Ministry to tap cultural assets

BANGKOK, 26 April 2012: Ministry of Tourism and Sports has high hopes for a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding signed with Ministry of Culture that it believes will set the stage to boost quality tourism.

MOTS permanent secretary, Suwat Sidthilaw, said the MoU would help to introduce cultural related products as well as promote Thailand as a venue for the foreign film industry.

“Improving cultural presentations will increase Thailand’s value and competitiveness as we prepare to adopt the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015, which will intensify regional competition, so we need to raise quality standards.”

Cooperating with the Ministry of Culture will help to identify heritage and culture assets that can be used to build quality tourism products.

There are four objectives outlined in the MoU:

• To transform cultural heritage and historical sites that reflect the identity of communities into major quality tourist attractions;

• To promote cultural heritage so it is recognised at both local and international levels;

• To create an added economic value by developing cultural goods and services;

• To enhance cooperation which will promote and support the film and video industry.

For January to March this year there were 192 films, documentaries, advertising, TV series, and music video filmed on location in Thailand generating Bt1,158.04 million in revenue compared to 192 productions that earned Bt382.96 during the same period last year.

The signing of MoU between MOTS and MOC took place 23 April.