Govt not doing enough for creative economy: poll

Almost half of the economists surveyed see the Yingluck government as less active in pushing a creative economy while almost one-third of them said the present and previous governments were both similar on the issue.

Bangkok University's Research Centre surveyed the opinions of 66 economists from 29 leading agencies on "Yingluck government and the moving the creative economy forward". The survey was conducted from February 15-21.

Three per cent of the respondents said the current government gave more priority to a creative economy than the Abhisit Vejjajiva government.

About 98 per cent of the respondents said Thailand should promote the creative economy more as part of the national economy. Almost 94 per cent of respondents said the product most suitable for the Thai economy would be Thai food while 83.3 per cent called for promoting cultural tourism and biodiversity as well as handicrafts and skilled arts. More than 65 per cent said Thai traditional medicine should be promoted.

On the factors supporting a creative economy, 95.5 per cent believed Thailand has favourable local natural resources, 74.2 per cent said Thailand has many groups of people and activities related to a creative economy, 72.7 per cent said that the main industries and the creative economy can support each other.

However, 50 per cent of respondents said Thailand has no social factor that promotes a creative economy.

On whether the creative economy will be able to help promote competitiveness of the Thai economy, products and business operators in the Asean Economic Community, which comes into effect in 2015, about 62 per cent said they believed so.

Regarding hindrances, almost 44 per cent of respondents said political problems led to disruption of policies and a lack clarity, details and vision, while administrators and government officials lack knowledge about the creative economy and the media did not pay as much attention as it should. About one-fifth of the respondents pointed to an outdated education system that is not healthy for creative thinking. More than 17 per cent said Thailand still lacked serious research and development as well as the proper protection of intellectual property.