The Australian Society of Travel Writers (ASTW) presented its annual Travel Journalism Awards for Excellence in Melbourne, Victoria, on 6 October 2007.

During the award presentation ceremony, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) was named winner of the 2007 ASTW Travel Journalism Awards for Excellence in “The Best International Tourism Organisation” category. Some 31 countries were represented in this award category this year.

The annual Travel Journalism Awards for Excellence recognizes outstanding achievements by members of the Society as well as contributions made by travel and tourism-related organizations to help further the society’s founding mission and goals.

The ASTW is a non-profit organization dedicated to reporting on the travel industry and serving the interests of the travelling public; promoting international understanding and good will; and promoting unbiased reporting of information on travel topics.

The ASTW membership consist of professionals engaged in writing, broadcasting, photographic, television and other electronic media production, as well as Public Relations members engaged in promotional activities related to the travel industry.

Celebrating its thirtieth year in 2006, the Society now has more than 300 members, all of whom strive to provide readers, viewers and listeners with accurate information on travel destinations, facilities and services and on the structure and development of the travel industry itself through broadcast media, print media and online media. These include magazines and newspapers, travel books and guides, radio, television programmes and electronic media.

The Society works to raise the standards of the profession. In addition, it seeks to guard the right of freedom to travel and to encourage conservation and preservation of historic sites and natural wonders, and promote cultural understanding. The Society also believes that travel is a bridge between peoples.

The 2007 ASTW Travel Journalism Awards for Excellence for “The Best International Tourism Organisation” was presented to TAT in recognition of the tremendous and continued support that TAT has extended to Australian media representatives, members of the Society and individual members in their coverage of the Kingdom of Thailand as a travel destination throughout the year. This includes facilitating the shooting of film and video documentaries on Thailand; the sponsorship and organization of media familiarization trips; assistance and support extended to Australian media representatives including film crews, editorial teams, writers and photographers affiliated with broadcast media, publications, newspapers, as well as online media channels.

TAT’s Sydney office accepted the award on behalf of Thailand and the national tourism organization.

Source: The Australian Society of Travel Writers
Web site: www.astw.org.au

Contact information:
TAT Sydney
Suite 20.02,Level 20,56 Pitt Street
Sydney, NSW 2000 AUSTRALIA
Tel: (61 2) 9247 7549
Fax: (61 2) 9251 2465
E-mail: info@thailand.net.au, tatsyd@tat.or.th