Thailand Slips In Popularity Poll

[Scott]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/travelne...popularity-poll

In third place last year, Thailand has slipped twelve places to 15th in the latest "favourite destination" survey conducted by the UK edition of Conde ' Nast Traveller Magazine to determine the winners of this year's Readers' Travel Awards.

Readers of the magazine voted Italy their favourite destination, the country scoring highly for its food, restaurants, culture and climate, while Kenya and Mexico were best value for money, Brazil offered the warmest welcome and hospitality, South Africa had the greatest variety, and India the most glorious scenery.

[Scott]

It seems there are more problems for the tourism sector.

[IanForbes]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/travelne...popularity-poll

In third place last year, Thailand has slipped twelve places to 15th in the latest "favourite destination" survey conducted by the UK edition of Conde ' Nast Traveller Magazine to determine the winners of this year's Readers' Travel Awards.

Readers of the magazine voted Italy their favourite destination, the country scoring highly for its food, restaurants, culture and climate, while Kenya and Mexico were best value for money, Brazil offered the warmest welcome and hospitality, South Africa had the greatest variety, and India the most glorious scenery.

I've been to Mexico many times. Thailand is far greater value for the money. Anywhere in Africa is dangerous and hardly any county in Africa has a stable economy. Africa is a very interesting country though, and has sights not available anywhere else in the world.

Saftey wise, I believe Brazil would not rank as high as Thailand.

I always wonder who writes these destination surveys and who is paying them.

[givenall]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/travelne...popularity-poll

In third place last year, Thailand has slipped twelve places to 15th in the latest "favourite destination" survey conducted by the UK edition of Conde ' Nast Traveller Magazine to determine the winners of this year's Readers' Travel Awards.

Readers of the magazine voted Italy their favourite destination, the country scoring highly for its food, restaurants, culture and climate, while Kenya and Mexico were best value for money, Brazil offered the warmest welcome and hospitality, South Africa had the greatest variety, and India the most glorious scenery.

I've been to Mexico many times. Thailand is far greater value for the money. Anywhere in Africa is dangerous and hardly any county in Africa has a stable economy. Africa is a very interesting country though, and has sights not available anywhere else in the world.

Saftey wise, I believe Brazil would not rank as high as Thailand.

I always wonder who writes these destination surveys and who is paying them.

Unfortunately it really doesn’t matter who write this report it is more important who read them. I think many people who want to travel do read these so it is important for Thailand to pay attention to these report and also especially the bad politicizes.

But based on the past 3 years experience over here I don’t think the official really care and the people who do the tourist scam only think short term anyways and they do contribute for people to perceive these rating creditable

[IanForbes]

Unfortunately it really doesn't matter who write this report it is more important who read them. I think many people who want to travel do read these so it is important for Thailand to pay attention to these report and also especially the bad politicizes.

But based on the past 3 years experience over here I don't think the official really care and the people who do the tourist scam only think short term anyways and they do contribute for people to perceive these rating creditable

With that I totally agree with you. The people who run Thailand don't have a clue what damage they are doing. That fiasco at the airport last Christmas was a typical example of how out of tune they are.

[Jingthing]

What matters is people's PERCEPTION not the reality. For Thailand, the reputation is trashed. Frankly, Thais have only THEMSELVES to blame for this, but I am sure many will blame the farangs.

[KevinBloodyWilson]

^ yup.

[JR Texas]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/travelne...popularity-poll

In third place last year, Thailand has slipped twelve places to 15th in the latest "favourite destination" survey conducted by the UK edition of Conde ' Nast Traveller Magazine to determine the winners of this year's Readers' Travel Awards.

Readers of the magazine voted Italy their favourite destination, the country scoring highly for its food, restaurants, culture and climate, while Kenya and Mexico were best value for money, Brazil offered the warmest welcome and hospitality, South Africa had the greatest variety, and India the most glorious scenery.

I've been to Mexico many times. Thailand is far greater value for the money. Anywhere in Africa is dangerous and hardly any county in Africa has a stable economy. Africa is a very interesting country though, and has sights not available anywhere else in the world.

Saftey wise, I believe Brazil would not rank as high as Thailand.

I always wonder who writes these destination surveys and who is paying them.

For many tourists, Thailand is old news now, not a bargain, and its growing internal problems and xenophobic treatment of tourists are turning them away.......other places are offering more with fewer problems.

By the way, especially for US citizens, Mexico offers great bargains, food and beach life........

Not every place in Africa is dangerous (UN just did a survey and some places in northern Africa are doing fine in terms of tourism).

The Thai economy is not stable; it is declining. The govt. is not stable, tourism is down, exports are down, etc.

Thailand also ranks high in terms of violent crime in global rankings.

It does not surprise me at all that tourists that in the past focused solely on Thailand are looking at other options: Bali, Malaysia, India, Singapore, Cambodia, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, etc.

