Bangkok has been voted the Best City in the World in 2013, according to an Internet survey conducted by Travel + Leisure Magazine, a publication of the American Express Publishing Corporation. Chiang Mai, northern Thailand's largest city, came in at 10th best.
Thailand was the only country that had two cities in the top ten global rankings.
In the Asian cities category, Bangkok topped the list, while Chiang Mai was ranked third.
Bangkok got an overall score of 90.4, beating out other prominent global cities such as Paris, London and New York. Chiang Mai scored 88.15.
This is the third such top-ranked award that Bangkok has picked up this year.
In its 20 Global Destination Cities Index for 2013, MasterCard listed Bangkok as the world's top destination city by international visitor arrivals. It was the first time an Asian city had gained the top spot since the Index was launched in 2010.
TripAdvisor placed Thailand's capital city, Bangkok, at the top of its Travellers' Choice Asia Destinations list of 25 cities, while Chiang Mai was in sixth place.
The Travel + Leisure awards 2013 saw other Thai destinations, hotels and spas also score well.
On the list of the World's Best Islands, Ko Samui was ranked 9th and Phuket ranked 15th. In the Asian islands category, Ko Samui was ranked 4th and Phuket 5th.
Said TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni, "This is the result of the tireless efforts made by the public and private sectors as well as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration over the last 10 years to 'reinvent' Bangkok and take advantage of its extensive tourism and travel opportunities. Visitors to Bangkok feel it is a truly cosmopolitan city that is a perfect mixture of the old and the new. Its distinctive character is the result of Thailand's long-standing freedom while opening itself to all positive things beyond its borders."
He added, "We are also extremely gratified to see Chiang Mai, Samui and Phuket also gaining recognition thanks to the extensive efforts being made to improve tourism products and services. All these awards will go a long way towards helping the entire travel & tourism industry ensure quality control as we enter what will be a new era of growth."
On the list of World's Best Hotels 2013, three were in Thailand:
Rank 31 Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
Rank 43 Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Chiang Mai, Thailand
Rank 69 The Peninsula, Bangkok
On the list of Top City Hotels in Asia, five were in Thailand:
Rank 2 Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
Rank 10 The Peninsula, Bangkok
Rank 14 JW Marriott Hotel, Bangkok
Rank 18 Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok
Rank 26 Four Seasons Hotel, Bangkok
On the list of Top Resorts in Asia, two were in Thailand as follows:
Rank 8 Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Rank 13 Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai, Thailand
On the list of Top Hotel Spas in Asia, one was in Thailand as follows:
Rank 4 Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa, Chiang Rai, Thailand
On the list of Top International Airlines, one was in Thailand as follows:
Rank 9 Thai Airways International
The World's Best Award 2013 questionnaire developed by the editors of Travel & Leisure in association with ROI Research Inc was made available to subscribers at www.tlworldsbest.com between 1 December 2012 to 1 April 2013.
The complete rankings and survey methodology are available in the August issue of Travel & Leisure and online at http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2013
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