On 24 August 2024, the 13th edition of the I Love Thailand Festival was held in Bredene, Belgium. This Thai Festival is the largest annual Thai festival in Benelux countries with more than 10,000 festival-goers from Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany and France.
The Festival featured around 50 booths selling Thai food, drinks, and Thai products as well as Thai massage stalls. The Royal Thai Embassy and Team Thailand, including the Office of Agricultural Affairs, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and TAT Office in Paris, set up the Embassy and Team Thailand’s booth. The Embassy provided consular services. The Agriculture Office promoted Thai agricultural products, including providing event-goers with samples of Thai mango sticky rice and dragon fruit. TAT organised art workshop, including painting traditional Khon masks miniatures and imprinting fabric bag with acrylic gold colour, where event-goers were able to take away as souveniors. The Tourist Information Center by TAT Paris Office displayed information on tourism opportunities in Thailand, including information on the resumption of direct flights between Bangkok-Brussels by Thai Airways International starting on 1st December 2024.
H.E. Ms. Kanchana Patarachoke, Ambassador of Thailand to Belgium, gave a speech to greet festival-goers together with Mr. Alain Lynneel, Municipal Councillor and Alderman for Tourism and Culture of Bredene. Also attended were Ms. Warunee Pan-krajang, Minister, Mr. Songkhla Chulakasian, Minister (Agricultural Affairs), Mr. Somkiat Kamolpun, Minister Counsellor (Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation), Mr. Bhisanrath Ninlabhand, Minister Counsellor (Customs), Ms. Eurblarp Sriphiromya, Director of Promotional Material Production Division, TAT, and Mr. Suriya Sitthichai, Director of TAT Office in Paris.
The event also featured traditional and modern musical and cultural performances by Thai nationals living in Benelux. TAT also brought from Bangkok special performances by Human Puppet HCU team, a group of young artists from Huachiew Chalermprakiet University in Thailand to perform a mix of traditional and modern dances from 4 regions across Thailand.
The Thai communities in Benelux are just amazing in showcasing Thai arts and cultures. We are also happy and proud to see Belgians and other nationals enjoying the Thai Festival alongside their Thai families and friends.
Thank you everyone for loving Thailand! See you next year!!