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Tuesday, March 19, 2024

TAT and Meta launch “Rediscover Thailand”

Bhumibol Bridge (the Industrial Ring Road Bridge) in ThailandMr Lerchart Thamtheerasathian, Director of Knowledge Development at Creative Economy Agency (CEA), said, “The application of creativity and technology to different use cases” – from driving social causes and accelerating the economy to shifting culture – will be vital in advancing Thailand’s creative economy vision.

Mr Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said, “The partnership between TAT and Meta shows that we prioritise our commitment to creating value and elevating the tourism sector by building a new tourism ecosystem, mainly through the adoption of new technologies that help push Thailand towards high value and sustainable tourism.

As part of the “Rediscover Thailand” campaign, Meta is also organising a skills-building workshop called “Meta Spark Creator Connect” for 75 AR creators from around the world and in the region, including Thailand, to educate and grow the Meta Spark Global Creator community and build the ecosystem leading to future tech in Thailand.

This initiative further highlights how Thais have embraced technology and the tremendous potential of Thailand’s Creative Economy, as a recent study shows that 72% of Thailand’s population will be going digital by the end of 2022, and 74% of Thai survey respondents said that they had used at least one metaverse-related tech – such as augmented reality, virtual reality and NFTS – in the last year.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand and Meta Thailand launched “Rediscover Thailand”, an augmented reality experience that highlights some of Thailand’s key tourist attractions through Meta’s platforms, in partnership with Thailand’s Creative Economy Agency (CEA), the Thailand Creative and Design Center (TCDC), Holowisp, and Thailand’s Meta Spark AR creators.

Open to the public, and people can encounter cultural experiences, like the Northern region’s Bo Sang Umbrella Village and traditional Nora dances of the South, virtually and interactively, allowing them to explore the natural and cultural wonders of the country while tapping into future technology trends.

Mr Simon Milner, Vice President of APAC Public Policy at Meta, said, “With Meta’s commitment to building the next social technology, it is our pleasure to see ‘Rediscover Thailand’ come to life today; this creates momentum for us to move forward on the road to the Metaverse. CEA is honoured and excited to be a part of Meta’s ‘Rediscover Thailand’ programme, which provides an avenue for Thai creators to showcase their work and helps support the recovery of Thai tourism by making it fun and accessible through online engagement via AR technology.”

Running from 2 to 30 November 2022 at the TCDC in Bangkok, the “Rediscover Thailand” AR exhibition showcases nine innovative AR effects designed and developed by five Thai AR creators from Thailand’s Meta Spark AR community: Pansavuth Khehasukcharoen, Wanisara Chompoorat, Opas Sang-ue, Keetapol Boonprachak, and Sufee Yama. The ‘Rediscover Thailand’ programme is aimed to help uplift the country’s tourism and economy creatively while reinforcing Meta’s commitment to aid local businesses and communities by leveraging digital tools that can help them pivot and recover.

Mr Pakawat Korsriphitakkul, Co-Founder of Holowisp – a creative AR agency, said, “These AR virtual routes will allow users to experience the destination even if they did not travel.

From 2-30 November 2022, at the Thailand Creative and Design Centre in Bangkok, the public can virtually and interactively encounter Thai cultural experiences while tapping into future technology trends. The work our partners and we, showcase in this campaign demonstrates the infinite applications of AR/XR across work, play, and advancing social, cultural, and economic causes, as in the use case for the tourism sector.

Meta and its partners are spotlighting the beauty of Thailand’s culture, tourist destinations, and creative economy through this ‘Rediscover Thailand’ programme. Moreover, according to Meta, as of October 2022, Thailand is among the top 10 countries globally with the highest number of active Meta Spark AR creators, of which 58% of Thai creators self-identify as women. This will boost Thailand’s tourist demand and inspire tourists to pursue meaningful travel in the future.”

It also reflects Meta’s commitment to helping people reconnect and open the world once more to trade and tourism. Balance” theme, which aims to innovatively restore connectivity and boost sustainable growth following the impacts of the pandemic. This is in support of Thailand’s hosting of the APEC 2022 Economic Leaders Meetings in Bangkok later this month under the Open. This will include the physical space and the existing people, cultures, and traditions.

According to Meta, more than 10.3 million people in Thailand have made over 38 million posts and comments about travel across Facebook and Instagram in the last 90 days. I think the Metaverse will unlock many industry opportunities across the board.” Their works reflect unique cultural highlights and rich diversity from various Thai regions.

As Thailand continues to develop its digital and creative economy, such campaigns would move the country towards the metaverse, enabling more connections, unlocking great opportunities for people and communities, and transforming many sectors in the future. To experience the ‘Rediscover Thailand’ AR effects online via mobile phone, go to the @TourismThailand Instagram Page and explore the ‘effects’ tab. For an in-person experience, visit Rediscover Thailand – an Augmented Reality exhibition – open to the public for free, from 2 to 30 November 2022, 10.30-19.00 Hrs. every day except Monday, at the Thailand Creative and Design Centre, Bangkok, Front Lobby, Fl. 1.

 

Written by: Supaporn  Pholrach (Joom)

 

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