The award presentation ceremony, attended by some 500 Danish travel executives, was held on 9 October 2008, at the Hilton Copenhagen Airport Hotel in Denmark.

Mrs Nitaya Jessadachatr, Charge d’Affaires a.i. representing the Royal Thai Embassy in Copenhagen, Mr Manit Boonchim — Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Stockholm office and Mr Preecha Nawongse – Manager of the Thai Airways International office in Copenhagen accepted the awards on behalf of the Kingdom of Thailand.

The annual Danish Travel Awards are organized by Stand By Scandinavian travel trade journal, one of the leading travel publications read by Scandinavian travellers. The selection of winners is based on total scores allocated by some 8,000 individual Danish travellers and members of the Danish travel industry.

In 2007, the Kingdom of Thailand welcomed 135,006 Danish visitors — an increase of 8.74 per cent over 2006 and 7.1 billion baht in tourism revenue generated.

Despite the worldwide economic slowdown and recent political developments in Thailand, TAT Stockholm forecasts an 8 per cent increase in visitor arrivals from Denmark and a 10 per cent increase in total tourism revenue generated for 2008. The steady growth of Danish visitor arrivals to the Thai kingdom reflects the vote of confidence Danish travellers have in their favourite travel destinations in Thailand as well as the friendliness and warm hospitality extended by their Thai hosts.

2008 marks the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Denmark. To commemorate this special occasion, Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark will be in Thailand for a four-day state visit from November 24-28, 2008.

A trade mission comprising over 30 Danish companies will accompany the royal couple to strengthen commercial and industrial ties between the two countries. Described as the largest and most comprehensive promotion of Danish business and industry in Thailand, the accompanying trade mission represents key sector of mutual interests between Thailand and Denmark such as energy and environment technology, food and food processing, airport equipment and lifestyle products.

In addition to paving the way for trade exchanges between the two countries, the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Stockholm office and the Royal Thai Embassy in Copenhagen are also promoting tourism exchange and are inviting Danish citizens to visit Thailand.

150 Years of Thai-Danish Diplomatic Relations
Historical records confirm that Siam and Denmark made their first contact in 1621, during the reign of King Songtham of the Ayutthaya Period, when Danish traders were granted permission to trade in Siam. The Thai kingdom ordered cannons from the Danish Royal Asiatic Company in 1770 during the reign of King Taksin the Great, in the Thonburi Period.

Official Thai-Danish diplomatic relations date back to the reign of King Mongkut. Both countries signed the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation in 1858 during the reign of King Mongkut (Rama IV). Diplomatic ties were developed in 1860.

These ties were further strengthened during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V, the fifth king of the Chakri dynasty of Thailand. Recognized for initiating the modernization of Siam through the introduction of administrative reforms, peaceful abolition of slavery and the development of the country’s public infrastructure by drawing on European expertise and technical know-how, King Chulalongkorn (1853-1910) is regarded as one of the greatest kings of Siam. King Chulalongkorn visited Denmark for the first time in 1858.

Thai-Danish diplomatic relations were upgraded to the ambassadorial level in 1958.

Stand By
Web site: www.standby.dk

Contact information:
TAT Stockholm
Drottninggatan 33,
Ground Floor, 111 51 Stockholm
Sweden
Tel: +46 (0)8 700 56 90
Fax: +46 (0)8 700 56 99
E-Mail: info@tourismthailand.se
Web site: www.tourismthailand.se