Austrian Ambassador Enno Drofenik finds Thailand's friendly and welcoming people, rich cultural heritage and traditions the most attractive qualities about the country that has made his stay, so far, most memorable.
Completing the second year of his posting, the Austrian envoy is in charge of not just Thailand but Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.
"Personally, I have enjoyed my stay in Thailand very much," remarked Drofenik, a man with a ready smile and firm handshake.
"Thailand has a very welcoming culture, its people have an innate ability to make foreigners feel right at home. When I first arrived in Thailand, my friend, the German ambassador, told me that if I don't like it here I have only myself to blame."
Drofenik, a composed amiable personality, spoke candidly about his job-related responsibilities that largely entails looking after the welfare of Austrians in Thailand and the aforementioned countries, plus strengthening stronger bilateral ties with the host country.
"There is a lot of consular work that needs to be done with thousands of [Austrian] tourists visiting Thailand each year. I have to also look after Austrians that reside in Thailand, we have 700 that have registered with the embassy, but there could be about 3,000. We have to also keep this expat community informed about the latest developments when a crisis arises," said the emissary.
"We have a bustling business community that employs thousands of locals in Thailand. It is our priority to look after the business interest of these Austrian companies. Besides this, we also engage in public diplomacy, for example we organised the Vienna Ball Bangkok this past May that showcased our music history.
"Promoting tourism to Austria is another priority we engage in because as I like to say the best Austrian embassy is where happy tourists return home to share their happy experiences with their friends."
There is a lot of housekeeping to be done as an emissary it seems. To make government relations run smoothly between two countries, he said, there was a lot of work behind the scenes which required his undivided attention.
He said the Austro-Hungarian Empire opened an honorary consulate in Bangkok in 1865 and in 1869 diplomatic relations were established between Austria and Thailand.
To continue the close relations both countries have shared through the decades, he said it was important to find new objectives to further cement these ties. Attracting investment from Austria to Thailand, and continuing the task of solidifying bilateral relations between both countries are two of a handful that are currently being undertaken.
At a more grass roots level Drofenik would like to revive the Thai-Austrian society, which in later years has seen a lull in activity.
He said the expat community can organise carnivals, Christmas markets and engage in cultural activities so locals can better understand Austria's culture, history and way of life.
Asked about the reaction Austrian tourists had towards the September Erawan Shrine bombing, Ambassador Drofenik said: "The Erawan Shrine bombing has been perceived as a unique, stand-alone event. I would not assume that Austrian tourists will decline substantially due to one incident.
"In fact, the opposite is still true, more people love to visit Thailand, and they bring back home very positive memories. They have also expressed an eagerness to visit again.
"Some of the common compliments I hear from Austrian tourists about their stay in Thailand is that Thais are very kind, they are welcoming and they have an easy smile, and this is something that makes you like the country. And of course, if you are coming from Austria you are looking for sun, sea and sand.
"In tourism, I believe Thailand has a big headstart compared to its neighbours. Popular international tourist destinations such as Thailand have to nevertheless keep in mind that they need to safeguard their natural resources and unique cultural heritage, maybe one day other countries will catch up if this remains unheeded."
The Austrian envoy, who was born in Giesshuebl, nestled south of scenic Vienna, said his hometown is certainly worth a visit, especially because of its unique wineries and rich history.
He began by explaining that traditional restaurants serving simple yet good food are often complemented by some great wine and breathtaking views of surrounding lush landscapes.
There is also a lot of history worth exploring within this picturesque town. In close proximity to each other, one can visit old castles and ancient ruins dating back 700 years, which once served as a residence for famous music composers of the past.
The centuries-old town also houses the biggest underground lake in Europe, roughly translated "lake in the cave".
Drofenik, who worked at the United Nations for a number of years, acknowledged that he couldn't have picked a better country to be posted to mark his first assignment as ambassador.
However, with the top job comes big responsibilities.
"There is so much more to being an ambassador than meets the eye," said the Austrian envoy.
"It is not only about networking, writing reports and the diplomatic side of my job description that needs to be addressed. I sometimes am called to double as event organiser," he said, laughing.
"Public diplomacy and interaction with media is new to me as in the past my work was mostly behind the scenes."
