Traditional musicians perform at the launch of the Visit Amazing Thailand Year 2009 campaign last month. Pic: Kyaw Zin Htun

DESPITE recent political unrest in Bangkok, Thailand has launched a huge public relations campaign aimed at enticing more tourists to visit the already popular travel destination.

The Visit Amazing Thailand Year 2009 campaign was officially launched on October 8 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok. The ceremony was attended by 1049 delegates from 54 countries.

“The Royal Thai government has announced 2008-2009 as the ‘Thailand Investment and Tourism Year’ and our minister of tourism and sports has declared 2008 and 2009 as the Visit Thailand Years,” Mrs Phornsiri Manorharn, the governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said at the event.

She said the project, a joint effort between TAT and Thai Airways International, aimed to reinforce the positive image of the country as a premium tourist destination that can be visited all year round.