Most people are shocked when influential travel and leisure magazines announce that Bangkok had won the most votes for the year's Best City. Now this disbelief had nothing to do with a lack of national pride in our magnificent city or our sense of modesty. It's just that many of us felt that Bangkok did not quite deserve the title. Yes, we are aware that some of Bangkok's attractions, such as the Grand Palace, have long been considered world-class by foreign tourists - not to mention the famous hospitality and our competitiveness as a destination that offers very good value for money. No, this scepticism has more to do with our first-hand experience living and working in the metropolis, which has great, but unrealised, potential to become a very nice place.

If only it was not bogged down by a plethora of problems, ranging from traffic congestion and pollution to a lack of public safety and simmering political conflict. Perhaps we are being too harsh. Perhaps the millions of tourists who visit Thailand every year have a better perspective as to what constitutes a good city. Some doubting locals went so far as to suggest that perhaps there was some cheating involved in the poll. Perhaps, the online poll was manipulated by some nationalistic hackers who stealthily dumped thousands of votes in Bangkok's favour? As a modern city with a rich history, Bangkok seems to have something for everyone. A thriving modern cityscape coexists with historic landmarks, social mores with a traditional way of life, and so on.

A more likely explanation why the top ranking was bestowed on Bangkok is because our city is better as a short-term experience for tourists passing through than as a place to live and work full time. After all, it doesn't take much to please tourists, be they the rich and the sophisticated world travellers or backpackers on a tight budget. Being given the title of the world's best city is certainly good for the country's tourism industry, but efforts must be made to make our capital, or indeed the whole country, both an attractive destination for international visitors and a nice place to live and work.
Source: Bangkok Post