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 hotspot.
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 federal 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 the Chatuchak Market’s growth.
” Now, during vacation, at least 80, 000 travelers 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, songs, gaming, 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 approved the establishment of a Chatuchak Market Development Subcommittee led by Dr. Surapong and a vice chairman of Bangkok.
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.
” The potential of Chatuchak Market will be developed and the work will be finished in two years,” the company said.
He said Chatuchak Market will be made more convenient so that tourists from all over the world must stop by during their travels to Bangkok.
Sanon Wangsrangboon, the deputy governor of Bangkok, reported that Chatuchak Market has a total area of 68 rai and about 15, 000 stalls. 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 opportunity to 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.