Bangkok (Thailand) – September 29, 2015 (travelindex.com) – In a glamorous ceremony at Impact Muang Thong Thani on Sunday evening, 117 Thai companies were awarded the Kingdom's highest tourism prizes. This award recognizes their contribution to improving the quality, professionalism, and service standards of the largest source of foreign exchange for the Thai economy.

From spas and private accommodations to community-based tourism associations, national parks, and animal welfare organizations, the winners of the Thailand Tourism Awards were specifically judged on their contributions to Thai culture, environmental protection, and community engagement. 500x300_Thailand Tourism Awards 2015_Minister

His Excellency Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, delivered the opening speech at the 10th Thailand Tourism Awards ceremony.

The vast majority of these, especially the hotels and tour operators, were small and medium-sized enterprises owned and operated by Thais. They were all spread across the country.

The Minister of Tourism and Sport, HR Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, praised the commitment to exemplary standards in design, management, and marketing, saying: “Such award-winning products and services significantly contribute to strengthening the concept of ‘Thainess’ as a competitive advantage in a constantly changing environment. The annual number of visitors is not the deciding factor. What is far more important is offering high-quality services that keep visitors coming back.”

In a message to the Thai tourism industry, UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai congratulated the TAT on receiving the awards on World Tourism Day, which was themed "One Billion Tourists, One Billion Opportunities." He said: "This powerful global movement has immense potential to contribute to job creation, environmental protection, intercultural peace, and international understanding."

The UNWTO Secretary-General added: “Thailand stands out as one of the world’s leading tourist destinations and is renowned for its vibrant cultural heritage and natural beauty. Tourism continues to be a driving force for Thailand’s economic growth, its inclusive development, and the preservation of the country’s unique culture.”

In his statement, the Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Yuthasak Supasorn, declared that the awards would set benchmarks and spur the entire Thai tourism industry to higher standards. He assured that the TAT would provide comprehensive support to the award winners, particularly SMEs, to strengthen their presence at international trade fairs.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the TAT, gave a speech at the 10th Thailand Tourism Awards ceremony.

The governor said: “The upcoming phase of ASEAN integration will not only boost intra-community travel, but will also force us to differentiate our products and services. ‘Thainess’ is Thailand’s answer to this challenge.”

This year, the evaluation criteria placed particular emphasis on the pursuit of “Thainess”, including the management of tourism products that are environmentally friendly and comply with the principles of His Majesty the King’s sufficiency economy, the implementation of innovative and creative marketing campaigns, especially via social media, and value creation.

His Excellency Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the TAT, and all the winners of the 10th Thailand Tourism Awards.

In line with the UNWTO's sustainability principles, the evaluation criteria required applicants to demonstrate how they contribute to the conservation of the country's natural resources, mitigate climate change, contribute to economic and social development, practice good governance, and promote innovation.

The full list of this year's six award categories included: 1. Hall of Fame (7 awards) 2. Tourism Promotion and Support Organisation (14 awards) 3. Tourist Attractions (13 awards for excellence and 31 awards for outstanding achievement) 4. Tourist Accommodation (7 awards for excellence and 8 awards for outstanding achievement) 5. Health Tourism (9 awards for excellence, 10 awards for outstanding achievement) 6. Travel Programme (6 awards for excellence and 12 awards for outstanding achievement)

International Public Relations Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand, 1600 New Petchaburi Road, Makkasan, Ratchathevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Tel.: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48, Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419, E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.TATnews.org