Category: The Bangkok Post

The World Exposition in Osaka came to a close on Monday after a six-month run that drew more than 25 million visitors through exhibitions showcasing advanced technologies and diverse cultures, with organisers calling the event a success despite some operational challenges.

At the closing ceremony for the event held under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” a declaration for the Expo stated that it had “reaffirmed the pertinence of the Expo as a global public good that brings about mutual understanding and dialogue and serve as a catalyst for change.”

The Expo, held on the artificial island of Yumeshima, was participated by 158 countries and regions. The flag of the Bureau International des Expositions, a Paris-based body that oversees world Expos, was handed to Saudi Arabia, the 2030 host.

“By uniting our hearts, we were able to create a wonderful Exposition that brought satisfaction to many people,” Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said at the closing ceremony, emphasising the importance of “solidarity rather than division” and “tolerance rather than confrontation.”

Crown Prince Fumihito, who also attended the ceremony, said, “It was meaningful to have had the opportunity to think about solutions to the common challenges facing humanity together.”

As of Sunday, the total number of general visitors reached a preliminary 25.29 million, surpassing the 22.05 million recorded at the previous Japan-hosted Expo in 2005 in Aichi prefecture but falling short of organisers’ projected 28.20 million.

A total of 22.07 million tickets were sold and licensed merchandise, including plush toys of the official mascot Myaku-Myaku, generated about 80 billion yen (17 billion baht) in sales as of late August. The organisers expect an operating surplus of up to 28 billion yen.

But the Expo was not without hiccups. Its preparation was overshadowed by concerns over rising construction costs, delays in pavilion completion and low public support.

Ticket sales gradually picked up after the Expo opened in mid-April thanks to positive word of mouth. But long lines formed throughout the venue on a daily basis, including under the sweltering summer heat, despite what was aimed to become a “no-queue Expo” via an advance reservation system for entry and pavilion visits.

Some visitors with tickets were also unable to secure reservations for entry, forcing organisers to issue several hundred same-day replacement tickets daily to accommodate them.

Dismantling and removal of pavilions is scheduled to begin after next week, with the land to be returned to Osaka city by the end of February 2028.

However, there are concerns that an unresolved issue regarding unpaid fees to subcontractors involved in constructing some international pavilions could deter contractors from taking part in demolition work after the Expo closes.

Thailand hopes to complete free trade agreement (FTA) talks with South Korea by the end of this year, according to Commerce Minister Suphajee Suthumpun.

An FTA deal with South Korea would be a notable “first” for Ms Suphajee, who will serve only a short tenure in the commerce portfolio before the promised general election next year.

Thai and South Korean trade officials have been negotiating for an FTA between the two countries since 2004, and are now in the final stages of the talks.

‘We think we can wrap up negotiations with South Korea by the end of this year,’ Ms Suphajee said in an interview with The Standard released on Monday.

She said credit should go to officials of the Department of Trade Negotiations for their efforts toward a trade pact with the East Asia country.

South Korea will host a series of meetings of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation from Oct 26-Nov 1 in Gyeongju city near Busan.

Ms Suphajee will take part in the trade ministers meeting, and Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will join other leaders at the summit.

‘We plan a joint declaration (with South Korea) to underline our determination for a conclusion (of the FTA),’ the minister said.

The declaration would be made on the sidelines of the Apec meeting. But she did not say whether it would be announced by the trade ministers or leaders of the two countries.

Two-way trade was worth US$14.7 billion in 2023 in favour of South Korea.

An FTA needs parliamentary approval after its conclusion.

Ms Suphajee said she also hoped to see progress in talks on an FTA with the European Union by using the European Free Trade Association (Efta) accord as a stepping stone for Thailand and EU members to accelerate talks.

Thailand signed on to Efta in January and this is expected to become effective in a year.

The European countries in the pact are Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. They are not EU members but have some form of cooperation with the EU, including free movement as they are included in the Schengen area.

