Thailand slips in popularity poll
Writer: KARNJANA KARNJANATAWE
Published: 17/09/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Horizons
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.
*Phuket rated among world’s top-10 *
*‘favourite island’ destinations. *
PEERAWAT JARIYASOMBAT.
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.
The awards announced annually extend to various other categories including favourite cities hotels, spas, airlines and airports.
Leading the “favourite cities” category was New York followed by Paris, Rome, Sydney and Barcelona (same scores), Venice, San Francisco, Cape Town, Hong Kong and Amsterdam.
Sicily was their favourite island, followed by Maldives, Barbados, the Cyclades (in the Greek archipelago), Cuba, Seychelles, Mauritius, Phuket (13th last year), Koh Samui (6th last year) and Cyprus.
Their favourite airport was Beijing for flight information/clarity of signs and accessibility, Dubai for shopping, Kuala Lumpur for baggage handling while Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi failed to figure even in the top-15.
The airline category was segmented into short-haul leisure, long-haul leisure, business and low-cost airline.
THAI placed 9th in long-haul leisure segment, Virgin Atlantic took the honours for flight service and lounge facilities, Qantas for in-flight entertainment, Air New Zealand for catering and Singapore Airlines for service/staff.
Seven Thai hotels figured among the top-20 in the “overseas leisure hotels” category: Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai (3rd, up from 15th last year), the Chedi Phuket (6th, down from 2nd), Six Senses Hideaway in Samui (8th, top of the list last year), Amapuri in Phuket (10th, down from 4th), Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai (11th, down from 5th), Six Senses Hideaway, Hua Hin (16th, up a notch) and Anantara Phuket Resort and Spa (20th).
“The Chedi Phuket has the most appetising food and Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai has the most polished service/staff,” the survey said.
Chiva-Som International Health Resort in Hua Hin ranked second (up from 5th), behind Zara Spa in Jordan.
For the complete list, visit http://www.cntraveller.com/ReadersAwards/2009
*Bron: Bangkok Post / www.bangkokpost.com *