FRIENDS OF THAILAND PROJECT
The objective of the Friends of Thailand Project is to honour and express appreciation to Thailand's 'international friends' for their continued contribution to the successful development of Thai tourism.
The awards are presented to individuals, groups of individuals, organisations and agencies worldwide who have played a significant role in promoting Thailand abroad and have contributed to the wider publicity of the destination in the international community and have helped to present a positive image of Thailand.
The Friends of Thailand Awards were first introduced in 1996, and were presented by then — Prime Minister, General Chaovalit Yongchaiyuth. The Awards were presented to international individuals/organizations, international tour operators and international airlines.
Since then, TAT has presented the Friends of Thailand Awards every two years. The 2nd Awards were presented in 1998, the 3rd Awards in 2000, the 4th Awards in 2002, and the 5th and latest Awards were presented in 2004. For the past 9 years (1996-2004), a total of 356 awards were presented to recipients from 57 countries.
This year, the 6th Friends of Thailand Awards was presented on the 27th September 2008 at the Centara Grand at Central World.
TAT has invited distinguished individuals from the Thai tourism industry to participate as Committee Members of the Friends of Thailand Awards. Distinguished Committee Members include the Tourism Council of Thailand, the Association of Thai Travel Agents, the Thai Hotel Association, the Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association, the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited, and Thai Air Asia Public Company Limited.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s 21 overseas offices and 23 marketing representatives were responsible for the nomination of qualified individuals/
organizations to the Committee of the Friends of Thailand Awards to select eligible persons to receive the Award.
For 2008, a total of 79 Awards will be presented to recipients from 34 countries. The Awards are divided into 4 categories:
 |
International Individual/Organization:
A total of 18 Awards were presented. |
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION CATAGORY |
COUNTRY |
1. Hiroshima-Thailand Association (HTA)
Mr. Hiroshi Iwatani |
Japan |
2. Japan-Thailand Business Forum (JTBF)
Mr. Hisashi Shinosaki |
Japan |
| |
|
INTERNATIONAL INDIVIDUAL CATAGORY |
COUNTRY |
3. Ms. Julia Lambertini
CEO & Owner, Lambertini Representaciones
en Tourismo |
Argentina |
4. Mr. Karl Steppe
Chairman, Blue Elephant International |
Belgium
|
5. Mr. Jaime Serrano-Guerra
President, PATA French Chapter |
France |
6. Mrs. Maria Posth
General Manager, COLMAR EXPO SA
Salon International du |
France
|
7. Mr. Francis Bagaman
Chairman, Society of IATA Passenger Agent (SIPA) |
Hong Kong
|
8. Mr. Shigeyo Kirnura
Representative, Japan-Thai Education Exchange |
Japan |
9. Mr. Terumasa Akio
President, Minsai Center Japan |
Japan |
10. Mr. Gi Hyung Keum
Director of Policy Communication & PR Office
Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism |
Korea |
11. Mr. Seong Yin (Steven) Ng
Secretary General, Malaysia Motoring Association |
Malaysia |
12. Mr. Geoffrey Grogan
Director of Marketing & Procurement, Active Asia |
New Zealand |
13. Mr. Egil Seglem Eide
Author, Priest |
Norway |
14. Mr. Chien Heng (Ken) Wu
Radio Host, BCC Radio |
Taiwan |
15. Mr. Haim Danous
Director, The Thai Square Group |
U.K. |
16. Ms.Donna Anderson
Marketing Manager MSC Travel Pty Ltd. |
Australia |
17. Mr.Burkhard Bigalke
Tourist Board Bad Homburg |
Germany |
18. Mr.Vu The Binh Minh
Director, Travel Department of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism |
Vietnam |
|
| |
International Tour Operators:
