Thailand is still top choice
Thailand has had its share of political turmoil in the last few years but this hasn’t put off the tourists.

Thailand remains the top destination for travellers despite civil unrest in the country, according to a recent online survey. Twenty percent of those surveyed in 10 countries by Visa Asia Pacific and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (Pata) named Thailand as their most likely destination.

“Thailand’s reputation as a relaxing place where people can enjoy the local culture, natural beauty and friendly people continue to increase in the minds of those looking to travel to Asia, despite international media attention on the country’s civil unrest ahead of the survey,’’ it went on to say.

A bloodless coup occurred in Thailand last September when tanks rolled into the streets to overthrow the elected government of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Since then, violence has escalated in the country’s Muslim-majority south bordering Malaysia.

The Visa-Pata survey found that of those intending to make an international trip in the next two years, 52% were considering Asia as their next travel destination, a 9% increase from the previous year’s survey.

The survey was conducted in Australia, Canada, China, Germany, India, Japan, South Korea, Sweden, UK and the US. Pata, a not-for-profit organisation, represents government tourism bodies, airlines and other travel industry companies. – AFP

Malaysia Star, Malaysia