Berlin, 10 March 2016 – Two German individuals and one major German tour operator with close cultural ties to Thailand were conferred the inaugural “Discover Amazing Stories Awards” by Her Royal Highness Princess Ubol Ratana at the International Tourism Borse (ITB 2016), the world’s largest travel show held in Berlin.
The two individuals include one German chef who specialises in Thai cuisine and another German with a passion for studying Thai elephants. The tour operator is Meier’s Weltreisen, one of the country’s best known companies.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched these “Discover Amazing Stories Awards” to honour companies and individuals in the German tourism industry for their years of steadfast support in promoting Thailand and Thai culture/heritage. The Awards also mark the “Discover Thainess Year” and the campaign to promote Thailand as a “Quality Leisure Tourism Destination.”
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said “These awards are in line with our shift towards more story-telling about all things Thai. It is also our way of showing our deep appreciation to all those who have supported Thailand and its tourism industry.”
The German award-winners are as follows:
Süddeutsche Zeitung – Lars Reichardt
With his articles in Süddeutsche Zeitung and Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin about street food and the gourmet scene of the new creative Thai chefs in Thailand, Lars Reichardt has told an Amazing Story of vibrant, lively and creative Thai cuisine.
Thai cuisine is one of the most favourite foods worldwide and one might think to know Thai food very well, but Lars Reichardt has demonstrated in his articles that there is still more to discover…
Elephant Special Tours – Mr. Bodo Jens Förster
The elephant is surely the animal, which people mostly associate with Thailand. Elephants have always belonged to Thai culture and can be considered as a heritage of Thai history.
Elephants have always been part of the Thai identity and story. No other Westerner has better understood this connection between elephant and Thai culture and the needs of Thai elephants than Mr. Bodo Jens Förster from Elephant Special Tours. He had made it his personal mission to make this cultural link understandable to the Western world and to create a nature conformed environment for his elephants in his camp, where tourists can visit them and learn more about the Elephant Story of Thailand.
Some even call him “Elefantenflüsterer” – a true ambassador of Thai elephants.
Meier’s Weltreisen
When it comes to tour operators for Thailand, Meier’s Weltreisen is truly the specialist for Thailand. Meier’s Weltreisen has been a loyal and passionate friend of Thailand who had brought innumerable tourists to Thailand and has helped TAT to tell the Amazing Stories of Amazing Thailand for many years.
The great variety of tour packages of Meier’s Weltreisen truly reflects the variety of Thai tourism products, not only the beautiful beaches of Thailand but also the Thainess, be it street food of Bangkok or Community-based Tourism.
Contact Information
International Public Relations Division
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48
Fax: +66 (0) 2250 0246
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.tatnews.org
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