Bangkok Voted Asias Number One Holiday Destination in Influential Online Poll

From left: Mr. Vijay K. Verghese , Editor & Director, Smart Travel Asia; Mr. Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, TAT Executive Director of the Advertising and Public Relations Department; and Ms. Pinutda Tanaboonroeng, Advertising Manager Thailand, Smart Travel Asia

Bangkok, 19 August, 2016 – Bangkok picked up another accolade recently when it was voted the Number One Holiday Destination in Asia by readers of the independent online travel magazine SmartTravelAsia.com in its Best In Travel Poll 2016. Other Thai destinations including Phuket and Samui were also ranked in the Top Ten Holiday Destinations listing.

Now in its 13^th year, the SmartTravelAsia.com survey is carried out annually to measure travellers’ perceptions of top travel brands. Voting is based on the experiences and perception of well-travelled individuals who make at least 12 air trips a year and polls are open for voters from May to July.

Bangkok was voted Best Holiday Destination in a list that included Bali, Tokyo, Dubai and Bhutan, and this is the second year in a row that Bangkok has topped the SmartTravelAsia.com rankings. Phuket has been placed at 3^rd while Ko Samui was ranked at 8^th . The Thai capital stood out for having a real sense of place as well as for its people and range of experiences. Bangkok was also named as the third most popular city in Asia for Business.

Mr. Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya, Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Executive Director of the Advertising and Public Relations Department, said, “Bangkok is a vibrant metropolis, a travel hub, a culinary and cultural centre and one of the world’s most exciting cities. We are delighted that it has been voted as the number one holiday destination in Asia. The city offers so much, whether you’re travelling alone or with family, seeking food delights, fantastic nights, or simply great shopping. There’s something here for everyone, whatever their age or budget.”

The SmartTravelAsia.com travel poll has been established to identify passenger perceptions of the best and worst airlines. Since then, the poll has grown to include business and boutique hotels, holiday and business destinations, and airports.

SmartTravelAsia.com has done research and found that most voters were influenced by the visibility of a brand or destination; their own personal experiences and feedback from peers and on social media. Smart Travel Asia is one of the biggest online travel magazines with over 1.2 million readers worldwide. The magazine specialises in offering independent reviews to help travellers make decisions about hotels, destinations and airlines.

For further details of the polls, please visit http://www.smarttravelasia.com/travelpoll.htm