Bangkok loses from list of world's top 10 best cities for travel

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok has lost out from last year's winner and also slipped from the top 10 overall list of world's best cities for 2014 by readers of the US magazine Travel & Leisure.

Kyoto, the ancient Japanese capital famed for its historical landmarks, was ranked the best city in the world for 2014 instead.

Kyoto jumped four places from last year, unseating Bangkok from the top spot in the magazine’s 2014 World’s Best Awards list.

Cambodia’s Siem Reap which was not listed on the magazine’s top 10 best cities in the world last year was named the fourth best city.

Also in the poll of best cities for travel in Asia, Bangkok was also unseated by Kyoto to third place after Siem Reap.

Bangkok was rated the world’s best city last year for the fourth year in a row by the magazine’s readers.

The US magazine Travel & Leisure said the world’s best cities were rated by its readers on sights and landmarks; culture and arts; restaurants and food; people; and value.

Kyoto, renowned for its centuries-old temples and shrines, ranked ninth in 2012, becoming the first Japanese city to break into the magazine’s top 10. In the latest poll, it scored 90.21 points, followed by Charleston, South Carolina (90.18), Florence, Italy (89.99) and Siem Reap (89.82).

In 2013, Kyoto received a record 51.62 million tourists, according to the city. Kyoto hotels and inns accommodated 1.13 million foreign travelers, topping the 1 million threshold for the first time.

A city official said its promotion of “washoku”, or Japanese cuisine, and cultural traditions helps to draw in the tourists.

The 2014 survey gave scores to each city based on votes received from readers. Poll participants were asked to judge destinations on a variety of factors including culture, arts, food and value for money.

Respondents were screened to remove travel-industry professionals from the vote, according to the magazine’s website.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/bangkok-loses-list-worlds-top-10-best-cities-travel/

-- Thai PBS 2014-07-04

So this is based on what? What has changed in Bangkok?

So this is based on what? What has changed in Bangkok?

based on payments.......these lists are all rigged

I'm guessing those polled weren't sex tourists this year

This is based on bangkok shutdown campaign and boycott of thai junta by the international community. It's a paytime now.

I would like to know, on what place bangkok landed?

How they could ever rate BKK as the top destination on the Planet is beyond comprehension. Compared to many others it is a dump !

Bangkok is getting old. People want to experience a new environment.

Usually the results surveys like this come up with are a joke. I remember for instance Ao Nang, Krabi being listed as one of the best beaches in the world, they were selling it as a real insider tip. In reality this beach is heavily over commercialized, walking down beach road you are constantly hassled by restaurant staff. Not knowing the real situation, somebody following a suggestion made by such a survey could be up for a big disappointment.

You can fool some of the people, some of the time. But you cannot fool all of the people all of the time!

Kyoto is a fantastic city, I have no trouble believing its ranking at all.

Bangkok drops out of world's top 10 best cities for travel

All the Khmers have gone back to Siem Reap.

Western media just goes to far. They are no longer journalist, but just want to do sensationalism. Only certain parts of the city of Bangkok are affected, but western journalist make it sound like the entire country is in turmoil. Leave the Thai nation to itself, it will figure out what is good for them. Democracy is certainly not looking good in the US. Thailand will do what is needed and will survive. USA is just over 200 year's, Thailand is thousands of years. Leave them alone.

This is based on bangkok shutdown campaign and boycott of thai junta by the international community. It's a paytime now.

I would like to know, on what place bangkok landed?

The reds played their part as well.

You can fool some of the people, some of the time. But you cannot fool all of the people all of the time!

Unless someone is.

Western media just goes to far. They are no longer journalist, but just want to do sensationalism. Only certain parts of the city of Bangkok are affected, but western journalist make it sound like the entire country is in turmoil. Leave the Thai nation to itself, it will figure out what is good for them. Democracy is certainly not looking good in the US. Thailand will do what is needed and will survive. USA is just over 200 year's, Thailand is thousands of years. Leave them alone.

It's not media, but public opinion. There is nothink sensational in this article.

The bangkok shutdown affected the whole country to the tune of $1bln/month. The coup affects the whole country, and beyond - see exodus of cambodians and their reluctance to come back. And that's not talking about the state of thai tourism.

History of modern thailand started at the same time, as usa were forming. You can compare the differencies between those countries and you can see, how much thailand was left behind in every aspect of governance, economy, social justice, quality of life

There was no any military coup in the usa in their history, presidential, congres, senate and local lections are carried out, and there no political repressions on a large scale, as in thailand.

The problem is, that thailand is in a deep social and political crisis for many years now. Nothing is done to progress and develop, but to stiffle and carry on the old ways. No coutry can function properly in a global capitalism by cutting themselves from the outside world, nationalism holds back economy.

