'Best City' third time running

Bangkok managed to defend its title as "Best City" according to votes by readers of the US "Travel and Leisure" magazine this year, making it the title champion for three consecutive years, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) deputy clerk Manit Techa-apichok said yesterday.

The BMA would keep improving and conserving tourist attractions in 50 districts while also adding highlights for each area in a bid to increase the nights that tourists stay in Bangkok to two, compared to the current rate of one night, before the tourists go elsewhere.

Manit said the BMA had also launched a "24-hour Rattanakosin" scheme to invite the public and private sector, businesses, educational institutions and people to host activities and develop attractions around Rattanakosin Island that people can visit both during the day and during the night.