‘The EU is looking for new markets and partners due to pressure from US reciprocal tariffs and geopolitical factors,’ the commerce minister said. Thailand could tap the advantages to seal a trade pact with the bloc.

Four Israeli men claiming to be soldiers celebrating peace in the Middle East were arrested while partying with drugs at a luxury villa on Koh Phangan early Tuesday morning.

Police responding to a noise complaint searched the villa in Ban Sri Thanu about 2.40am.

Tourist police said four Israeli men, aged 26-27, were seated in the villa, and appeared to be concealing something. They were found to be sitting on small packets containing 0.59gm of cocaine and 1.37gm of powdered ecstasy.

They told police they were soldiers on vacation and had been partying with 10-15 compatriots in celebration of the end of the Israel-Hamas war. The others had left the party after complaints about the noise.

The four arrested Israelis were taken to Koh Phangan Hospital where they tested positive for cocaine and methamphetamine use.

According to tourist police inspector Pol Lt Col Winit Boonchit, the suspects said they bought the drugs from other Israelis who were at the party. They did not know their names.

XSpring Asset Management (AM) says its XSpring Nuclear and Uranium Technologies Fund (X-NUCTECH) posted a return of 31.9% in baht and 39.3% in US dollars within only three months of its launch.

As of Oct 6, the fund’s assets under management (AUM) surged by 704% to 371 million baht from an initial size of 46 million baht when launched on July 14.

Nuclear and uranium stocks have surged as power demand grows, propelled by government policies, global electrification and artificial intelligence (AI) spending. The International Atomic Energy Agency estimates global nuclear capacity to grow by more than 160% by 2050 as it becomes indispensable to achieving clean energy ambitions.

X-NUCTECH invests primarily in the VanEck Uranium and Nuclear Technologies UCITS ETF A USD Acc (NUCL), which has been one of the world’s top-performing funds in 2025 with a year-to-date return of 94.2%. NUCL has posted consistent growth over the years, gaining 3.71% in 2022, 39.2% in 2023, and nearly 30% last year.

Such continuous growth reflects the steady rise of global investments in nuclear energy, said Yosakorn Follett, chief executive of XSpring AM.

“This year is a breakthrough year for alternative investments as global interest rates trend downward,” he said.

Many investors have shifted away from low-yield deposits towards higher-return assets, particularly mutual funds, a trend that is expected to continue into 2026, said Mr Yosakorn. X-NUCTECH stands out as the company’s top performer, reflecting investors’ growing confidence in the long-term potential of nuclear energy, he said.

“The fund’s rapid growth underscores investors’ recognition of nuclear power as a critical solution in the global energy transition,” said Mr Yosakorn.

“AI and data centres are driving exponential energy demand, doubling every 3.5 months according to international research. Nuclear power is regaining prominence as one of the few scalable and stable energy sources capable of supporting the modern digital economy.”

While X-NUCTECH’s local returns in baht were slightly tarnished by the currency’s recent strength, XSpring AM expects this to improve as exchange rate conditions normalise, he said, adding the fund’s long-term prospects remain strong given the global shift towards clean, efficient and carbon-neutral power sources.

The asset manager is positioning itself as an innovator in thematic and alternative investments, focusing on high-potential global trends such as energy transition, digital transformation and AI, said Mr Yosakorn.

Thais have several ways of adding flavour to dishes. Even simple dishes like kai jiao (omelette) and kai dow (fried egg) can be seasoned with condiments like ketchup, chilli sauce, soy or fish sauce.

Organised by the Creative Economy Agency (CEA), the exhibition “Thai Local Sauce: Aroi Ho, Aroi Yo (Delicious And Drizzled)” revealed that Thai sauces are one of the most popular export products.

The top five countries that imported Thai sauces in 2024 were the US (4.7 billion baht), Australia (2.7 billion baht), Japan (2.6 billion baht), the Philippines (2.4 billion baht) and the Netherlands (2.3 billion baht). Among several kinds of sauces, the three most popular were chilli sauce (7.1 billion baht), fish sauce (2.9 billion baht) and soy sauce (2 billion baht).

