Envoys taken on Sukhothai Tour in bid to improve image

Permanent Secretary for Culture Weera Rojpojanarat said that it was urgent for the ministry to restore the country's good image, buffeted by the economic and political crises, and to attract tourists back to Thailand as soon as possible.

He urged Thais to hold out friendship and a warm welcome to foreign visitors. In the evening, the group enjoyed a light-and-sound performance about the Sukhothai Kingdom and a special Loy Krathong festival at Wat Sa Sri. Weera expressed hope that the trip would impress the ambassadors with Thailand's cultural heritage and the Thai way of life so they could promote Thai tourism to their compatriots.

Sri Lankan Ambassador Jayaratna Disanayaka said he had long dreamt of visiting Sukhothai, a historic centre and a Buddhist site, and he was impressed with the beautiful historical parks.

He said the airport closures by protesters had been an anomaly as Thailand was a Buddhist country and the international community saw Thais as kind and friendly. Expressing the hope that the country would get back to normal if the people pulled together, he said he believed foreign tourists still wanted to visit Thailand.

South Korean Ambassador Chung Hae-moon said he was impressed by the Sukhothai Kingdom's grandeur, indicating that Thailand had a long-standing civilisation deserving the Unesco accolade for Sukhothai as a World Heritage Site. He said that he and the South Korean people had felt sorrow at the recent political turmoil, especially the airport closures, which he deplored. He urged Thailand to shore up the rule of law and said that it would take a while for Thailand to restore its image as the Land of Smiles.