[Scott]

In the past several years, hardly a month went by that I didn't get a phone call, email or letter from someone who wanted to come to Thailand. Some weren't even friends or family, but through someone knew who I was and that I lived here. Of course, a lot of them didn't come for all kinds of reasons, but Thailand was very, very high on the list of places they wanted to visit.

Since the take over the airport (when someone was actually planning on coming), absolutely no one wants to come. Not that I am unhappy, since a lot of times it was a pain the behind.

It's just an anectodal comment on where people place Thailand on the scale of places to visit then and now.

[Credo]

At the current rate, it will fall completely off the charts in a couple of years.

[caf]

Unfortunately it really doesn't matter who write this report it is more important who read them. I think many people who want to travel do read these so it is important for Thailand to pay attention to these report and also especially the bad politicizes.

But based on the past 3 years experience over here I don't think the official really care and the people who do the tourist scam only think short term anyways and they do contribute for people to perceive these rating creditable

With that I totally agree with you. The people who run Thailand don't have a clue what damage they are doing. That fiasco at the airport last Christmas was a typical example of how out of tune they are.

Only my personal view, but I think they do know what they are doing. The people you refer to are not stupid.

[MJP]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/travelne...popularity-poll

In third place last year, Thailand has slipped twelve places to 15th in the latest "favourite destination" survey conducted by the UK edition of Conde ' Nast Traveller Magazine to determine the winners of this year's Readers' Travel Awards.

Readers of the magazine voted Italy their favourite destination, the country scoring highly for its food, restaurants, culture and climate, while Kenya and Mexico were best value for money, Brazil offered the warmest welcome and hospitality, South Africa had the greatest variety, and India the most glorious scenery.

I've been to Mexico many times. Thailand is far greater value for the money. Anywhere in Africa is dangerous and hardly any county in Africa has a stable economy. Africa is a very interesting country though, and has sights not available anywhere else in the world.

Saftey wise, I believe Brazil would not rank as high as Thailand.

I always wonder who writes these destination surveys and who is paying them.

For many tourists, Thailand is old news now, not a bargain, and its growing internal problems and xenophobic treatment of tourists are turning them away.......other places are offering more with fewer problems.

By the way, especially for US citizens, Mexico offers great bargains, food and beach life........

Not every place in Africa is dangerous (UN just did a survey and some places in northern Africa are doing fine in terms of tourism).

The Thai economy is not stable; it is declining. The govt. is not stable, tourism is down, exports are down, etc.

Thailand also ranks high in terms of violent crime in global rankings.

It does not surprise me at all that tourists that in the past focused solely on Thailand are looking at other options: Bali, Malaysia, India, Singapore, Cambodia, China, Vietnam, the Philippines, etc.

It's bl00dy sad! They were so close too, to becoming a 1st world country. So many of us were hoping for them and helping them, but as JingThing says, they have themselves to blame.

Come on Thailand, you can pull it together!

[dumball]

"You can pull it together", at this present time I think 'They' have a problem just pulling their socks up , it is going to take far more than procrastination and fancy slogans to get the country back on a good road to recovery in practically every aspect .

[IanForbes]

It is FAR harder to get respect back once you have lost it. When a company produces an inferior product and loses its old time customers it takes forever to win back their trust. American auto producers learned that the hard way when their vehicles wouldn't hardly last beyond their warranty date. Japan was quick to jump into the huge gap left by the US. The Brits did the same before the USA took over their share of the market. American auto producers learned from the Japanese to produce a reliable vehicle, but they lost a lot of business until they did.

Unless you are an expat with a business that relies on tourism, it doesn't hurt the people who know and love Thailand, but it is a shame for the locals. Most of us who have spent any amount of time in Thailand knows all the joys of being in LOS, but it's hard to convince the gutless tourists who need mommy to look after them when they travel.

[losworld]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/travelne...popularity-poll

In third place last year, Thailand has slipped twelve places to 15th in the latest "favourite destination" survey conducted by the UK edition of Conde ' Nast Traveller Magazine to determine the winners of this year's Readers' Travel Awards.

Readers of the magazine voted Italy their favourite destination, the country scoring highly for its food, restaurants, culture and climate, while Kenya and Mexico were best value for money, Brazil offered the warmest welcome and hospitality, South Africa had the greatest variety, and India the most glorious scenery.

I've been to Mexico many times. Thailand is far greater value for the money. Anywhere in Africa is dangerous and hardly any county in Africa has a stable economy. Africa is a very interesting country though, and has sights not available anywhere else in the world.

Saftey wise, I believe Brazil would not rank as high as Thailand.

I always wonder who writes these destination surveys and who is paying them.

Precisely... all major Mexican resorts are basically priced in line with San Diego, etc. However, with the downturn in the U.S. economy I'd venture to say these U.S. cities are actually cheaper than major Mexican resorts as the Mexicans will soak their guests. Must be a full page ad somewhere in the magazine for Mexico and a few other of these countries picked. Anyone see the mag just look for the ads and let us know.