In a significant development, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs H.E. Dr. Lalivan Karnchanachari attended the opening ceremony of the SPLASH – Soft Power Forum 2025, marking an important milestone in Thailand’s soft power journey. The event, held on 8 July 2025 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center, was presided over by Prime Minister and Minister of Culture H.E. Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
The SPLASH – Soft Power Forum 2025 served as a platform for business networking activities and skills-building workshops to support the entry of youth and entrepreneurs onto the global stage. The event showcased Thailand’s soft power development strategy, highlighting five key areas that can be leveraged to elevate the country’s soft power: Thai cuisine, wellness-oriented Muay Thai, holistic health tourism, the film industry, and elevating Thai gems into creative art.
During her remarks, Prime Minister Shinawatra emphasized the importance of public-private collaboration in promoting soft power as a key driver for Thailand’s future economy. She underlined the government’s role as a facilitator to promote soft power initiatives and encouraged the private sector to join hands with the government to amplify its impact.
The event marked an exciting new chapter in Thailand’s soft power journey, highlighting the country’s unique cultural heritage, innovative industries, and growing tourism sector. With the government’s commitment to promoting soft power, Thailand is poised to become a major player in the global stage, showcasing its rich culture, stunning landscapes, and vibrant cities to the world.
The success of the SPLASH – Soft Power Forum 2025 serves as a testament to Thailand’s dedication to developing its soft power capabilities. The event provided a valuable platform for stakeholders to engage with each other, share ideas, and explore opportunities for collaboration. As Thailand continues to strengthen its ties with regional and international partners, its soft power initiatives are expected to play an increasingly important role in promoting the country’s interests abroad.
In conclusion, the SPLASH – Soft Power Forum 2025 marked a significant milestone in Thailand’s soft power journey, showcasing the country’s unique strengths and highlighting its commitment to promoting itself as a major player on the global stage. With the government’s support and the private sector’s participation, Thailand is poised to become a hub for cultural exchange, economic cooperation, and people-to-people diplomacy.
The Five Key Areas of Soft Power Development
Thailand’s soft power development strategy focuses on five key areas:
- Thai cuisine: promoting the country’s unique culinary heritage through food festivals, cooking classes, and culinary tourism initiatives.
- Wellness-oriented Muay Thai: showcasing Thailand’s ancient martial art as a symbol of health, wellness, and self-discipline.
- Holistic health tourism: highlighting Thailand’s natural beauty, cultural richness, and innovative healthcare services.
- The film industry: promoting Thai cinema as a major player in the global entertainment market.
- Elevating Thai gems into creative art: showcasing Thailand’s artisanal heritage through crafts, textiles, and other creative endeavors.
Public-Private Collaboration: A Key to Success
The success of the SPLASH – Soft Power Forum 2025 underscores the importance of public-private collaboration in promoting soft power initiatives. By joining forces with the government, private sector players can amplify their impact and contribute to Thailand’s growing reputation as a major player on the global stage.
A New Chapter for Thai Soft Power
The SPLASH – Soft Power Forum 2025 marks an exciting new chapter in Thailand’s soft power journey. With its unique cultural heritage, innovative industries, and growing tourism sector, Thailand is poised to become a major player on the global stage. As the country continues to strengthen its ties with regional and international partners, its soft power initiatives are expected to play an increasingly important role in promoting the country’s interests abroad.