Monnapa Panichkriangkrai, exhibition curator and senior knowledge management officer at CEA, explained that Thai sauces are popular export products because they are the most convenient way to bring out the taste of Thai cuisine.

“Thai Local Sauce: Aroi Ho, Aroi Yo” informs visitors that Thai sauces are not only condiments in a kitchen. Their sale can drive growth of Thailand’s creative economy which includes food, tourism and design industries. The exhibition is divided into three main sections — Saucetalgia; Sauce, Source: Born Of Plenty, Made To Season; Sauce Power; and an other special section called Cooked To Order Food.

Saucetalgia refers to sauces that remind people of childhood comfort food. The props in this section replicate a kitchen and a video on the “kitchen counter” displays how a mother or a grandmother cooks her signature dish for their loved ones.

“The kitchen prop gives the vibe of inviting friends to our home. It is a section dedicated to the nostalgia of childhood comfort food since it is where people’s culinary tastes develop. People in the video are not chefs but mothers or grandmothers of the exhibition staff, so visitors can see home cooking,” explained Monnapa.

“An audio in the background provides information about the sauces for their recipes. This was inspired from those times we call our mother to ask what she puts in her cooking that makes it so delicious, because we want to eat it again.”

Sauce, Source: Born Of Plenty, Made To Season provides a history of sauces and showcases 60 local products. For this section, the research team visited communities to learn about their sauces, including fish sauce, fermented fish sauce, vinegar, Siracha chilli sauce, dark soy sauce, sweet soy sauce and nam pu (made from rich black rice crab).

“Each sauce has a unique flavour and texture. Some people may assume that soy sauce tastes salty, but our team discovered that it is not. The 60 local sauces which were selected for display at the exhibition are brands available to the public,” explained Monnapa.

“In Thailand, two main ingredients used in making seasoning sauces are fish and soy bean. Different processes will lead to different sauces. For example, fish entrails are mixed with salt and fermented for one month to become tai pla. When fish is mixed with salt and fermented for over one year to one and half year, it becomes budu sauce. After mixing fish with salt for a year and filtering out the meat, the result is pure fish sauce.”

After working on the exhibition, Monnapa discovered there are many sauces in Thailand she was not familiar with.

“Most people are familiar with light soy sauce and dark soy sauce. In Thailand, there is red soy sauce which is local to Phetchaburi. Despite its name, its colour is not red, but more of a reddish brown colour, and it is commonly added to noodles. This red soy sauce portrays differences in culinary traditions across regions. In Nakhon Sawan, people eat khao moo daeng [rice topped with red pork] with local chilli paste while in Phetchaburi, people like to add their local chilli sauce to noodle,” Monnapa explained.

“These seasonings were initially made based on seasons. Pla ra, fermented fish sauce, was originally made in Isan during summer when water sources began to dry up. As fish became scarce, fermenting them helped to preserve food. The rainy season is the season for making nam pak sathorn in the North. Since I am a Bangkokian, I had never heard of nam pak sathorn. It is not just vegetable juice but like another ingredient that can be added to any dish to make it taste good.”

There is also a replica refrigerator that displays sauces labelled as “the legendary flavour”. Monnapa explained that local seasoning brands in the refrigerator are reaching the end, because there is no successor to continue their production.

“Since the clock is ticking, we would like to introduce these unique brands through the exhibition and hope that people will support them.”

The third section, Sauce Power, displays a map of Thailand that marks where each sauce is available. When visitors scan the QR code on the board, they will be taken to Google Maps which helps them find sauces.

In addition to the food industry, seasoning sauces can drive Thailand’s creative economy which includes gastronomy tourism and packaging design industries. The exhibition tells the stories behind logos and names of some brands. Some brands focus on logos that bring luck, such as a dragonfly which refers to abundance, and a chubby baby which refers to being healthy and well-fed. Many brands are also named after their owners, such as Mae Boonlam and Na Naun.

After learning about local brands, visitors have the opportunity to purchase products and try unique ice cream flavours inspired by sauces in the special section, which is located in the “Neighbourmart” store.

