Hua Hin, Thailand, March 10, 2024 / TRAVELINDEX / Closing with a grand finale for a world-class tennis tournament, WTA 250 tennis tournament, Thailand Open 2024, presented by E@, the competitors competed to win total prize money of up to 267,082 US dollars or almost 10 million baht at Arena Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, 29 January – 4 February 2024. In addition to world-class sporting success, there has also been a success in tourism which has played an important role in stimulating the country’s economy by the Sports tourism guidelines.
Achawan Kongkanan, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has played a part in promoting Thailand’s soft powers to become famous all over the world. Meanwhile, the world-class tennis competition, “Thailand Open 2024” is considered an important stage to showcase Thailand’s soft powers through world sports tournaments and the world’s top tennis players who participated in activities that showcase the beautiful arts and culture of Thailand, while projecting the image for people around the world to see. It is another success in tourism that arises from Thailand being the host of the world’s major tennis tournament this time.
Starting with the “Cooking Class” activity, with the chef of InterContinental Hua Hin Resort teaching famous female players like Zhu Lin, Ajla Tomljanović, along with their mothers. Charlotte Maria, daughter of German tennis player Tatjana Maria, joined the kitchen to make popular Thai dishes such as Pad Thai with fresh shrimp, Massaman curry with chicken, Tom Yum Goong, Stir-fried squid with basil. Thai food is considered one of the ten soft powers that is being promoted as the country’s selling point. Followed by offering food to monks from Wat Khao Yai Arun Bunyarat In Hua Hin District, a group of world tennis players, led by Barbora Krejčíková, former French Open champion from the Czech Republic, and three other female players, joined together to offer alms in the morning amid the fresh morning air of Hua Hin Beach around the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort Hotel, which is an activity that very well reflects the identity and way of life of Thai people. This, too, made an impression on the world’s female tennis players.
Another soft power that is famous around the world is Muay Thai. This time, the two world tennis players, Tamara Zidansek and Nao Hibino, had the opportunity to learn Muay Thai with “View” Yaowapa Buraphonchai, a Bronze Medalist Taekwondo Olympics 2004 and a Legend FC boxing promoter, at The Legend Arena Sports Center, 3rd floor of Blueport Hua Hin Shopping Center, where they had the chance to try on boxing gloves and practice, creating much excitement for both of them. It’s like they truly experienced the essence of Muay Thai.
The highlight was when the world tennis players had the exclusive experience of walking in a Thai fashion show wearing Thai silk outfits from Proud Thai in the Thai Extravaganza Reflection ACES Activity to promote Thai soft power, with support from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Every eye was captivated when Anntonia Porsild, the beautiful runner-up of Miss Universe 2023, wore the beautiful Thai silk outfit along with 7 other tennis players at Blueport Hua Hin Shopping Center, Prachuap Khiri Khan.
All of these activities are considered soft powers that help promote the image of Thailand, leading to the creation of value and pride in being Thai, and significant financial contributions to the country as part of the TAT’s soft power tourism promotion plan through global sports events like the Thailand Open 2024 Presented by E@. It can be considered a beautiful success and has left a great impression on both world tennis players and the spread of Thai soft power worldwide.