just found this article on the usatoday, figure some of you might get a kick out of it.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destination...land-trip_N.htm

incase article does work well here is the article

BANGKOK — Attention Internet-savvy travelers: Thailand is giving away free trips to five lucky couples who don't mind sitting in front of a computer while on vacation. The Tourism Authority of Thailand launched a new campaign Tuesday offering five couples fully paid trips to the country's most popular cities and beaches. In return, they will be asked to blog, chat and tweet about their holiday in a bid to win a grand prize of $10,000, a BlackBerry and a video camera.

Applicants should be "good storytellers" and must know how to navigate YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Flickr, the TAT said on the contest's newly launched website utlimatethailandexplorer.com where one-minute video auditions can be submitted until Oct. 15.

Thailand's tourism industry is facing its worst crisis in years, with foreign arrivals down 15% so far this year because of political upheaval and the global recession.

Tourism officials say they were inspired by Australia's recent highly publicized campaign dubbed the "Best Job in the World." The contest to serve as the caretaker on a tropical Australian island for six months, while promoting the destination on a blog, drew 35,000 applicants and worldwide media attention.

"We got the idea from Australia," said TAT official Phanom Kaributra, who is coordinating the contest. "We think it's a good way to use social networking to promote Thailand."

A panel of TAT officials will select 25 semifinalists by Oct. 15 and the winning five couples — and grand prize winner — will be chosen by worldwide online voting.

Each of the five couples will be sent early next year on a six-day trip to different destinations: the capital Bangkok, beach resorts Phuket, Samui and Pattaya, and the northern city of Chiang Mai.

Phanom said the couples would be free to explore but would not be encouraged to "go to red-light districts and places like that."

"We got the idea from Australia," said TAT official Phanom Kaributra, who is coordinating the contest. "We think it's a good way to use social networking to promote Thailand."

Unique as usual!

Why can't someone in this country come up with something

unique and not simply copy and relauncha the brainchild of

someone else?

This country got a few brilliant minds and inventive people!

Make it unique, make it Thai!

Well, "Talent borrows, genius steals." comes to mind. I hope it works!

That link doesn't seem to work. It's got the "lt" in ultimate mixed up.

http://www.ultimatethailandexplorer.com/

4 videos out of the 10 latest entries are two men, and 1 is two women. And they don't appear to be "couples". The website actually doesn't say couples, it says "Have you got a great teammate who is excited to explore Thailand.."

So you just seem to need a friend. There are 2 prizes for voters, so you can win just by voting.

Edit: here's the eligibility:

A “Couple” is defined as any pair of two (2) individuals (friends, relatives, spouses, partners, or associates) who submit an application JOINTLY

Edited September 2, 200916 yr by Carmine6

Phanom said the couples would be free to explore but would not be encouraged to "go to red-light districts and places like that."

Then why are you sending couples to Pattaya? The entire city is a red light district.

Phanom said the couples would be free to explore but would not be encouraged to "go to red-light districts and places like that."

Then why are you sending couples to Pattaya? The entire city is a red light district.

There is more to see in Pattaya and the surrounding area than just the "supposed" red light area!!

the prizes aren't that nice.

there's only one grand prize of 10 grand, and the rest of people just get free flight and stay, and must blog and twitter... that's easily 3 hours a day of supremely boring work.

Being a webmaster I was interested at first, but when I read the details I passed.

Edited September 2, 200916 yr by manarak

6 days to cover all of Thailand, 6 months in one place in Australia. that just about sums it up.

TAT at it's best, yet again. The TAT management should be embarrassed to set foot outside their front door.

6 days to cover all of Thailand, 6 months in one place in Australia. that just about sums it up.

TAT at it's best, yet again. The TAT management should be embarrassed to set foot outside their front door.

It ain't their best plan ever.

The article forgot to add.....While they are in front of their computer twitting and blogging about thailand they will be arrested for working without workpermit and have to rely on Srilanka Tony's help to see their homecountry again.

"We got the idea from Australia," said TAT official Phanom Kaributra, who is coordinating the contest. "We think it's a good way to use social networking to promote Thailand."

Unique as usual!

Why can't someone in this country come up with something

unique and not simply copy and relauncha the brainchild of

someone else?

This country got a few brilliant minds and inventive people!

Make it unique, make it Thai!

They did come up with something unique, Suvarnabhumi airport and look what a mess that has been. Better that they just copy other ideas that work me thinks.

Would they not need a work permit for this?

moving to travel forum