Mastercard Ranks Bangkok As The World's Best City For Tourism

[webfact]

Bangkok named top rank as the world’s best city for tourism

BANGKOK, 28th May 2013 (NNT) - Bangkok has been named the world’s best city for tourism, based on the MasterCard Worldwide Global Destination Cities Index 2013 survey collected from 132 countries. The survey indicated that Thai people’s hospitality and kindness are the main factors for this top ranking.

On Monday the 27th May, Matthew Driver, the president for Southeast Asia at MasterCard Inc, presented the world’s top travel award to Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra at the St.Regis Hotel, Bangkok.

According to Mr.Driver, the ranking is based on the number of international visitor arrivals and their spending, exclusive of airfare, in each of the 132 destination cities. Bangkok beat out London, Paris, Singapore, and New York, which came in second, third, fourth,and fifth, respectively.

A noticeable trend in this year's report is the dominance of the Asia-Pacific region. Of the 132 cities ranked, 42 are in Asian countries; led by Bangkok and followed by Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, and Tokyo. It is also expected that fast growing Asian cities such as the Arab Emirates and Istanbul may rise forward ahead of Singapore, New York, and Paris by the year 2016.

Governor Sukhumbhand said he felt great joy in representing Bangkokians in receiving the title for the world's top tourist city, which marked the first time any Asian city has been projected to be the top-ranked tourist destination.

-- NNT 2013-05-28

[webfact]

MasterCard names Bangkok as the world’s top tourist destination
By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- This isn’t the first time Bangkok has wound up at the top of one of these rankings, but this latest list of the world’s top tourism destinations, compiled by MasterCard, carries a bit more weight since it uses actual numbers to reach its conclusions.

After collecting data from central banks, governments, public agencies and airlines, MasterCard has come to the conclusion that Bangkok will eclipse London this year as the world’s top tourism destination.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Bangkok is likely to host 15.98 million visitors this year, while London will host only 15.96 million.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2013/05/28/mastercard-names-bangkok-worlds-top-tourist-destination


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2013-05-28

[lee b]

I can agree with this, why not????

[americaninbangkok]

Could this have anything to do with the fact that Chinese tourists now make up the largest percentage of international travelers in the world? Surely this must be boosting Bangkok's numbers, and also those of other Asian countries (not a bad thing!).

[super22k]

Did I read hospitality and kindness? Are they mad.

[super22k]

..........or are they mad?

[Hamlet07]

What ranking does the 'Diesel' smell come in at ??

Edited May 29, 2013 by metisdead
Large font reset to normal.

[Stjohnm]

There are some things money can't buy for everything else there's a sign saying NO CARDS - CASH ONLY

[Halion]

Not suprised as the system here is geared to suck everyone dry.

[bluegum]

Sounds like Mastercard is just tryin' to drum up a bit more business with this 'survey'. To start trumpeting Bangkok as the 'world's top tourist destination' as a result really shows their ignorance of what quality in tourism really is. This is nonsense on a scale comparable to the US president receiving the Nobel peace prize.

[impulse]

Pretty sure the Durex and the Trojan surveys of the most popular towns for their customers would come out similar, with Bangkok way out in front.

But is that a good thing?

[reflectionx]

[wilgoster]

Nailed that one, reflectionx

[givenall]

Maybe they aren't hospitable toward expats then

Sent from my ST18a using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[lemoncake]

And yet my CitiBank Mastercard is cancelled each and every time i use it in Bangkok or anywhere in Thailand.

Weird if you ask me

[mikeinbangkok]

I really do not understand nor appreciate
the sarcasm and bitching about Bangkok and Thailand at every opportunity. This
time around with Master Card naming
Bangkok as the Best City for Tourism again people make unnecessary and gross comments
about the city. These people probably live in Thailand , a reason they always use
to condemn the Kingdom. If they are so unhappy about Thailand they should go
back to where they come from.

[lemoncake]

I really do not understand nor appreciate

the sarcasm and bitching about Bangkok and Thailand at every opportunity. This

time around with Master Card naming

Bangkok as the Best City for Tourism again people make unnecessary and gross comments

about the city. These people probably live in Thailand , a reason they always use

to condemn the Kingdom. If they are so unhappy about Thailand they should go

back to where they come from.

May be those who live in Thailand know more about it than those who do not.

I lived in BKK for 5 years and can honestly say its a nightmare of a city.

Its dirty, polluted and always busy with traffic jams.

Yes its great for shopping and food if its within walk able distance.

While living there, i constantly picked up some flu, and always found myself arguing with taxi drivers.

[BrooklynNY]

Most Thais would treat Farangs nicer than their own nationality. There are many complaint threads posted on Thai web boards about poor customer services given among Thais. Many stereo type Thais see Farangs as walking ATMs and they believe that all Farangs are rich but I know that is not true. Needless to explain to those greedy typical Thais who wants to schmooze Farangs for money.

Many typical Thais don't care much about other Asians except Japanese. (And Korean came in second)

PS. I am Thai but have spent my adult life abroad. As far I know that among Thais, we do not work together well as a team. It seems that majority Thais are brought up to be superficial and materialistic. Although we seem nice and friendly but behind those nice smiles could be deadly if you get them mad or things don't go their ways, they can be revengeful!.

As I can see how much its culture has changed downward spiral compared to many many years ago. I hear many Thais talk mostly how they want to be rich and want to have the same as what other rich people have. Many Thai families I know have family problems based on money issues whether rich or poor.