If visitors are not sure what kind of condiments they should purchase, they can take a personality test called MBTI: My Bottle Type Is to find a compatible product. For example, a question might ask what food gives you a real energy boost? Choices for your answer include a comfort dish from your childhood or something new and exciting.

Produced by Baan Pat and Jeannie, the ice creams are available in four flavours — dark caramel soy sauce with almond praline; Chinese cheese with marmalade; nipa palm vinegar sorbet; and brown butter banana fish sauce. Ice creams are usually sweet, but these flavours are salty, except for the vinegar sorbet.

Although the exhibition aims to promote sauces, Monnapa insists that the CEA does not intend to encourage people to consume more salty products.

“This exhibition does not encourage visitors to consume salty food or a lot of sauces. In addition to the exhibition on the 1st floor, there is an extended exhibition on the 5th floor which showcases ready-to-use sauces and healthy options for children and patients with kidney disease. Consumers can choose what is right for them.”

When Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul pitched the idea of raising the retirement age for civil servants from 60 to 65 years old, the proposal sparked significant debate in Thai society — a society increasingly described as “aged”.

Academics have noted that to support a growing “silver economy” — a market for products, services and activities targeting people aged 50 and above — Thailand must improve infrastructure and job opportunities, especially for members of Generation X.

Gen X, born between the mid-1960s and early 1980s, now represents Thailand’s largest demographic group.

Nonarit Bisonyabut of the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) noted that Thailand is on track to become a “super-aged society” within nine years, with over 28% of the population aged 60 and older.

While this poses challenges, it also creates opportunities for the silver economy, he said.

His study found that consumption among senior citizens reached 2.18 trillion baht in 2023 and is projected to rise to 3.5 trillion baht by 2033. Revenue generated by the elderly is also expected to increase from 640 billion baht in 2024 to 880 billion baht. The number of senior workers is forecast to reach 6.6 million, or 37% of the elderly population.

And yet there is another looming reality: centenarians, those aged over 100 years old, in Thailand are growing by the number, posing challenges to policymakers not only on how to deal with an aged society, but also a long-lived one, according to Nattapat Sarobol, a lecturer specialising in elder social welfare at the Faculty of Social Administration, Thammasat University.

“Research conducted by Thammasat University on centenarians and older has found that Thailand has over 40,000 centenarians, ranking fifth in the world,” she said.

“This number is expected to continue to increase. So, if Thai society continues to adhere to the 60-year retirement age, this will mean retirees will have a 40-year age gap, leading to a life without work. The question is, where will they get their livelihood?”

OLD AND WORKING

Earlier this year, the Institute for Population and Social Research released the Mahidol Population Gazette, revealing updated national demographics. Thailand’s total population is now 65.69 million, with 8.3 million people living in the capital.

Of that population, 41.75 million are part of the labour force, aged between 15 and 59. Another 14.45 million are aged 60-65, and 9.7 million are over 65.

Conversely, the number of young people (aged 0-21) is low, at only 15 million. Equally concerning is that the population of women of reproductive age (15-49) stands at about 15 million, while the birth rate is just 6.2 per 1,000 population — one of the lowest in the region.

Ms Nattapat said that within the next decade, the effects of an ageing society will become much more evident as a large number of Gen X workers “will inevitably be drawn back into the workforce due to a looming labour shortage”.

“Even though many are now opting for early retirement due to the poor economy, they will likely return to work to fill growing vacancies.”

However, the transition back into the workforce will be challenging, she said. Seniors may face bad attitudes from their younger colleagues, she added.

Ms Nattapat then urged the government to invest in infrastructure and create senior-friendly workplaces. She emphasised the need to remove age-based barriers to employment and provide training programmes or even access to funding.

She also warned that a national retirement policy limited to Thailand’s 1.75 million civil servants would be ineffective if it ignores the country’s 18 million private-sector employees.

