The Tourism Authority of Thailand encourages couples worldwide to take part in a social networking competition and win a fully-paid holiday package to Thailand.

The Ultimate Thailand Explorer, a social-networking competition from TAT, aims to raise Thailand tourism by attracting people to join the competition and have them publicize Thailand’s top five destinations including Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Koh Samui through digital world.

The winning couple of the Ultimate Thailand Explorer, selected by a process of online voting, will win a cash reward of US$10,000, a holiday package to Thailand, a Blackberry and a Handycam video camera. Plus, the voters are also eligible to win a holiday package to Thailand worth US$1,500, a spa voucher, a Blackberry, and a handycam video camera.

Interested challengers have to apply as a pair and film a one minute video clip telling which destination you wish to explore, why you want to go there, and how will you promote the place to other visitors. Afterwards just upload your video onto Youtube.com, you must complete your team profile registration form and encourage people to vote for your team and share their Thailand experience and stories through social media tools.

Submission period is from September 1 – October 15, 2009. Please note that the application deadline is 11.59 pm (GMT +7).

Event Schedule
•    1 September – 15 October 2009:   Video clip submission/contest entry period
•    19 October 2009:  Announcement of 25 Semi-final teams
•    19 October-12 November 2009:  Online voting period to select 5 finalists from 25 teams
•    13 November 2009:  Announcement of Final 5 teams
•    8 December 2009:  Final 5 teams arrive in Thailand
•    9 December 2009:  Event briefing / welcome party & press conference
•    10-15 December 2009:  Competition
•    16 December 2009:  Thank you party
•    10 December 2009 – 8 January 2010:  Online voting period to select the winning team
•    8 January 2010:  Announcement of the winning team
•    2 February 2010: Press conference

Please visit www.ultimatethailandexplorer.com for more official rules and awards.

By Suttira Kaewthep