Heart set on Hua Hin

Hua Hin appeals to holiday makers for its great golf courses and high-end spas, but for Jintana Phongpakdee, 33, communications and public relations manager at IMPACT Exhibition Management Co Ltd, it's a place to spend quality time with close friends.

Born in New York, she grew up listening to her father Naovarat, a former director of marketing at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, telling tales of his travels to distant lands. Seeing the best of both worlds, she has fond memories of her childhood in New York, and breaks into a smile at the mention of the Statue of Liberty. For the time being, however, she is content to kick back and spend her leisure time frolicking with friends in Hua Hin.

Why the fascination with Hua Hin?

I find that it's a place where people can really unwind. And it's also close to Bangkok. Frankly, the beaches might not be the most spectacular, but I find the atmosphere is great to share with close friends. Sea food is plentiful and the pace of life much slower compared to a number of other popular destinations in Thailand.

How do you spend your time there?

My idea of a vacation is to spend quality time with close friends and eat delicious food. So an ideal day for me in Hua Hin is going to the local market, getting fresh sea food and coming back to cook at my condominium. It's great fun. I'm not an overly active person, so it's my way of doing stuff I really like on my day off. A walk on the beach can also become an outdoor activity that can help me to unwind.

Did you often tag along with your father on his trips to exotic holiday destinations both in Thailand and abroad?

I wish I could have, but I had to wait until vacation time came along. Nevertheless, he often gave me a running commentary on the highlights of his trip. I learned at an early age that to do his type of job one had to really enjoy travelling. Unfortunately, I am not that much of a traveller. For me good company and being near a beach is my idea of the perfect vacation. I will not go out of my way to do the tourist thing.

Any memorable vacations come to mind?

The most memorable vacation I've had so far was the first time I travelled to Europe with my family. In fact, my father had arranged for us to visit a handful of countries. I was thrilled to start our trip to Europe in Switzerland, where they have fine hotel management schools. Looking for a place to continue my master's degree, I thought it would be a great idea to tour the country while in search of a good school.

I found the Swiss Alps to be captivating and picturesque. But sadly the people I came across turned out to be aloof.

We then continued on to Austria, where I fell in love with the countryside. Vienna, in particular, turned out to be very interesting. I found the landscapes beautiful and the locals friendly and warm. Its rich history and art made our stay a memorable one.

What did you learn about marketing Thailand's holiday destinations from your father?

In over three decades of working with TAT, my father worked with numerous governors, all of whom had their own ideas for marketing campaigns to boost tourism.

However, after successfully launching the Light & Sound programme in Kanchanaburi province, my father proved the importance of having the private sector play a central role in marketing tourist attractions in the Kingdom.

Your family has a house in Long Island _ how was it spending your weekends there and which other tourist attractions did you enjoy visiting in the US?

Long Island is a really nice place. In fact travellers can indulge in a number of outdoor activities. During my childhood I loved going horse riding and visiting the apple farm. It's the place to be if you're an outdoor person. My all time favourites are still Niagara Falls and the Statue of Liberty. I also relished visiting sites with history and culture.

Given the opportunity, where in the US would you like to visit as a tourist?

Strange as it may seem, I would still like to go to New York. Probably because I was born there. But frankly, it has a lot to offer in terms of art and culture, not to mention some great shopping.

Since coming back from the US, which holiday destinations in Thailand have become your favourites?

I would say I liked Samui, but I didn't like the beaches that much. From what I saw in postcards of Koh Chang, I was expecting the four hour ride there to be worthwhile, but it wasn't as picturesque as I had imagined. So I still have my heart set on Hua Hin.