand Awards” for the first time at the Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2013, 5 June.

The awards will be given to 38 individuals, institutions, companies and organisations that have provided unstinting support to the Thai travel and tourism industry over the years.

TAT governor, Suraphon Svetasreni, said the awards presentation for the “Friends of Thailand,” is normally held alongside the “Thailand Tourism Awards” towards the end of the year.

“But this year, for the first time, we are organising it alongside TTM+ 2013 so that the award-winners can gain more recognition and also see the results of their efforts.”

He added: “TAT appreciates the efforts of both Thai and foreign organisations and individuals who have generated many benefits for our tourism industry, including economic development, job creation and preservation of our culture and heritage. The award-winners also include stakeholders who have contributed to preservation of the environment, culture and national identity.”

Initiated by TAT in 1996, the Friends of Thailand Awards are conferred every two years to recognise the efforts of award-winners to maintain a positive image of Thailand and ensure a steady flow of visitor arrivals.

This year’s awards will be particularly important because Thai tourism is generating record-breaking arrivals, a clear result of the successful contributions of the “Friends of Thailand.”

This year’s awards will be presented to 38 “friends” from 24 countries. They include seven international individuals from seven countries, three international organisations, 14 international tour operators from nine countries, 12 international media from 12 countries, and two international airlines from two countries (Indonesia: Garuda Indonesia and the United States: EVA Air).

The Friends of Thailand Awards was launched 9 December 1996 at the Oriental Hotel Bangkok where 66 recipients from 18 countries were presented with the awards. Since then, it has been held in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2008 and 2010.

The ceremony for 2012 was moved to this year’s TTM+.

Throughout the 14 years (1996 to 2010), the TAT conferred 510 awards on foreign recipients from 59 countries.

The winners are nominated by 25 TAT’s overseas offices and approved by a judging committee which this year was chaired by the TAT deputy governor for International Marketing (Asia and South Pacific).

Committee members included the deputy governor for International Marketing (Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas), director of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, president of Tourism Council of Thailand, Association of Thai Travel Agents, Thai Hotels Association, Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association, Thai Travel Agents Association, Association of Thai Tourism Marketing and executives of Thai Airways International and the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Sourced: etravelblackboardasia