Chatuchak to find optimistic upgrade
PUBLISHED: 4 Nov 2024 at 05: 14
Within the next two decades, the National Committee on Soft Power Development has pledged to make Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok Thailand’s soft power gateway.
Surapong Suebwonglee, the head of the national council and the vice president of the Prime Minister’s policy expert table, reported on Sunday that the national committee’s annual meeting reported an increase in the budget for soft power from 635 million baht in the 2024 fiscal year to 2.3 billion baht for the 2025 fiscal year, which runs from October 1 this year to November 30th, 2025.
He claimed that the conference had considered ways to advance Chatuchak Market development.
” Now, during vacation, at least 80, 000 travellers visit Chatuchak Market per day. During peak times, there may be as many as 300, 000 visitors per time, which shows very great commerce potential”, he said.
As a soft energy hub, Chatuchak Market does have place for books, films, design, hospitality, music, games, festivals, art and culture, fashion and craftsmanship and sports to display itself, he said.
” Currently, the market has many stalls that fit in Thailand’s soft power needs, such as books, fashion, and art, so it is an appropriate place for such development to be further expanded and to make Chatuchak Market the hub of Thailand’s soft power”, Dr Surapong said.
He stated that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will first conduct an analysis to assess the potential of the market.
Additionally, the committee agreed to establish a Chatuchak Market Development Subcommittee led by Dr. Surapong and a vice chairman of a Bangkok deputy governor.
The governor of SRT, the director of the Office of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion, and industry experts will also be members of the subcommittee, according to Dr. Surapong, because Chatuchak Market is located on land owned by the State Railway of Thailand.
” It is anticipated that Chatuchak Market’s potential will be developed and the work will be finished in two years.”
This step will be made more quickly, he said, making Chatuchak Market a must-see location for tourists from all over the world when they travel to Bangkok.
Sanon Wangsrangboon, the deputy governor of Bangkok, reported that Chatuchak Market has about 15, 000 stalls and a total area of 68 rai. The place has a high potential to be further developed to promote Thailand’s soft power, he said.
We want Chatuchak Market to have the space where we can display our soft power in every way. We can start with what the market already has: fashion, art, handicrafts, food and music. This can be the first area that we develop”, said Mr Sanon.