Travel magazine Travel + Leisure has just awarded its “Top City” honor, inspite of recent civilian unrest and violence there. Bangkok city officials acknowledged and welcomed the award, coming in the heels of violent protests and riots organized by Thailand’s political opposition.
The August issue of the magazine placed Bangkok at the top of the list. Almost 16,000 readers and voters were asked to name their favourite cities, islands, hotels, and airlines.
The poll was made before the recent riots in Bangkok, and may not accurately represent the current sentiments of tourists.
Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said it was like a nightmare for the whole country when tourists departed hastily amid the riots. He assured incoming tourists that authorities are under control and the security situation has stabilized.
“What we have in our hands is very precious,” said Sukhumbhand. “We must prevent troubles and any more losses from happening in our beloved city. We should not damage it any further.”
Despite the reassurance, some incidents of violence continue to happen in the capital. On Sunday, a grenade exploded in a crowded area, killing one, and wounding ten people. Officials downplayed the incident as isolated and refused to tie it to the violent riots.
Thailand and its capital Bangkok is a famous tourist destination known for drawing huge numbers of tourists year after year. However, political strife and violence has also plagued the country with the riots the recent one in a string of incidents over the years.
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