A total of 26 Awards were presented. |
INTERNATIONAL TOUR OPERATOR CATAGORY |
COUNTRY |
1. Eso Travel
Mr. Tomas Cikan |
Czech Republic |
2. Profil Rejser
Mr. Frederik Wagner |
Denmark |
| 3. Nyhavn Reiser |
Denmark |
4. CFA DE Voyages
Mr. Plerre Khamsing |
France |
5. Aurinkomatkat
Mr. Harri Laine |
Finland |
6. Dream Travel
Mr. Stavros Bouzauis |
Greece |
7. EGL Tours Co., Ltd.
Mr. Steve Huen |
Hong Kong |
8. Ofakim Tour (2003)
Mr. Joel Lowenstein |
Israel |
9. N Tour
Mr. Kyung Jin Seo |
Korea |
10. Skyzone Tour & Travel Sendirian Berhad
Mr. Kho Kwang Peow |
Malaysia |
11. 333 Travel
Mr. Arno Van Uffelen |
Netherlands |
12. TEZ Tour Company
Mr. Alexander Sinigib Skiy |
Russia |
13. ASA Holiday
Mr. Albert Sea |
Singapore |
14. Asia - Euro Holiday Pte., Ltd.
Mr. Chew Chang Sheng |
Singapore |
15. New Shan Travel Service Pte,, Ltd.
Mr. Ong Eng Hong (Alen) |
Singapore |
16. Heyneke
Mrs. Johanna Heyneke |
South Africa |
17. Traveldays Tours
Mr. Enric Colomer Leon |
Spain |
18. Kuoni Scandinavia/Apollo
Mr. Roger Jarkell |
Sweden |
| 19. Select Travel |
Sweden |
| 20. Thomas Cook/My Travel/Ving |
Sweden |
21. TUI Nordic (Fritidsresor)
Mr. Juha Kostiainen |
Sweden |
22. Supreme General Travel Service
Mr. Yu, Fu-Yun |
Taiwan |
23. Audley Travel Ltd.
Ms. Kate Dick |
U.K. |
24. Ben Thanh Tourist
Mr. Lai Huu Phuong |
Vietnam |
25. Fiditour
Mr. Nguyen Viet Hung |
Vietnam |
26. Saigontourist Travel Service
Mr. Vo Anh Tai |
Vietnam |
|
| |
International Media:
A total of 24 Awards were presented. |
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA CATAGORY |
COUNTRY |
1. The Great Outdoor Channel 7
Ms. Lucy Connors |
Australia |
2. The Getaway Channel 9
Ms. Linn Taylor |
Australia |
3. Mrs. Anita Drayoott
Writer and Editor |
Canada |
4. Mr. Benoit Legauit
Freelance Travel Writer |
Canada |
5. Mr. Un Yang
Global Travel Media |
China |
6. Mr. Michel Fernet
Press Club De France |
France |
7. Mr. Stephane Bouillaud
French Television |
France |
8. Mr. Vir Sanghvi
HT Media LTD ( Hindustan Times) |
India |
9. Mr. Teguh Sudarisman
PT Indomultimedia |
Indonesia |
10. Mr. Yasuo Yoshitome
Advisor, FM Radio Station Northwave |
Japan |
11. Mr. Seung-Ha Cho
THE DONG - A ILBO Daily |
Korea |
12. Mr. David Crossman Bowden
Travel Write SDN BHD |
Malaysia |
13. Ms .Christine Dayrit
The Philippine Star |
Philippines |
14. Mr. Armando Nudo Carneiro
H V Press |
Portugal |
15. Mr. Evgeny Belenkiy
Russian TV Channel " Russia Today" |
Russia |
16 Mr. Gillian Lee Kim Lynn
Bon Publishing |
Singapore |
17. Mr. Ng Wee Kiat
Foot Works Media Ptd. Ltd. |
Singapore |
18. Mr. Tang Siew Kwong
Singapore Sights |
Singapore |
19. Ms. Caroline Hurry
The Star |
South Africa |
| 20. Mr.Cesar Lucas |
Spain |
21. Ms. Helene Benno
Swedish Television (SVT) |
Sweden |
22. Ms. Lisley Lin
China Time Weekly Magazine |
Taiwan |
23. Mrs. Gemma Greenwood
ITIP Publishing Group |
U.A.E. |
24. Mr. Alan Orbell
BMI Publications
Mr. Steve Hartridge |
U.K. |
|
| |
International Airlines:
A total of 11 Awards were presented. |
INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES CATAGORY |
COUNTRY |
1. China Eastern Airlines Co., Ltd.
Mr. Xiao Nai Xiu |
China |
2. Indonesia Air Asia
Mr. Widijastorao Nugroho |
Indonesia |
3. Royal Jordanian
Mrs. Dvora Bruchstiein |
Israel |
4. Asiana Airlines Inc.
Mr. Jong Gil Kim |
Korea |
5. Air Macau
Mr. David Fei |
Macau |
6. Air Asia Berhad
Ms. Carmen Wong Mei Yong |
Malaysia |
7. Oman Air
Mr. Abdulrazaq J Alraisi |
Oman |
8. Finnair Plc.
Mr. Petri Schaaf |
Sweden |
9. Skandinavian Airlines (SAS)
TBA |
Sweden |
10. China Airlines
Mr. Pi His Hien |
Taiwan |
11. EVA Air
Ms. Alexandra Paulino |
U.K. |
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