Her Royal Highness Princess Ubolratana conferred the 14th Thailand Tourism Awards upon 254 Thai tourism enterprises recognised for their quality and excellence in tourism and hospitality operations. This event highlighted Thailand's new direction towards high-value and sustainable tourism. The presentation ceremony took place at the Samyan Mitrtown Hall on World Tourism Day (27 September) as a symbolic gesture to raise awareness of responsible and sustainable tourism.
H.E. Mr. Arrun Boonchai, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, stated, "The government recognises tourism as a major contributor to reviving the Thai economy and is implementing specific measures to elevate the supply and sustainability standards to promote Thai tourism's sustainability. The Thailand Tourism Awards is a key tool in fostering cooperation among stakeholders, promoting sustainable development, creating jobs, and ultimately distributing tourism benefits and income across the entire kingdom."
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) initiated the biannual Thailand Tourism Awards, also known as the Kinnari Awards, in 1996, believing that the Awards represent quality and excellence in tourism and hospitality operations. The Award winners demonstrate their readiness to support and strengthen Thailand's tourism industry, allowing them to compete globally for many years to come.
The Awards also serve as a catalyst for the winners, who benefit from increased publicity and interest in their products, helping to drive business development.