Bangkok and Chiang Mai are listed in the top 100 Best Food Destinations 2017.
Based on the study of Caterwings, an online catering marketplace in Germany, it ranked Bangkok at 21st and Chiang Mai at 38th.
San Sebastian in Spain is listed as the world's top food city followed by Tokyo, New York City, Barcelona, Singapore, Paris, Madrid, Lima, London and Munich while well-known food destinations in Asia like Hong Kong and Penang were placed at 29th and 59th.
According to Caterwings, it initially selected the final list of top 100 cities from thousands of cities from the number of restaurants per capita, as well as established international restaurant rankings.
Those 100 cities were then rated by four criteria: the opinion of critics, the accessibility and variety of food, the quality and the affordability.
Within these categories the study included factors such as percentage of fast food restaurants as compared to restaurants, availability of vegetarian/vegan options and number of restaurants per 10,000 citizens and the quality of both the high-end restaurants and the street food scene in each city. "This study is the ultimate foodie bucket list," said Caterwings CEO Manuel Queiroz.
Visit caterwings.co.uk/caterers/best-cities-for-food-2017.
Tasty Thailand guidebook
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has partnered with Gault & Millau, a French restaurant guide, to launch the Tasty Thailand guidebook as a supplement in the Gault & Millau Belux 2018 edition in Belgium.
The 70-page supplement is printed in French and Dutch. It presents fine-dining restaurants in Thailand and Belgium, famous Bangkok street food, products from the Royal Projects, key tourist destinations and unique experiences in Thailand.
According to TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn, the Tasty Thailand guidebook is expected to to reach 5 million people.
Photo contest
Ayutthaya province has joined with the Office of Tourism and Sports of Ayutthaya to launch photo and video contests.
The title is "Have You Seen Ayutthaya From This Angle?". The aim is to promote tourism in Ayutthaya through the eyes of travellers.
Those who are interested can submit their pictures and video clips (within the length of 30 seconds) until Dec 25. The total cash prize for each category is 30,000 baht.
Visit facebook.com/goayutthaya.
Airline updates
Thai AirAsia will launch its first flight from Khon Kaen to Phuket on Dec 22.
The flight will depart Khon Kaen at 8.45am and arrive in Phuket at 10.40am. The return flight will be 11.10am, which lands in the northeastern city at 12.50pm. Available every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Visit www.airasia.com.
Hotels update
Santorini Water Park Cha-am has opened its bed and breakfast hotel, called Santorini Park Stay. The property features 34 rooms -- from a 19m² Bunk Bed room to 43m² Deluxe room.
Other facilities are a breakfast bar, a meeting room which can accommodate up to 50 guests, a common room with beverages and snacks available in vending machines in addition to a microwave and kettles with coffee, tea and hot chocolate and all-day access to its water park.
Visit www.santoriniparkstay.com.
Rosewood Phuket has opened on 108 rai on Emerald Bay in the southwest of Phuket. The resort features 71 pool villas, including a 130m² Ocean View Pool room and a 796m² Ocean House with two bedrooms, separate living and dining rooms and garden with a private pool.
Other facilities are restaurants, a 24-hour fitness centre, spa, swimming pools and Kids Club. The resort implements an environmentally friendly project, including a rainwater harvest system and solar renewable energy system.
Visit www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/phuket.
Email karnjanak@bangkokpost.co.th if you have any comments to share.
