Tourism And Leisure

[marshbags]

Breaking News from the B.Post. quote:-

Bangkok/Chiang Mai 'best tourism cities'

(dpa) Thailand's main metropolises, Bangkok and Chiang Mai, have been ranked among the top-ten ``best tourism cities'' in the world, according to an Internet survey conducted by Travel & Leisure Magazine.

Thailand's congested capital Bangkok was ranked third and its currently flooded northern metropolis Chiang Mai was ranked fifth worldwide in the travel magazine's annual survey for 2006 on tourism criteria such as sights, culture and arts, restaurants/food, people, shopping and value for money.

``This shows how Bangkok and Chiang Mai have changed,'' said Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) governor Juthamas Siriwan, reacting to the magazine awards on Tuesday.

``Just 10 years ago, Bangkok was known more for its traffic and nightlife. And Chiang Mai has also improved phenomenally,'' said Juthamas.

Both cities offer a unique mix for tourists of cultural attractions with modern hotel facilities and improved infrastructure, at least in Bangkok, where an overhead sky train and subway have improved transportation in the past five years, Juthamas said.

Travel & Leisure, a publication of American Express Publishing Corporation, also ranked two Bangkok hotels among the worlds best, with the Peninsula

Well there,s a bit of good news for Thailand at last.

I have to add that in my humble opinion Udonthani is also up on par in for being a good for culture and it,s people ect. ect.

Most of the points highlighted would fit into Pattaya also i reckon, it,s a pity about the negative stuff everyone hears about, again in my humble opinion and experience.

It won,t do the publicity of Tourism any harm after all the negative stuff that,s been going around.

Let,s see a smile now everyone and a few more good news stories to read will work wonders against the knockers..............................................................

Excuse me if this has been posted elsewhere but i didn,t see it anywhere and as it,s a happy article it,s worth repeating if it is.

marshbags

P.S. As the C.Mai forum was the last one i checked, i,ve noted it,s been posted on there.

Should it be a repeat or needs to be put on another forum i.e. general, could it be moved please or added to,

Thanks..........................................................................

.........................................................................

[Ulysses G.]

I hope that our Thai hosts realize that some of the reasons that these cities are so pleasing to tourists are great International restaurants, book stores, guest houses, hotels and other businesses catering to tourists and run by Expats - usually with Thai husbands or wives - which make Thailand such a great place to hang out, enjoy oneself and spend money.

[ThaiPauly]

MB.

Do U have the full top 10 lists

Cheers

TP

[Rinrada]

MB.

Do U have the full top 10 lists

Cheers

TP

This report came out earlier in the year so not too hard to guess wot "happy toorist" spot is probably not on the charabang jolli list...any more..

Top 10 Cities

Overall Rank Last Year Name 2006 Score

1 - 4 Florence ..................... 87.09

2 - 3 Rome ......................... 86.15

3 - 2 Bangkok................... .. 86.11

4 - 1 Sydney..................... . 85.94

5 - 5 Chiang Mai,.............. .. 85.62

6 - 8 Cape Town.................. 85.39

7 - n/a Buenos Aires............ 85.03

8 - 6 New York..................... 84.75

9 - n/a Beirut....................... 84.38

10- 10 San Francisco............. 84.00

...OK have another GUESS

[Rinrada]

MB.

Do U have the full top 10 lists

Cheers

TP

This report came out earlier in the year so not too hard to guess wot "happy toorist" spot is probably not on the charabang jolli list...any more..

Top 10 Cities

Overall Rank Last Year Name 2006 Score

1 - 4 Florence ..................... 87.09

2 - 3 Rome ......................... 86.15

3 - 2 Bangkok................... .. 86.11

4 - 1 Sydney..................... . 85.94

5 - 5 Chiang Mai,.............. .. 85.62

6 - 8 Cape Town.................. 85.39

7 - n/a Buenos Aires............ 85.03

8 - 6 New York..................... 84.75

9 - n/a Beirut....................... 84.38

10- 10 San Francisco............. 84.00

...OK have another GUESS

and..

This will really get the adventurous tourists flocking in.....

Govt declares 29 provinces as bird flu disaster zone

BANGKOK: -- The government Tuesday declared twenty nine central and northeastern provinces, including Bangkok, as a disaster zone as part of measure to curb bird flu, government spokesman Surapong Suebwonglee said.....

[tigerbeer]

i thought kuala lumpur would be one of these top ten cities.

[marshbags]

MB.

Do U have the full top 10 lists

Cheers

TP

Hiya T.P., my pleasure

The following info includes:- 1) the website, 2) worlds top cities list, 3) Asias top cities list.

Lots of good info. on many aspects of travel / leisure and informative.

http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest....cfm?cat=cities

................................................................................

..........................

Rank Last Year Name 2006

Score

1 4 Florence 87.09

2 3 Rome 86.15

3 2 Bangkok 86.11

4 1 Sydney 85.94

5 5 Chiang Mai, Thailand 85.62

6 8 Cape Town 85.39

7 n/a Buenos Aires 85.03

8 6 New York 84.75

9 n/a Beirut 84.38

10 10 San Francisco 84.29

................................................................................

.............................

1 1 Bangkok 86.11

2 2 Chiang Mai, Thailand 85.62

3 n/a Kathmandu 83.61

4 4 Kyoto 82.20

5 3 Hong Kong 82.18

6 5 Hanoi 82.09

7 n/a Udaipur, India 81.96

8 n/a Beijing 80.46

9 n/a Jaipur, India 79.94

10 n/a Luang Prabang, Laos 79.92

Lots of good info. on many aspects of travel / leisure and informative from what i,ve looked at.

Some interesting and suprising cities in the Asia list and totally unexpected.

Another page to our book of expanding knowledge courtesy of the Thai Visa members.

marshbags

P.S. Sad to observe and note that Beirut can now be excluded from the list.

Off topic i know but..................................................................please allow this thought..................

May they find a peaceful solution to the Middle East soon for the sake of all the innocents and humanity.

[The Dan Sai Kid]

And Chiang Mai has also improved phenomenally,'' said Juthamas.

He's certainly not talking about the roads...

[SamSipEt]

And Chiang Mai has also improved phenomenally,'' said Juthamas.

He's certainly not talking about the roads...

or drainage

or air quality

but <deleted> it is a great place to live

Oops, sorry, the south is of course much much better. Horrible up here.

[Ricardo]

IMHO it is the people, local & farang, who make Chiang Mai such a cosmopolitan and pleasant place, although I note the view in another thread that 80%-90% of us are w*nkers.

With all the hill-tribes, and the many different nationalities of farangs, resident & just passing-through, it is a very international place.