The Royal Thai Embassy in Bern organized the 25^th Thai Festival on 6^th  and 7^th July 2024. During the opening ceremony, H.E. Mr. Chittipat Tongprasroeth, Ambassador of Thailand to Switzerland highlighted the special significance of “this year” as the Thai Festival in Bern reached its silver jubilee, and in Thailand, people celebrate the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty the King’s 6th Cycle Birthday Anniversary 28^th July 2024. As part of the celebration, in the morning of 7^th July 2024, the Embassy’s personnel, members of Team Thailand/ (in charge of) Switzerland and the Thai community joined hand in hand in the Candle Lighting Ceremony to extend our best wishes to His Majesty the King on the occasion.

In addition, Mr. Thomas Burchkardt, Honorary Consul-General of Thailand in Basel emphasized the strong and long-lasting relationship between Thailand and Switzerland. Then, Mr. Heinrich Schellenberg, Head of Asia and Pacific Division, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Urs Von Arb, Ambassador, State Secretariat for Migration, Federal Department of Justice and Police, and Ms. Usana Berananda, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand to the United Nations Office at Geneva, joined the Ambassador and Mr. Burchkardt for a ribbon-cutting, marking the commencement of the festival.

Approximately 7,000 people attended this year's event. Dignitaries included Mrs. Pimchanok Pitfield, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Thailand to the World Trade Organization and the World Intellectual Property Organization, as well as representatives from international organizations and diplomatic corps. Among them were Mr. Masahiko Metoki, Director-General of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), ambassadors and spouses based in Bern and Geneva from various countries such as Japan, Sweden, Ireland, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Laos, Indonesia, and the Philippines as well as Chargés d'Affaires of the Embassies of China, Malaysia, and Angola, who attended the opening ceremony and/or visited the event during its two-day span.

The Thai Festival offered Swiss and foreigners in Switzerland an opportunity to soak up various aspects of Thainess. Visitors could enjoy Thai cuisine, witness cultural performances, watch Muay Thai demonstrations, and experience Nuad Thai (Thai massage), all presented by the Thai community in Switzerland. Additionally, special programmes for this year's festival included Thai cooking demonstrations by Celebrity Chef Chumpol Jangprai and his team from the Michelin-starred restaurant "R-Haan" and the Thai Culinary Institute as well as Thai and international musical performances by Moradokmai Theatre Community, founded by Mr. Janaprakal Chandruang (Kru Chang), National Artist of Thailand in Performing Arts (Film and Drama) in 2019.