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The Scandinavian country of the Kingdom of Norway has awarded Thailand
“The Best Tourist Destination” for the 6th consecutive year and Thai Airways
International has been chosen as “The Best Intercontinental Airlines” for the
5th time.
On 5 January 2009, the Thai Ambassador to Norway, His Excellency
Jullapong Nonsrichai, along with representatives of the Tourism Authority of
Thailand attended the Grand Travel Awards 2009 ceremony in Oslo to accept the
recognitions on behalf of the country’s tourism industry and Thai Airways
International.
On receiving the recognitions, H.E Jullapong Nonsrichai expressed his
appreciation and indicated that the award is testimony of the confidence that
Norwegians have in Thailand. He after went on to stress that the situation in
Thailand has returned to normal and the government is determined to ensure that
the whole of Thailand continues as usual to whole-heartedly welcome tourists,
investors and all friends to the Kingdom.
Organized for the 14th time, the Grand Travel Awards began
their search for Best Tourist Destination by electing a travel trade jury who
in turn short-list ten countries for the awards. More than 400 members of the
airline, travel, hotel and other related industries from all over Norway, are
then asked to vote for the country which they believe is best for Norwegian
tourists. As a result, Thailand secured more votes than any of the other nine
participating countries.
For over 100 years, the Kingdoms of Thailand and Norway have enjoyed
close cordial diplomatic relations, friendship, cooperation and mutual respect.
Ever since the evolution of tourism to Thailand, the people of Norway have been
choosing Thailand as their favored get-away. In sharp contrast to this Western
Scandinavia’s country of huge scenic fjords and handsome rugged coastline,
Thailand offers Norwegians the opportunity to experience natural beauty of
another kind.
Getting away from often sub-zero temperatures and more than chilly wind
factors, Norwegians, in droves, have experienced tropical smoothing weather to
ensure the blood turns red again. On top of that, the people of Norway have
been continually enchanted by Thailand’s historical temples, irresistible
cuisine, ancient culture and traditions and evergreen limestone islands
surrounded by pearlescent sand. Travelling from the Land of the Midnight Sun to the Land of Smiles,
Norwegian travelers to Thailand have also engaged the renowned world-wide
hospitality of the Thai people who have welcomed the people of Norway with open
arms.
Norwegians, famed for their undeterred consciousness of environmentally
friendly performance have been able to appreciate Thailand’s out-standing
environmental policies. Thailand has set-aside 13% of the country’s landmass
for environmental protection, consisting of an unprecedented 134 national and
marine national parks. Standing at 2,565 meters, Doi Inthanon, as Thailand’s
highest mountain, has turned into a Southeast Asian Mecca for wildlife, bird
and flora lovers.
Thailand’s love for the environment has been spurred on by King
Bhumiphol Adulyadej’s indebted love and care for the environment and his
establishment of countless royal projects to protect Thailand’s mother-nature. The
people of Norway have also shown their appreciation for His Majesty’s
innovative self-sufficiency people to boost Thailand standard of GNH, Gross
National Happiness.
Finally, Norwegian travelers to Thailand have been able to delight
themselves with a diverse variety of travel activities to suit every taste.
Thailand has now become a haven for top-notch medical, spa, golf, shopping and
dining tourism. For sure, Thailand hopes that mutual trust, friendship and
respect between the two Kingdoms, as well as other friendly foreign states,
will continue to blossom indefinitely.
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