LONGER EMPLOYMENT

Mr Nonarit of TDRI said raising the retirement age is a common response in developed countries with healthier ageing populations.

However, the concept is still relatively new in Thailand and will require public understanding and carefully planned policies, he said.

He pointed out that the government has limited capacity to support the elderly, with social welfare payments currently below 1,000 baht per month.

“It’s essential that older citizens can generate income throughout their lives,” he said.

However, many workers aged 50 and above voluntarily leave the workforce, relying on final payments from the Social Security Office. Much of this money is invested — often unsuccessfully — and when they attempt to re-enter the job market, they face diminished compensation and limited opportunities.

“The key challenge is how to retain them in the workforce longer,” Mr Nonarit said. “We must prioritise keeping them in the system. The government should offer incentives to encourage longer employment.”

He cited Singapore’s national “Reemployment” policy, which allows eligible retirees to continue working and provides a dedicated fund for upskilling and reskilling older workers for new roles.

A senior government official, who spoke anonymously, said the retirement age increase is not a major issue in itself, since many older workers remain healthy. The real problem is that the current system does little to support them, the official said.

“Many can’t advance in their careers because of corruption and favouritism in state agencies,” the official said. “They no longer have family obligations and are happy to leave a broken system. If we want to retain them, the workplace must be reformed to promote transparency and good governance.”

The Royal Thai Police are intensifying investigations into alleged nominee land holdings by foreigners on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan in Surat Thani, a practice that may threaten economic security, especially in key tourist areas.

Pol Lt Gen Yingyos Thepjamnong, assistant commissioner, said authorities are working closely with Surat Thani provincial officials, the Land Department, the Department of Business Development and security agencies to scrutinise the cases.

Preliminary findings indicate some Israeli nationals on the islands face multiple charges, including operating car rental businesses, working without permits and conducting tour operations without authorisation.

Pol Lt Gen Yingyos said all probes would be conducted transparently, fairly and in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, two Israeli tourists were arrested with fake US dollar bills totalling US$5,653 (184,860 baht) after they exchanged some of them for Thai baht at Samui airport.

Pol Lt Col Phanumat Chukuea, detective inspector-general at Bo Phut police station, said Matan Moshe, 25, and Omer Sarusi, 28, were detained on Saturday under warrants issued by the Samui Court.

The two separately exchanged $50 notes at a Government Savings Bank kiosk at Samui airport last Monday, police said. Mr Moshe exchanged five notes for 7,280 baht, while Mr Sarusi exchanged 10 notes for 14,560 baht, police said, adding the GSB later confirmed the notes were counterfeit.

Bo Phut police arrested the pair at their accommodation in tambon Bophut and found 48 $100 notes, 17 $50 notes and three $1 notes in their possession. The suspects told police they had brought the US dollar bills from Israel and were unaware they were fake. They face charges of forging and possessing counterfeit foreign banknotes.

After losing 9% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2025, the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index is moving into the final quarter with more bullish sentiment, topping 1,300 points in early October thanks to the new government’s economic stimulus and an easing cycle for Thai interest rates.

The Anutin Charnvirakul government unveiled a stimulus package for its four-month tenure, aiming to lift domestic consumption and public confidence. Core measures include an expanded “Khon La Khrueng” co-payment scheme, easing consumers’ cost of living, and debt restructuring support for small businesses, supplemented by tourism revival initiatives.

Endorsed by the cabinet on Oct 7 with a budget of 44 billion baht, the co-payment scheme creates a powerful but temporary boost for the last two months of the year. Petrol prices were previously cut, while electricity tariff and train fare reductions are on the cards.

Tourism revival measures, including incentives for second-tier destinations, are expected to potentially add 2-4 million visitors over the next 12-18 months, according to CGS International Securities (Thailand).

“The Thai bourse is being driven mainly by the performance of the new government’s stimulus policies, such as the co-payment scheme and secondary province tourism promotion, all of which are positive for stock investment,” said Apichat Poobunjirdkul, senior strategist at Tisco Securities.

