TOURISM AWARDS 2002 TO RECOGNISE ECOTOURISM VENTURES

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has expanded its bi-annual tourism awards in 2002 to include recognition of environmentally-friendly initiatives in commemoration of the International Year of Ecotourism (IYE).

Launched in 1996 and held bi-annually, the awards are designed to motivate both private and public tourism-related organisations to strive for higher standards of product development, professionalism, service-delivery and marketing.

That serves the wider goal of helping conserve the country’s natural and cultural resources and promotes the cause of sustainable tourism development.

According to TAT Governor Pradech Phayakvichien, the Fourth Thailand Tourism Awards next year will be linked to the International Year of Ecotourism 2002.

The judging committee consisting of experts from both private and public related agencies has agreed to create a special category of awards for “Best Ecotourism” in addition to the six traditional major categories namely:

- Best Tourist Attractions (Natural, Cultural & Historical, Recreational and Town & Local),

- Best Tourist Accommodations (City, Convention and Resort),

- Best Tour Programmes (Domestic and Inbound),

- Best Conservation/Preservation Organisation,

- Best Conservation/Preservation Project, and

- Best Tourism Publicity (Mass Printing, Special Printing, Television, Radio and Internet)

Each category of award will have one winner and two runners-up. In 2000, 44 out of 119 projects and organisations were honoured compared to 29 awards from 236 applications in 1998.

Said Governor Pradech, “That clearly shows the popularity of the awards and the competition amongst the industry to trade up. We hope to have even more applications this year.”

He said that the judges have been selected for their impartiality as well as their long experience in Travel & Tourism. “We want to ensure that the Awards are of the highest standards and have high public acceptance and recognition. It is only by continuously striving for higher standards and professionalism that Thailand can maintain its competitive edge on the global tourism stage.”

He added, “It is imperative that we promote the development and expansion of our tourism industry in a sustainable way. This will allow us to raise the standards of products and services, develop human resources, increase tourism investment, create more jobs for Thais and spread tourism foreign exchange revenue to people especially in provincial areas.”

Along with the Thailand Tourism Awards, the TAT will also present the Friends of Thailand Awards to foreign companies and individuals world-wide who work towards bringing more visitors to Thailand and/or support the promotion of Thailand as a tourist destination.

In 2000, a total of 83 Friends of Thailand Awards were presented in four categories: 28 individual supporters from 19 countries, 14 media from 13 countries, 30 tour operators from 25 countries and 11 airlines from nine countries.

Nominations for the Thailand Tourism Awards 2002 will be accepted between 15 January 2002 and 30 April 2002. Along with the application form, applicants have to submit a full report on the nominated project, including policy statements, clear operation plans, outcomes and assessments in terms of both quantity and quality. Photographs no older than two years will also be necessary, if applicable.