Silpakorn University Bangkok, in an exciting collaboration with the Department of Cultural Promotion, Ministry of Culture, and the engaging platform Roamingelephants.com, is set to host a groundbreaking seminar. This event aims to foster cooperation with the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), a global organization dedicated to leveraging culture as a powerhouse for sustainable economic development. For Thailand, this marks a historic milestone as the country makes its debut at such an event under the prestigious umbrella of the United Nations General Assembly.
Mr. Prasop Riangngoen, the dynamic Director-General of the Department of Cultural Promotion, expressed his enthusiasm: “This is Thailand’s inaugural step as a UCLG member in promoting Culture 21 on the world stage. It is a fascinating opportunity to showcase Thailand’s cultural potential and its pivotal role in steering sustainable development. Cultural issues are increasingly recognized at international meetings, including the recent UN General Assembly, which in December 2021 approved the integration of culture into the global development agenda. This integration is indispensable for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. The Agenda 21 for Culture, also known as ‘Culture 21,’ acknowledges culture as a foundational cornerstone for sustainable national development in various domains such as tourism, the creative industry, urban development, cultural learning resources, and community product development.”
Presently, Agenda 21 for Culture is driven by UCLG, which spearheads efforts to harness cultural roles in promoting significant economic growth on a global scale. With an impressive roster of over 140 members worldwide, including neighboring giants like China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia, UCLG has built a resilient network dedicated to this mission. “Thailand, with its rich and enduring cultural heritage recognized globally, must now demonstrate its cultural potential in the dimension of sustainable development on the world stage,” added Mr. Riangngoen.
Assistant Professor Dr. Juthamas Wisansing, the visionary founder of Roaming Elephants, a pioneering Thai sustainable tourism platform, and the project leader and UCLG coordinator in Thailand, chimed in: “The UCLG-Culture 21 International Award celebrates projects and cultural policies that contribute to sustainable development goals. The UCLG – MEXICO CITY – Culture 21 International Award recognizes local development projects that employ international cultural dimensions to enhance people’s quality of life. This award also serves as a gateway to global trade markets aligned with sustainable business practices (ESG) and supports the award-winning area or city in collaborating with the European trade market, which adheres to the stringent sustainability inspections mandated by the EU Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence.”
Following this highly anticipated seminar, various departments will get the chance to propose potential cities or communities for development, aiming to select Thailand’s Culture 21 Best Practice as a contender for the 2025 International Award UCLG – Culture 21 competition.
The seminar will gather an eclectic mix of participants, including consultants from the Department of Tourism, Department of Local Administration, Department of Community Development, Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), Office of Creative Economic Promotion (Public Organisation), Special Tourism Development Organisation for Sustainable Tourism (Public Organisation), the Municipal League of Thailand, the Subdistrict Administrative Organisation Association of Thailand, the Thai Town Planning Association, the Urban Design and Development Center (UddC), and Silpakorn University, along with vibrant cultural community networks nationwide.
Jordi Pascual, the esteemed Coordinator of the UCLG Agenda 21 Cultural Committee, emphasized the significance of the initiative: “The Thailand Culture 21 Best Practice Initiative is a crucial step in promoting sustainable urban development and enhancing the capabilities of local governments in Thailand. We are dedicated to fostering innovation, resilience, and growth in cities across Thailand, ensuring they are prepared to meet future challenges.”
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This sounds like a great initiative! Culture is so important for sustainable development.
Absolutely, but do we really need another fancy seminar to tell us this?
Seminars like this help build networks and share ideas. They’re crucial for progress.
Exactly, Joe. Plus, it puts Thailand on the global map for cultural initiatives.
Finally! Thailand deserves to be seen for its cultural contributions. This could boost tourism too.
Tourism is great, but it can also lead to over-commercialization and loss of authenticity.
True, but with proper management, we can preserve culture while reaping economic benefits.
Does anyone else think the focus should be on preserving traditional practices instead of promoting them for economic gain?
I see your point, but a balance can be struck. Sustainable development requires both cultural preservation and economic considerations.
A balance is ideal, but how often does that actually happen?
Governance can ensure this balance. Look at Japan; they manage to preserve while promoting tourism responsibly.
What a remarkable opportunity for Thailand! Sustainable cultural development should be the way forward.
Totally agree! And let’s include local communities in the decision-making.
Isn’t this just another case of the elite patting themselves on the back while local communities see no real benefit?
Exactly! These events often overlook the actual needs of the people they claim to help.
It depends on follow-up actions. If they implement what they discuss, it can be transformative.
UCLG initiatives are known for their results. This seminar could lead to invaluable collaborations.
Collaboration is key. It’s great to see organizations coming together like this.
Let’s hope they allocate resources fairly between urban and rural areas. Both can benefit from sustainable cultural development.
Rural areas often get neglected. I hope this initiative changes that.
Urban areas drive economic growth, but yes, rural areas should not be ignored.
How will this seminar be any different from past efforts? We’ve seen a lot of talk but not much action.
Integrating cultural issues into the global development agenda is a fantastic step!
This has the potential to transform Thailand’s approach to culture and sustainability. Kudos!
Cultural policies are fine, but the real challenge is implementation at the grassroots level.
I hope this reduces cultural erasure by promoting local traditions globally. It’s high time.
Agenda 21 for Culture needs to be more than just a buzzword. We need to see real, tangible results.
With over 140 members, UCLG can truly make a difference if they coordinate effectively.
Agenda 21 will help make travel more enriching and sustainable. Looking forward to the positive changes!
Why isn’t there more media coverage on this? This should be way more widely discussed.