Thai colour and culture filled the streets of
Bangkok last week when the “2015 Discover Thainess” tourism campaign kicked off
with a series of parades through the city’s biggest shopping districts.
Meanwhile, the TTF 2015, held from 14 to 18 January, showcased a taste of all
the regional delights that can be found year round by Thai travellers and
foreign visitors alike.
TAT Governor Mr. Thawatchai Arunyik said, “The
parades were part of the opening ceremonies for our new global tourism campaign
that aims to promote the kingdom’s distinct cultural elements that make it
uniquely Thai.
"This spectacular event was presided over by Prime Minister
General Prayut Chan-o-cha and was attended by thousands of locals and tourists
who watched the colourful floats go by and revelled in the fun atmosphere.”
Six spectacular processions, stretching nearly
four kilometres through the city showcased different aspects of Thai art,
culture and hospitality. The highlight of the parade was a 12-metre replica of
the famous Royal Barge Supannahong, complete with regal oarsmen. Following in
its wake were scores of talented dancers, performers, puppeteers and acrobats,
all dressed in sumptuous costumes and accompanied by skilled musicians.
The parade was designed to give people a little
taste of the many events and traditions that can be enjoyed up and down the
country at different times of the year. Regional festivals and cultural
practices were showcased while the famous “Smiles of Siam” were a reminder of
the famous hospitality of the Thai people.
Meanwhile, the lush environs of Bangkok’s Lumpini
Park were transformed into a microcosm of Thailand with all the main regions,
North, South, East, Central Region and Northeastern, being represented. To
showcase the local culture and festivals of each area, vibrant shows were
staged, regional cuisines cooked and a range of crafts were on display.
Visitors
could enjoy floating markets, shadow puppet shows and exciting dance and martial
arts displays. These five interactive Thailand tourism villages were very
popular, achieving an overall satisfaction score of 94.9 per cent from visitors
who gave feedback.
The TTF 2015 was the biggest yet, attracting a
total of 613,325 Thai and foreign visitors, representing a 220 per cent increase
over the TTF 2014, and generating a total of 229.2 million Baht in revenue, up
118.4 per cent from last year. Visitors spent the most on food and beverages, up
to 121.2 million Baht, followed by spending on crafts and gifts, totalling 50
million Baht.
To give visitors a taste of travel in Thailand,
the TTF distributed special passports that needed to be stamped in order to get
fun free gifts. People were then able to explore the fair to see how the many
different people of Thailand live and experience different elements of their
culture.
The central stage at the festival was a showcase for the best of
Thailand’s arts, traditions and crafts. Age-old traditions were displayed
alongside more contemporary performances to ensure that all visitors were able
to experience the colourful and varied spectrum of the kingdom’s culture.
In 2015, Thailand expects the number of international arrivals to rise by 13
percent to 28 million and revenue from foreign visitors to increase by 16
percent to 1.35 trillion Baht.
Photo Gallery: Discover Thainess parade
Photo Gallery: Thailand Tourism Festival
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