BANGKOK, July 7 — The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is trying to restore confidence to reclaim its role as the top tourist destination title from Kyoto, Japan.
Deputy Bangkok governor Amorn Kitchawengkul said Bangkok lost its top tourist destination championship to Kyoto and fell to the third position in a survey by the Travel + Leisure magazine this year because of continuing political demonstrations.
Bangkok’s city hall will discuss efforts to restore confidence among tourists with operators of five-star hotels whose client numbers have dropped by half, he said.
The BMA will join with concerned organizations in government and private sectors to restore confidence. It will explain Thailand’s local situations to participants in international conferences in Bangkok including those in the International Publishers Association Congress that was postponed from last year to September this year due to the political situation, the 3rd Lower Mekong Tourism City Mayors’ Summit this November and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) next February.
In addition, city hall will organize activities to promote tourism, especially annual activities in the winter including music-in-the-park and fashion street events. It will also organize food festivals because Thailand is well-known for its food.
Such activities are likely to woo tourists back to Bangkok, Mr Amorn said.
