Holiday rentals news - Siam Sunray, Thailand's new national cocktail, to get tourism back on track

Siam Sunray, Thailand's new national cocktail, to get tourism back on track

Thailand has launched a national cocktail in an attempt to attract tourists back to the country. The cocktail, called the Siam Sunray, comes after last year's anti government demonstrations, which led to several of Thailand's airports being shut by protestors and dented the country's reputation with travellers.

The Sunray is intended to give visitors, such as those staying in villas in Thailand, an instant taste of the country's charm, says The Guardian. Officials are hoping that the Siam Sunray will prove as recognisable as drinks like Cuba's mojitos, New York's Manhattans and Singapore Slings.

The country's tourism authorities are pitching the drink as "Thailand in a glass: The new punch in Thai tourism". The Siam Sunray is made from what the authorities call "very Thai ingredients": a shot of vodka, coconut liqueur, chilli pepper, sugar, lime juice, some slivers of lemongrass and ginger, and soda water.

Thailand is still suffering from last year's protests, when an estimated 300,000 tourists were stranded as Bangkok airport was shut down for eight days by demonstrators. Other airports throughout the country were also affected. With this in mind, the paper suggests that the cocktail "may leave a better taste and instil a collective amnesia among the travelling public".

Tourism officials are confident that the Siam Sunray's will help Thailand's tourism get back on track: "Successful signature drinks are one way to fast track holiday destinations onto the world tourism map," said a spokesman.

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