Tourism gets a gracious boost from "Butterfly Lovers"

Led by Mao Weitao, the star of the show, the all-female opera troupe yesterday visited the newly restored Erawan Shrine to pay their respects before heading home.

Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul and the Tourism Authority of Thailand invited the singers to participate in a special morning event aimed at reassuring their countrymen that it’s still safe to come here.

Most of the people killed and injured when a bomb went off at the shrine on August 17 were Chinese tourists, and the tragedy has had in impact on the number of foreigners visiting Thailand.

With the backing of the Chinese Embassy, the Zhejiang Yue Opera’s performances helped commemorate 40 years of friendly Sino-Thai relations and served as the curtain raiser for the 17th edition of the dance and music festival.

Also being celebrated was the 60th birthday of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, who’s a great admirer of Chinese culture. In April she accompanied a khon troupe to Beijing for a performance of the classical Thai masked dance.

The 75-member Zhejiang troupe was this year declared the best opera company in China, and Mao Weitao has thrice been awarded the prestigious Plum Award. It’s claimed that she has more than 20 million fans, and even in China that’s saying something.

 

A touch of Thainess in LA

 The Tourism Authority is meanwhile luring visitors from other parts of the world with its “Discover Thainess” campaign. It’s hired German-American actress Elisabeth Rohm from the movie “American Hustle” and the TV series “Law and Order” as a presenter for “Threads of Thailand”, promoting Thai silk made by Her Majesty the Queen’s Support Foundation. 

Thai Rath newspaper’s correspondent in Los Angeles reports that Rohm will be wearing a Thai silk costume in a special presentation tonight at the residence of Thailand’s charge d’affaires in the California megalopolis. The dress was designed by Aksarapak Ketthong of the Phokao boutique, also in Los Angeles.

And then the actress will be coming to Thailand to do more of the same.

Marking the Queen’s 82nd birthday, the Support Foundation has been hosting “Threads of Thailand” events at home and abroad.

In Los Angeles, Sumet Tantivejkul of the Chaipattana Foundation will explain Support’s goals and how Her Majesty’s efforts have been essential in helping underprivileged people both gain and sustain traditional skills such as weaving and dyeing.

Folks attending the event will also get a look at other silk products and tourism-related items and, naturally, tuck into some great Thai food.