Tourism officials are consulting with the government’s copyright office to determine whether to take legal action against the Singaporean organizers of next month’s “Celebrate Songkran” party.
Wilaiwan Tawichsri, a deputy governor with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), said today that should Singapore host a Songkran party every year, it could confuse and discourage tourists from attending Thailand, the festival’s home.
She added TAT is studying methods of registering trademarks for Thai traditions such as Songkran and Loy Krathong to prevent other countries in ASEAN from stealing them.
Meanwhile Chai Nakornchai, the director general of Department of Cultural Promotion points out Singapore has the right to host a Songkran party because it’s a tradition that doesn’t only belong to Thailand and cannot be “claimed.”
However the director of Culture Surveillance Bureau says it is not right for Singapore to distort the tradition and host Songkran as a tourism gimmick, as it is about more than playing with water. The Songkran festival connects society and also involves an important display of appreciation toward elders, Yupa Taweewattana-boworn said.
Before returning to her regular, culture-surveilling duties, Yupa added the SINGKRAN crisis is a “sensitive issue” that could affect the two countries’ relationship. The bureau will inspect the event’s plan and study international laws to collect information before taking legal action against the companies who host Celebrate Songkran, Spring News reported.
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