TCT turns designer

BANGKOK, 5 March 2012: Tourism Council of Thailand and the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion will support tourism clusters to develop more souvenirs.

Started in January, the project will run until this June and involves stakeholders from both the private and public sectors. They meet to brainstorm ideas and sketch designs for handicrafts that can help villages build revenue from tourism. The experts will meet six times to cover nine provincial clusters.

OSMEP deputy director-general, Wimonkan Kosumas said: “The objective is to develop prototypes of souvenirs that reflect local culture and identity. It should boost tourism revenue for local SMEs.”

So far, samples have been designed for the upper north using concepts that reflect the communities’ links to elephants and hill tribes.

In the upper northeast dinosaurs will be  the dominant theme, while in the east, sea creatures. The designs can be used to produce several products such as coffee mugs, clothes hangers, bags and key rings.

Tourism Council of Thailand vice president, development, Thanet Worasaran said: “We hope to inspire local entrepreneurs and help them with the task creating designs that will appeal to tourists.”

The project has a website, www.tct-innovation.com to present sample designs and to gain feedback on further improvement.

TCT and OSMEP will need to bring together souvenir shops, hotels, restaurants to create sales and distribution pipelines.