Thailand seen as most favorite tourist destination in ASEAN

BANGKOK, January 17 (TNA) - International tourists have seen Thailand, in a latest survey, as the best tourist destination in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The survey, conducted by Bangkok University during January 11-13, 2013, found that 58 per cent of the respondents mentioned Thailand the best tourist destination in ASEAN, followed by Vietnam (34.1 per cent), Cambodia (30.6 per cent), Laos (30.3 per cent) and Singapore (26.1 per cent). The Bangkok Poll found that the foreign tourists visited Thailand because of national archeological sites, artifacts, cultures, traditions, beaches and sea. Regarding the upcoming formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), 83.9 per cent of the respondents considered Thailand ready for the regional integration, set by 2015. Of the respondents, 97.6 per cent said they were confident in safety in Thailand and 85 per cent of them said they would revisit Thailand. However, the respondents considered what upset tourists in Thailand include traffic congestion and overcharging taxi drivers and shopkeepers. The Bangkok Poll preceded the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2013, set to be held in Vientiane, Laos' capital, from January 17-24. (TNA)