The Awards were organised by Media Expertise International (Thailand) Co., Ltd., publisher of the Lonely Planet Traveller Thailand magazine. They also included a number of awards for Best International Travel Destinations.
BANGKOK – Visitors to Thailand seeking to experience the Best Tourism Destinations and Services as rated by the readers of Lonely Planet Traveller Thailand now have a list of 13 award-winning places to start.
In a gala ceremony on 18 November, 2014, the “Lonely Planet Traveller Destination Awards 2014” were conferred on the following Thailand attractions and services. The Awards were organised by Media Expertise International (Thailand) Co., Ltd., publisher of the Lonely Planet Traveller Thailand magazine. They also included a number of awards for Best International Travel Destinations.
The Awards was divided into three categories; Best Destination Awards (Thailand), Best Destination Awards (International) and Sponsored Survey Awards. Altogether, Thai tourist destinations and hotels figured in 13 of the 22 of the Awards. All were based on reviews and opinions from readers communicated via an online survey:
1.Best in Travel Town: Hua Hin
2.Best Destination for Festival: Chiang Mai
3.Best Destination for Alternative Travel: Trang
4.Best Island Holiday Destination: Ko Lipe, Satun province
5.Best Community based tourism: Ban Wang Nam Mok Home Stay, Nong Khai province
6.Best Resort Hotel: Sri Panwa Resort
7.Best City Hotel: W Hotel Bangkok
8.Best Environment Friendly Hotel – Resort in Thailand: Soneva kiri, Koh Kood
9.Best Local Restaurant in Thailand: Krua Mon Khai, Suan Pueng, Ratchaburi province
10.Best Day Spa in Thailand: Divana Spa
11.Best Travel Website: pantip.com/forum/blueplanet
12.Best Destination for Sunrise Photography: Phu Chi Fa, Chiang Rai province 13.Outstanding Hotel for Beach Holiday: The Cape Nidhra Hotel, Hua Hin
This year, a category of special sponsored survey awards were added to the event comprising of 1) Best Destination for Sunrise Photography, 2) Outstanding Hotel for Beach Holiday, and 3) Best Travel Experience in New Zealand.
Addressing the Awards ceremony, Mr. Sugree Sithivanich, Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, Tourism Authority of Thailand said, “The Lonely Planet Traveller Destination Awards help identify the most highly rated and popular tourist attractions and services. They offer something unique for every traveller, especially those keen to experience the concept of Thainess.”
He added, “Our responsibility in TAT is to attract visitors to Thailand and motivate them to repeat their visits and stay longer. But we cannot do this unless the private sector develops the appropriate products and delivers the quality services. The award-winning products today are evidence that this connection between visitors and host destinations is being firmly established.”
In his speech at the ceremony, Mr. Rathasiam Sinlakhun, Editor-in-Chief, Lonely Planet Traveller Thailand, said, “This is our second consecutive year of conferring these awards. They are intended to allow readers to get involved in sharing their passion for travel and its many excellent products and services. We consider all our readers as members of an ‘honorary selection committee’ and thank all those who responded to the survey questionnaire.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
