During 8 – 14 January 2020, the Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, organised an International Media Visitors Programme 2020, participated by traditional and social media representatives from Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The programme is aimed at introducing Thailand’s cultural diversity and promoting potential areas for further cooperation in tourism and sustainable development.

 

On 9 January 2020, Mr. Natapanu Nopakun, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information, extended a warm welcome to the group at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He gave a briefing on the Department’s mission to enhance understanding about Thailand’s multicultural society through various initiatives and projects. He also gave an overview of the accomplishments of Thailand’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2019 under the theme, “Advancing Partnership for Sustainability”, which emphasised sustainability in all dimensions. He also highlighted the importance of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great’s Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) and Sustainable Development.

 

On this occasion, Associate Professor Dr. Pakorn Priyakorn, Chairman of the Internal Relations Task Force of the Sheikhul Islam Office of Thailand, elaborated on how Thai society embraced peaceful coexistence of all religions and ethnicities under the Thai constitution. He also noted that Thailand is among the ten biggest countries exporting Halal products to the world. 

 

Afterwards, Assistant Professor Dr. Monraudee Saratan, Senior Researcher of Sustainable Development and Sufficiency Economy Studies Center, NIDA, explained about the adoption of SEP to strengthen social immunity against external unpredictability, and help attain sustainable development as well as achieve key United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SEP concept has been applied in several countries to tackle their challenges. In addition, Ms. Saowalak Pornwilassiri, Counsellor of Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs, gave a briefing on the close relationship between Thailand and countries in the Middle East, particularly the on-going promotion of economic cooperation, business opportunities and medical tourism in Thailand.

 

Media representatives visited historical and cultural sites, such as the Grand Palace, Chakrabongse Mosque, as well as new sustainable development learning centres such as the Metro Forest Learning Centre, and were introduced to medical facilities offering top services to an international clientele at Phyathai 2 Hospital. 

 

On 11 – 13 January 2020, the group travelled to Chiang Rai Province to learn about sustainable community development, as well as Alternative Development. At the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage, they gained an understanding of the instrumental role of the Thai monarchy in national development, especially in poverty alleviation and improvement of the quality of life. On the same occasion, they visited the 6th “Colours of Doi Tung Festival” in which local communities sell their products and promote local sustainable tourism.

 

On 12 January 2020, the media representatives visited the Hall of Opium at Chiang Saen District, Chiang Rai Province, to learn about the success of the Doi Tung Development Project in combatting illicit opium production. The Hall of Opium has been researching and collecting information about opium and narcotics to solve the problem since 1994 with cooperation from both domestic and foreign agencies in order to improve public knowledge. Furthermore, media representatives acquired knowledge on the development of Thai tropical plants and economic crops at Prince Chakraband Pensiri Center for Plant Development of the Chaipattana Foundation, which was initiated to produce a reserve of seeds for distribution to people affected by natural disasters. 

Throughout the programme, media representatives shared their opinions regarding multiculturalism in Thailand, the approach for members of societies to live together in harmony, as well as the implementation of the SEP for SDGs. The Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information concluded that Thailand recognises the potential and opportunities to enhance cooperation with the Middle East, especially in trade and investment, education and diplomacy. Since 2006, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invited media representatives from Muslim countries to join the Media Visitors Programme and approximately 150 representatives have already joined the programme in total. This has provided another channel for Thailand to promote a deeper understanding and cooperation with the Muslim world.