Thai Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary Asee Sanpanthara revealed on the 12th that the government is promoting a 'nationwide Thai costume wearing' initiative to further encourage the public to wear various traditional Thai costumes in daily life, including Thai royal attire, Thai silk clothing, and various local ethnic costumes.
According to China News Service, the initiative is spearheaded by the Thai Ministry of Culture, advancing the policy direction set by Prime Minister Anutin to strengthen national cultural identity and national pride. The goal is to promote traditional handicrafts and costume culture, enhance the public’s sense of cultural identity, and promote Thai culture on the international stage.
Asee stated that the Interior Ministry has issued notices to the governors of all 76 provinces, as well as to subordinate government departments, local administrative bodies, and state-owned enterprises, requesting joint promotion of the related initiative. Specific measures include cataloguing local Thai silk and indigenous textile resources, integrating the channels for fabric production, rental, sales, and customization, and encouraging civil servants and all sectors of society to wear Thai royal attire, modern adapted Thai costumes, and regional traditional costumes as appropriate in daily work, training, meetings, exhibitions, and other occasions.
The government hopes to take this opportunity to promote the application of 'Thai traditional costumes and related handicrafts and dress protocols' for inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, with the review of the application expected to take place in December 2026. This move is both a protection and inheritance of Thai cultural heritage and an important measure to showcase Thailand’s cultural soft power to the international community.