City's flaws are appealing

NOISE

Published: 25 Jul 2012 at 00.00
Newspaper section: Life

Once again, Travel+Leisure magazine has named Bangkok as the world's best city. It's the third year in a row. I'm sure the government, and especially the Tourism Authority of Thailand, must be over the moon now.

Expect to see some gaudy plug-ins in various tourism campaigns in the near future. "Voted best city in the world three times!!! Do NOT miss!!!" would flash in bright neon colours and the ugliest fonts available while equally gaudy flyers are handed out at tourism trade shows.

The news has been out for a few days now, and I'm still perplexed about how to feel about the "accolade" bestowed upon our beloved city.

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falangsur
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Discussion 4 : 25 Jul 2012 at 19.344
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The criteria is always the most important to know when evaluating any ranking. This is my opinion only. I love Bangkok as a short stay place. I always tell my visiting family and friends not to stay too long in Bangkok as it is an exhausting place. How Thai's keep smiling while living in Bangkok is a testament to their wonderful culture. What I love about Bangkok - it is a mix of old and new; it is fast paced (traffic is slow only because so many are rushing somewhere); plenty of choices for food and drink; plenty of places to kill time and relax; VERY inexpensive compared to foreign cities of similar size/scope; and plenty of people looking to have a fun time. What I dislike about Bangkok - traffic; ugly, unplanned skyline/architecture; dirty/hot/grimy feel to the air; selling of Thai culture and youth to the sex industry; sex tourists; and the missing canals of old replaced by cement........
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Ian
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Discussion 3 : 25 Jul 2012 at 15.463
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This magazine (Travel+Leisure magazine) is not well known, try Lonely planet or Rough guide, these are the ones that most people turn to for information.
As to Bangkok most Thais, unlike you, have never experienced other major cities, I suspect most members of the Tourism Authority of Thailand never have either, otherwise they would be more subdued in their claims for Bangkok.
Bangkok is a great experience for a week, even a fortnight, after that you start to wake up. You start to notice the double pricing, the daily ripping off at every opportunity, the corruption, the pretense at law by both citizens and police alike.
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lungstib
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Discussion 2 : 25 Jul 2012 at 14.172
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Despite being in the tourist business for 30 plus years I have never understood how tourists could vote Bangkok as a number one in the world. My tourists always found the time stuck in traffic jams to get to and from every hotel after sightseeing or meals was just too great. Just who gets asked? What did they do, stay in all day.
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whatajoke
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Discussion 1 : 25 Jul 2012 at 07.231
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If Bangkok was priced in a similar bracket to other world cities, for tourist expenses, it wouldn't even make the top 10. Travel+leisure readers love it because of the cheap spas, food, girls, taxis, hotels and shopping, but with an unlimited budget London or New York or Paris would be a far better experience.
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City's flaws are appealing | Bangkok Post: opinion