UNESCO celebrates Songkran with event on sustainable festival tourism in Pattaya

UNESCO and partners’ ongoing project ‘Achieving Sustainable Tourism with Intangible Cultural Heritage and Creative City Network in Waterway Cities of ASEAN’—it has already convened three dynamic seminars benefitting thousands of tourism professionals since its launch in September 2023 — is pleased to announce its upcoming, fourth installment in its South-East Asia seminar series, ‘Pattaya & Sustainable Festival and Event Tourism: Exploring Strategies for Growth and Development’. The hybrid seminar, to be held 10 April 2024, will focus on Thailand’s coastal city of Pattaya as a special case study for the potential to be had in fostering dynamic networks of tourism businesses in the ASEAN sub-region. 

The project is supported by DASTA, ASEAN-Türkiye Cooperation, CRIHAP, K11, ONYX, The City Connext, and b.Consulting Cambodia. By promoting sustainable and inclusive tourism practices through this project, UNESCO and its partners together seek to contribute to the regional development of this growing industry, and its potentail to contribute to the well-being of local economies and comunities. The series also aims to provide exemplary models for application worldwide. 

Welcoming remarks for the upcoming seminar will be given by Mr Harold Olaya Leon, Senior Vice President and Head of Operations, ONYX Hospitality Group.

The seminar’s keynote addresses will be delivered by: 

• Ms Soohyun Kim, Director, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok

‘Environmental, social and economic significance of Songkran, a UNESCO-recognized water festival heritage in ASEAN’

• Mr Poramase Ngampiches, Pattaya Mayor

‘Pattaya’s vision to become a cultural zone and its environmental management policies toward becoming a sustainable tourism destination’

• Mr Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya, President, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB)

‘TCEB policies and initiatives to sustainable festival and event tourism’

• Mr Suphot Prakitjanuruk, Area General Manager, Eastern Thailand – Amari Pattaya

Following keynote presentations, a panel discussion will explore the cultural significance of Songkran as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity; the role of hotels in driving sustainable festival and event tourism; and standards and efforts of various organisations in supporting sustainable events and festivals. 

Panellists include:

• Dr Chumpol Musiganont, Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration-DASTA (Public Organization)
• Mr Jongrak Rojpalasatean, Director of the Management System Certification Institute (MASCI)
• Ms Urai Mukpradabthong, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand Office in Pattaya
• Ms Alisa Phanthusak Kunpalin, Managing Director of Tiffany’s Show Pattaya

Date: Wednesday, 10 April 2024

Time: 13.20–15.50, Bangkok time (GMT+7)

Location: Amari Pattaya Hotel

REGISTRATION:

• Join the seminar on-site: https://bit.ly/STWW4OSR 
• Stay at Amari to join the seminar: https://bit.ly/SongkranICH 
• Join online: UNESCO’s Zoom

Further information about the preliminary agenda, please visit our Project Portal, or scan the QR code below: