Bangkok (Thailand) – July 14, 2015 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is organizing the ASEAN One Multicultural Festival 2015, which will take place from July 10 to 11 at the Thapae Gate in Chiang Mai. It is part of the Royal Thai Government's plan to showcase the unique cultures of Thailand and other ASEAN members, as Thailand is set to join the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), with implementation planned for the end of this year.

ASEAN comprises ten member states: Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Myanmar. With the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), tourism is among the sectors that will benefit from increased cooperation among member countries. Juthaporn Rerngronasa, Acting Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Europe, Africa, Middle East, and the Americas), stated: “The two-day ASEAN One Multicultural Festival 2015 aligns with the Thai government’s policy of highlighting Thailand’s unique identity – the so-called Thai way of life. This will help strengthen Thailand’s reputation as a unique and attractive travel destination within ASEAN and further enhance the Kingdom’s long-standing geographical position as the center of ASEAN and a hub for regional networking.”

Ms. Juthaporn said: “ASEAN is a region with diverse cultures and traditions, as well as different national identities. The ten nations share many commonalities, and at the same time, each nation possesses its own distinctive identity. The ASEAN One Multicultural Festival 2015 serves as a central platform to showcase the cultural commonalities and unique differences of each member nation.”

The ASEAN One Multicultural Festival 2015, which will take place at the Thapae Gate in Chiang Mai, will be presented in four different zones.

The “ASEAN One” zone will feature musical performances by leading singers and musicians from all ASEAN countries. The highlight will be a special performance by singers from across the ASEAN countries, who will sing the “ASEAN One” song, composed specifically for this event.

The "We are ASEAN" zone presents images of the ASEAN people and their local ways of life. These images are compiled into a captivating film and projected onto the wall of the famous Thapae Gate. The "ASEAN Pavilion" showcases the diverse culture and national identity of the member countries through a photo exhibition, demonstrations of handicrafts and handmade products, and cultural performances.

The "ASEAN Food" zone showcases a wide selection of regional specialties from all ASEAN countries. Organized by the Chiang Mai Hotel Association, this zone offers trade fair visitors the opportunity to sample the diverse flavors of ASEAN cuisine in one place.

For comprehensive travel information on the ASEAN region, please visit: www.VisitASEAN.org

Contact information: International Public Relations Department, Tourism Authority of Thailand, 1600 New Petchaburi Road, Makkasan, Ratchathevi, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Tel.: +66 (0) 2250 5500 ext. 4545-48, Fax: +66 (0) 2253 7419, E-mail: [email protected]