Edited May 28, 2013 by BrooklynNY

[Unkomoncents]

Bangkok can always rely on the pool of willing women to draw in "tourists". I remember reading a human trafficking organization's estimate that upwards of 70% of single, male travellers to the Kingdom are visiting for the sole purpose of engaging in sex tourism. I'm not sure that the surging tourism numbers are all that good a thing for Thailand. The country seems completely incapable of keeping an even-keel in tourism destinations as the world's fugitives, riff-raff and terrorists are awakened to the Thai attitude towards law enforcement.

[Unkomoncents]

I really do not understand nor appreciate

the sarcasm and bitching about Bangkok and Thailand at every opportunity. This

time around with Master Card naming

Bangkok as the Best City for Tourism again people make unnecessary and gross comments

about the city. These people probably live in Thailand , a reason they always use

to condemn the Kingdom. If they are so unhappy about Thailand they should go

back to where they come from.

Here we go again with the "if you don't like it, go home!"-nonsense that most Thais and many farang think is a legitimate, mature way of dealing with criticism of Thailand. One day, you'll grow up and realize that the world is fairly complicated and many expats in Thailand do not have the luxury of leaving their families simply because they're tired of tripping over prostitutes, fending off rabid soi dogs, and paying off the police for various imagined offenses. You like Thailand. Congratulations. What do you want? A f*cking medal?

[rfukata]

it'll be nice if the survey by MC reported which country had the most overseas spend usage, as well as disclosing

Master cards market share amongst other credit card competitors such as AMEX, Diners, Visa, JCB, etc.

[Joe Mamma]

As the #1 ATM fraud capital?

Most Thais would treat Farangs nicer than their own nationality. There are many complaint threads posted on Thai web boards about poor customer services given among Thais. Many stereo type Thais see Farangs as walking ATMs and they believe that all Farangs are rich but I know that is not true. Needless to explain to those greedy typical Thais who wants to schmooze Farangs for money.

Many typical Thais don't care much about other Asians except Japanese. (And Korean came in second)


PS. I am Thai but have spent my adult life abroad. As far I know that among Thais, we do not work together well as a team. It seems that majority Thais are brought up to be superficial and materialistic. Although we seem nice and friendly but behind those nice smiles could be deadly if you get them mad or things don't go their ways, they can be revengeful!.

As I can see how much its culture has changed downward spiral compared to many many years ago. I hear many Thais talk mostly how they want to be rich and want to have the same as what other rich people have. Many Thai families I know have family problems based on money issues whether rich or poor.

Yes, it seems that the western tradition of materialism is being grasped all too eagerly in LOS. The city Thais that exploit the farang are a short term thinking lot, and as the cities are growing they are too. The disdain the hi-do Bangkok Thais have for their fellow countrymen are contemptuous and show immaturity of those self entitled facades.

[Soi Sauce]

London, Paris, Rome, Milan, New York, Athens, Madrid, Sydney, Tokyo, Barcelona, Seoul, etc.

Start crying. You are all s&^t.

Your good transport systems, beautiful buildings, parks, great shops and nightlife mean nothing.

BKK; the hub of city role-models.

Edited May 28, 2013 by Soi Sauce

[super22k]

When I asked tourists what Bangkok was like most of them said,"Three days then out".

But I must say I rather liked the place. I found if you put all the bad things and good things in a melting pot you would get........exitement!

But there is no way Bangkok can be compared with London,Paris,Rome,Barcelona,New York etc, These countries are streets ahead.

Every city in the world has its own character and atmosphere, I think this award probably is a financial or publicity stunt by mastercard.

[HerbalEd]

Did I read hospitality and kindness? Are they mad.

No ... but you must be "mad" (i.e., angry) if you can't see it. Sure there's a__holes in Thailand, just like anywhere else in the world, but of the 60-plus countries I've traveled and lived in, I definitely feel that the Thais are indeed the most hospitable, kindest, most polite people I've ever experienced.

Edited May 28, 2013 by HerbalEd

[HerbalEd]

Not suprised as the system here is geared to suck everyone dry.

Then why do you stay? Or do you like being "sucked dry"?

[HerbalEd]

And yet my CitiBank Mastercard is cancelled each and every time i use it in Bangkok or anywhere in Thailand.

Weird if you ask me

Really? How many times has it been canceled ... then reinstated so it can be cancelled yet again? No, really ... how many times?

[Ticketmaster]

I really do not understand nor appreciate

the sarcasm and bitching about Bangkok and Thailand at every opportunity. This

time around with Master Card naming

Bangkok as the Best City for Tourism again people make unnecessary and gross comments

about the city. These people probably live in Thailand , a reason they always use

to condemn the Kingdom. If they are so unhappy about Thailand they should go

back to where they come from.

I live in Thailand. I love living in Thailand, which is my home. I have no intention of returning to my ancestral home in the West.

All that said, Bangkok is overcrowded, It stinks. Its traffic is impossible. It is filled with corruption and cheats. Although it is a very interesting city with lots to do, I do not know how it could possible be named the "best" city on the world for a visit. It's insane. That's not Thai bashing; it's just the plain truth.

[Ticketmaster]

Not suprised as the system here is geared to suck everyone dry.

Then why do you stay? Or do you like being "sucked dry"?

I like being sucked dry.

Edited May 29, 2013 by Ticketmaster

[bigbamboo]

Congratulations to Governor Sukhumbhand and Bangkok receiving yet another tourism award.

Looks like the voters knew what they were doing in the Big Mango.