I never understood Bangkok being #1. I love it personally, but that's because I've lived there, learned the language, made local friends, etc. It took time to love Bangkok. For regular tourists, this city is really love it or leave it. English language proficiency is totally hit or miss, accommodations run the gamut from cheap and awesome to terrible and everything in between. Taxi's that rip you off (don't start with the tuk tuks), the heat, the traffic, the ridiculous streets.

Again, I LOVE BANGKOK. But for the average run of the mill tourist coming for the first time? Unless they want to drop duckets and spend their way through it (which makes it really awesome) it can be pretty tough the first time around.

Also, the best parts of Bangkok are largely inaccessible to newbies. Unlike, I imagine, Kyoto.

This is based on bangkok shutdown campaign and boycott of thai junta by the international community. It's a paytime now.

I would like to know, on what place bangkok landed?

The reds played their part as well.

Yes, they were sticking to the democratic principle, but that's not the reason, that tourists, and businessmen, are boycotting thailand.

The recent developments with visa restrictions will push away some tourists, which would not bother with tourist visas

So this is based on what? What has changed in Bangkok?

The military are in power.

They didn't give Travel & Leisure any

I'm waiting for the Foreign Ministry, or someone, to sue Travel & Leisure Magazine for Thailand's "loss of face" by dropping them from #1.

On the bright side, Bangkok is still among Thailand's top 10 best cities for travel.

So this is based on what? What has changed in Bangkok?

Out of martial law and Junta ruling, I would say, nothing changed.

This is based on bangkok shutdown campaign and boycott of thai junta by the international community. It's a paytime now.

I would like to know, on what place bangkok landed?

The reds played their part as well.

Yes, they were sticking to the democratic principle, but that's not the reason, that tourists, and businessmen, are boycotting thailand.

The recent developments with visa restrictions will push away some tourists, which would not bother with tourist visas

Democratic principles? Midnight votes when your opponents were told business was over for the day and had left? Changing the wording of bills between readings? Voting for your absent friends? Threatening opponents and the judiciary? Grenade attacks on protestors, children or anyone in their way? Are these your democratic principles?

The UDD and their masters were equally responsible for the violence that racked Bangkok. That violence is what has caused unease amongst tourists, not its cessation.

Western media just goes to far. They are no longer journalist, but just want to do sensationalism. Only certain parts of the city of Bangkok are affected, but western journalist make it sound like the entire country is in turmoil. Leave the Thai nation to itself, it will figure out what is good for them. Democracy is certainly not looking good in the US. Thailand will do what is needed and will survive. USA is just over 200 year's, Thailand is thousands of years. Leave them alone.

Ahh yes, Travel and Leisure magazine, that bastion of corrupt western values and a shill for the US imperialists. What they need is happy time at the military retreat to see the error of their ways. Why are they trying to force their democracy on joyful Thailand!!!!

Western media just goes to far. They are no longer journalist, but just want to do sensationalism. Only certain parts of the city of Bangkok are affected, but western journalist make it sound like the entire country is in turmoil. Leave the Thai nation to itself, it will figure out what is good for them. Democracy is certainly not looking good in the US. Thailand will do what is needed and will survive. USA is just over 200 year's, Thailand is thousands of years. Leave them alone.

Yeah, Thailand has been around 1,000 years, the US only 200, and Thailand is STILL light years behind the US. 1,000 years and they're still a 3rd World country for the most part. Maybe they'll get it right in another thousand.

How they could ever rate BKK as the top destination on the Planet is beyond comprehension. Compared to many others it is a dump !

If you're not here - why worry?

If you are here - just leave!

Just stop whining....there are millions of people around the world that wish they were her. Get a life.

I guess this list is not so important.

Next year Bkk will go in again, as usually.

Who gives a toss anyway. I'm not surprised BKK is not top 10, but so what. Singapore is apparently the most expensive place to live - and why would you be proud to live in the most expensive city / country.....so you can send emails to all your mates and family and tell them that's where you live ?

Who gives a toss anyway. I'm not surprised BKK is not top 10, but so what. Singapore is apparently the most expensive place to live - and why would you be proud to live in the most expensive city / country.....so you can send emails to all your mates and family and tell them that's where you live ?

Being proud of where you live is a concept i don't get, but maybe those in Singapore are proud because it is a relatively clean, ordered, law abiding, safe environment and realise that it costs to have all those things?

I live in Bangkok and like it here but would not rate it highly as a tourist destination.

Charleston, South Carolina is 2nd on the list..

I'd rather go to Bangkok but then I live in Bangkok & never been to Charleston.

Who gives a toss anyway. I'm not surprised BKK is not top 10, but so what. Singapore is apparently the most expensive place to live - and why would you be proud to live in the most expensive city / country.....so you can send emails to all your mates and family and tell them that's where you live ?

It's not about where to live it is about where to travel.

Not a surprising drop with the red shirts firing rockets and beating up crippled Monks. Next year will be a different story.