To stay firmly above 1,300 points, daily trading value on the SET should exceed 40 billion baht, said Mr Apichat, as the current trading value of roughly 30 billion baht is considered “too low”.

The SET should also benefit from falling Thai interest rates, he said.

“Past data indicates the Thai index reacted positively to every rate cut by the Bank of Thailand, except for the reduction during the pandemic,” said Mr Apichat.

A cut of 25 basis points (bps) generally lifts the SET index by 50 points, according to the brokerage.

SHORT-TERM BOOST

Chaiyatorn Sricharoen, an analyst at CGS International Securities (Thailand), said the brokerage anticipates incremental spending of 40-70 billion baht from the co-payment programme, equivalent to a GDP bump of 0.2-0.4 percentage points.

“In our view, the scheme ensures high marginal propensity to consume, especially among low-income households who must co-pay, but the exclusion of chain retailers could divert share from modern trade to traditional trade,” he said.

Meanwhile, electricity tariff cuts are seen as the most impactful lever among the cost-of-living relief programme in terms of lifting consumption. A 5-10% cut or roughly 0.20-0.40 baht per megawatt-hour (unit) could save households 75-150 baht per month and create modest demand from fast-moving consumer goods companies, according to CGS.

Despite near-term visibility of the government’s policy package, structural reforms remain politically uncertain, said Mr Chaiyatorn.

“We believe structural policies, such as infrastructure investment, agricultural upgrades, and long-stay visa reform, face significant political constraints under a minority coalition government,” he said.

Rakpong Chaisuparakul, senior vice-president of KGI Securities (Thailand), said while domestic factors look more positive regarding a short-term stimulus, most of the prepared packages were largely priced in.

As a consequence, the brokerage believes the SET index could extend some gains in October, but the upside seems to be limited, he said.

EASING CYCLE

Soraphol Tulayasathien, senior executive vice-president of the SET, cited the Federal Reserve’s rate cut in September, the first reduction since December 2024, as one of the reasons boosting the Thai index by 3% last month.

Despite the rebound, Thailand’s benchmark index fell by 9% in the first nine months of this year, with foreign investors net sellers of 96.2 billion baht worth of Thai stocks.

The Fed is widely expected to slash the federal funds rate when it meets on Oct 28-29, lowering borrowing costs and preventing the shaky job market from collapsing.

According to CME Group’s FedWatch tool, investors expect the Federal Open Market Committee to trim the rate by 25 bps to a range of 3.75% to 4%, marking the lowest level since December 2022.

“Following the September cut, two more reductions are expected,” said Mr Soraphol.

Monetary policy easing has prompted global investors to increase their holdings in stocks and safe-haven assets, particularly gold, the price of which has surged to record highs in global markets.

In Thailand, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on Oct 8 left its key interest rate unchanged at 1.5%, after a reduction of 25 bps in August.

The central bank has lowered the policy rate four times, by 100 bps, since October last year.

Veeravat Virochpoka, head of research at FSS International Investment Advisory Securities, said the MPC is expected to trim rates once or twice over the next 12 months, bringing the one-day repurchase rate to 1% to bolster the subdued economy.

Pipat Luengnaruemitchai, emerging Asia economist at BofA Securities, shared a similar view, adding most MPC members remain relatively hawkish, preferring to preserve policy space and believing monetary policy is not an effective tool to support the economy.

“While the decision to maintain the rate this time was in line with our expectations, we continue to anticipate cuts to the terminal rate of 1%, given the weak economic momentum, low inflation and strong baht,” he said.

Looking ahead, Mr Soraphol said challenges remain in terms of the US debt ceiling, the state of the US economy, and uncertainties surrounding American fiscal and monetary policy.

Stock market analysts agree, noting the direction of US monetary policy remains unclear as US macro readings are still strong and Fed officials are split into dovish and hawkish camps.

