One year ago, Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) was revealed as the world’s second most photographed location on Instagram. Siam Paragon and Terminal 21 came in at #11 and #13 place respectively, but how have they fared in 2012?

Suvarnabhumi International Airport (BKK) and Siam Paragon now hold first and second place respectively in 2012. Only one other location outside of the US (Eiffel Tower, Paris) makes it in the top ten.

1. Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) ท่าอากาศยานสุวรรณภูมิ in Bangkok, Thailand
2. Siam Paragon (สยามพารากอน) shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand
3. Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California
4. Times Square in New York City
5. AT&T Park in San Francisco
6. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
7. Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles
8. Eiffel Tower in Paris
9. Staples Center in Los Angeles
10. Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles

In a country of only 70 million people why is Instagram so popular in Thailand? Here are some of the best reasons we could think of:

• Digital cameras, smart cameras and technology is very popular in Thailand
• Thai people are outgoing and love taking photos
• Thai people are generally slim, beautiful and photogenic
• Thai people are rarely camera shy
• Thai people do not object to photos taking in public places (it is sanook or fun)
  
• Thai shopping malls and tourist spots actively encourage photo taking
• Thai people are already very familiar with digital photo editing (unlicenced copies of Adobe Photoshop are especially popular)
• Thai people like fair skin – they want to smooth, blur and whiten their photos using Instagram