Thailand: Photo contest for Chinese photographers

Bangkok – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the East Asia Market Division, together with five TAT offices in China staged a photo contest titled “Thailand through Your Eyes” for 50 selected Chinese photographers, offering a range of rewards including,
air tickets, hotel accommodation and tour packages.

Mrs. Srisuda Wanapinyosak, TAT Executive Director of East Asia Region said, “By publicising the entries or winning pictures from this photo competition in various traditional and online media channels in China, we hope to further enhance the awareness of Thailand as a must-visit tourist destination through images of beautiful sceneries, attractions and the impressive Thai way of life, and as a result, attract more Chinese travellers to visit Thailand and experience all the places photographed.  Moreover, TAT offices in China are able to utilize these photographs to organize both online and offline promotional activities in order to encourage more travelling to Thailand.

Under the project, each of the five TAT offices in China has worked closely with local photo clubs, photographer associations, camera magazines and related entities in selecting 10 professional and semi-professional photographers from their respective areas to join a familiarisation trip and take pictures on five routes in Thailand.

The five-day/four-night familiarisation trip, held during 25-29 November, 2014, takes participating photographers on five designated routes:

–  Exhilarating Northern Route: Mae Hong Son, Pai and Chiang Mai;
–  Island Hopping Passage: Phuket, Phang-nga and Krabi;
–  Pristine Thai Way of Life: Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Amphawa, Hua Hin and Prachuap Khiri Khan;
–  Trails of Civilisation: Sakon Nakhon, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Surin, Buriram, Khao Yai, and Pak Chong
–  Ocean Blue Coastline: Pattaya, Rayong, Chanthaburi and Ko Chang, Trat

The “Thailand through Your Eyes” photo contest comprises two categories: Professional for 40 participating photographers and Semi-Professional for 10 selected photographers. Each participating photographer must take pictures with a DSLR camera with at least a 6 megapixel resolution and submit a total of 20 photos for the competition by 10 December, 2014. The results will also be announced within the month of December 2014.

The winner of the Professional category will receive a TAT commemorative plaque, two round-trip economy class air tickets between any city in China and Bangkok, and a five-day/four-night tour package with accommodation. The runner-up will receive a TAT commemorative plaque and two round-trip economy class air tickets between any city in China and Bangkok.

For the Semi-Pro category, the winner will receive a TAT commemorative plaque, one round-trip economy class air ticket between any city in China and Bangkok and a five-day/four-night tour package with accommodation. The runner-up will receive a TAT commemorative plaque and one round-trip economy class air ticket between any city in China and Bangkok.  Moreover, all participating Chinese photographers will receive the certificate from TAT. As for the awards ceremony, it will be held in the area that five TAT offices in China are responsible for.