Bangkok Illustration Fair (BKKIF) is set to return from Oct 23-26 at CentralWorld Pulse on the 7th floor of CentralWorld. This year, BKKIF will showcase illustrations by 201 artists. Of the 200 artists, 132 are Thai and 68 are from 16 countries including Brunei, China, Greece, Japan, Indonesia, Italy, New Zealand, the Philippines and Russia. Besides these 200 artists, Claudia, a popular artist who was voted for by audiences at BKKIF 2024, will also feature.

At the press conference for BKKIF 2025 at CentralWorld, Vip Buraphadeja, a co-founder of the fair, expressed his excitement when the team was informed by people in the industry that it is the largest in Southeast Asia.

“Our goal was to create a platform that brings artists from different generations, veterans or newcomers, together. Since we focus on diversity, BKKIF accepts all kinds of artwork including hand drawings, digital artwork, collages and cartoons. We have been trying to find possibilities to expand artwork on many platforms. Thus, we invited various organisations, such as art galleries, publications, café and airlines, which we call ‘reviewers’, to come to BKKIF. We hope to create a community and an ecosystem artists will join,” said Vip.

When asked how the BKKIF founders feel about creating the largest illustration fair in Southeast Asia, Chonticha Homklinkaew, said they focus on quality rather than quantity.

“BKKIF focuses on quality of work. Every selected artist who showcases will have opportunities for work. There are reviewers and sponsors who come to BKKIF and select artists whom they want to work with. This community will expand and have solid relationships,” said Chonticha.

Vip added: “I agree with Chonticha. To create the largest event is not so difficult since we can sell more booths, but we do not focus on that. What we are proud of is that we have a community where artists are selected and reviewers are invited to view artwork. This is how we create a pretty large ecosystem which we can be proud of.”

International artists have been interested in BKKIF since its first year in 2001, and the submitting work online for selection has only increased.

“It is great to have artwork from many countries at BKKIF, as artists and visitors are able to see a wide range and learn about the different styles of each country. It provides an exchange of experiences and ideas,” said Vip.

Oomthong Yamsadtham and Punika Areekanchanlert, both young artists, talked about their first experience at BKKIF 2024. The duo confessed that they were not confident in their work, so they decided to share a booth which displayed both their solo and collaborative illustrations.

After the event, they were interviewed by a magazine which led them to work, such as designing books and posters. They exhibited their work at Bangkok Design Week and recently held the duo exhibition “Lost In Calendar” at Somewhere on Pradiphat 17.

“Before BKKIF 2024, not many people paid attention to our posts on social media. BKKIF is a platform that provides us opportunities to be seen by the public. We have gained more followers and more people appreciate our work, so we can understand more about our potential and see how far we can go,” said Punika.

In addition to artists, reviewers play a major role at BKKIF since they provide opportunity to artists. Toby Lu, director of sales and marketing at River City Bangkok, and Jakkrit Yompayorm, founder of Avocado Books, are representatives of BKKIF reviewers.

Lu revealed that River City Bangkok participated in BKKIF since its first year in 2001 and has invested about 10 million baht to support artists. Selected artists have the opportunity to hold solo exhibitions at River City Bangkok.

Jakkrit said that he visited BKKIF before he became a reviewer. He was there to search for artists who had styles comparable with what Avocado Books would be launching.

“After Avocado Books became a BKKIF reviewer, I was committed to select two artists to design our book covers, but I usually like to work with more than two. This year, Avocado Books has worked with more than five artists for book covers and illustrations,” explained Jakkrit.

Another highlight of BKKIF is the lineup of guest artists. To ensure diversity, it must include both solo and group artists, local and international artists, and ages from five to over 40. The six guest artists this year are Noma, Panatthorn “Skill” Fakthong, Pol Huiprasert, Urban Sketchers Thailand, Whosming and The Duang.

Noma is a successful Korean artist. Her paintings often feature young people and animals under an intriguing interplay of light and shadow. She uses either natural settings or urban scenes and infuses them with fantasy inspiration. Her paintings convey the emotions of people in this era, which can sometimes be gloomy, but often harbour a spark of hope and joy of a simple life.

Panatthorn, a five-year-old, is illiterate. His works comes naturally without any instructions. He has drawn over 100 illustrations and told stories through images and words. Panatthorn was discovered by Makut Ornrudee, editor of Butterfly Publishing. This year, Panatthorn held two solo exhibitions at GalileOasis in January and Tang Seng Jua Saen Phuda in June.

Pol is renowned for his production design in the music industry. He creates impressive experiences for concertgoers since he strives to authentically present the artist’s identity and music. He and his team have collaborated with many leading Thai artists including Bodyslam, Nont Tanont, The Toys and 4Eve. Pol will offer a unique and unconventional experiences to the audience at BKKIF 2025.

Urban Sketchers Thailand is a group of art enthusiasts who disregard age or skill. The group draws the landscape and architecture of various locations throughout Bangkok and other provinces. As a group of people with different skills, they create an atmosphere of knowledge sharing and experience exchange. Drawing sessions in old towns also foster knowledge about architectural conservation.

Whosming is a Taipei-based artist whose work often revolves around the theme of travel and coffee. A passionate coffee lover, Whosming began drawing baristas on paper coffee cups during his travels in Portland, USA. This series became an ongoing Instagram hit under the hashtag #mingscups and gained widespread traction. Additionally, Whosming’s album cover design was nominated for Best Recording Package at the Grammy Awards in 2023.

Veerachai Duangpla, better known as The Duang, has grown into a Thai comic artist with over 20 years experience. He is renowned for his cool lines, witty characters and engaging storylines. His notable works include creating gangster-style characters for NFTs, which successfully led to the Gangster All Star series.

BKKIF has changed the lives of many aspiring artists, but Vip and Chonticha are humble and do not take credit for that. They only organise the event, which brings reviewers to artists, but they are proud to witness the success of the creatives.

“It was so cool to see artists who sell their work at a booth in BKKIF. Then, they became like a star and we see their work everywhere,” said Chonticha.

“I am proud of seeing them grow. Some artists now have solo exhibitions while some are involved in big projects. Some of them have grown in ways we never imagined. I am really proud and glad to see that,” said Vip.

Two approaching cultural festivals are expected to draw about 30,000 visitors to the southern province of Songkhla and pump hundreds of millions of baht into the local economy – the Hindu Diwali and then the Chinese Vegetarian Festival.

The two festivals will extend over two weeks, the first starting on Friday.

Wittaya Saelim, a veteran tour guide who founded the Songkhla Tour Guide Association, said the Diwali Festival of Lights, also known as Deepavali and celebrated by Indian communities, will run from Oct 17-19. The long holiday is expected to bring a surge of Indian-Malaysian tourists to Hat Yai city, a popular destination bordering Malaysia, Mr Wittaya said.

The tourism boost is set to continue seamlessly into the Chinese Vegetarian Festival, from Oct 20-29, with merit-making ceremonies, vegetarian diet markets and cultural activities.

These two-week events typically attract both domestic and international tourists to the province, he said.

‘Each year we see a consistent rise in Malaysian tourists during this period, This year, we estimate around 30,000 visitors with each spending an average of 5,000 baht per day,’ Mr Wittaya said.

While international arrivals have still not returned to pre-pandemic levels, tourism-related businesses remained resilient in the region, said Natthanon Pongthanyawiriya, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce for the southern border provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala.

Deep South tourism mostly thrived through cultural, religious, agricultural and culinary experiences, Mr Natthanon said. ‘The government also supported entrepreneurs here with low-interest loans and measures to prevent non-performing loans.’

Tour bus and van operators in Songkhla said cultural and religious tourism had performed strongly with most travellers being adults and study groups.

On peak periods, there were up to 100 tour buses arriving daily in Hat Yai. There were five to 10 buses on regular weekdays, according to Songchai Mungprasitthichai, president of the Songkhla Tourism Association. ‘About 80% of Malaysian tour groups will stop to shop at stores, generating at least 50,000 baht per group,’ he said.

Popular purchases include instant noodles, snacks, canned goods, inhalers, balms and other health products.