Thailand remains ‘best value for money’
Source: The Nation
For the third consecutive year, Thailand has emerged as the world’s best “brand” in terms of value for money, the 2008 Country Brand Index (CBI) shows.
Such is the finding of a survey of 2,700 international business and leisure travellers from nine countries conducted by Future Brand, a leading global brand consultancy, in conjunction with public-relations firm Weber Shandwick’s “Global Travel and Lifestyle Practice” report.
“Famous for its authentic culture, spectacular beaches and noteworthy nightlife, Thailand is also one of the most affordable destinations in the world,” the report said.
“In today’s difficult economic times, to be considered the best value-for-money destination is perhaps the best brand image Thailand could enjoy,” said Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Phornsiri Manoharn.
Thailand’s tourism industry has been hit hard by domestic problems. The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) said Thailand recently posted its biggest slump in 10 years in tourist arrivals, with the number of visitors through arranged tours dropping 16.67 per cent year on year to 2 million.
The decline started last August, when anti-government protesters closed Phuket and Hat Yai airports, and worsened after Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports in Bangkok were seized and shut down for 10 days from late last November.