Thailand plans to provide financial support for Phuket teenager Nene Royal’s America’s Got Talent campaign and give her a future role promoting tourism and Thai soft power.
The Thai government is enlisting 16-year-old singer-guitarist Nene Royal to promote national tourism after she gained international fame on America’s Got Talent.
Official government support for Nene will include covering expenses for her continued participation in the US talent competition.
Nene will be featured in campaigns to boost Thailand's international image and showcase its "soft power."
The Thai government is preparing to support Phuket singer-guitarist Nene Royal in the next stage of her America’s Got Talent journey and involve her in promoting the country’s tourism, international image and soft power.
She received four yes votes from the judging panel and advanced to the next round.
Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul announced on Tuesday (July 14) that ministry executives and representatives of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) had met Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul at Government House during a promotional event featuring the young Thai artist.
The government was ready to encourage Nene and support her participation in the competition, including by helping to cover related expenses, Surasak explained. He also urged Thai viewers to support her and vote for her during the programme’s forthcoming stages.
Government plans tourism role for rising Thai musician
Surasak noted that Nene had already helped raise Thailand’s international profile by appearing on one of the world’s best-known talent shows.
The government’s next step would be to involve her in campaigns promoting Thai tourism, the country’s international image and its soft-power sectors, drawing on her abilities as both a singer and guitarist.
Nene had already developed a substantial following before her television breakthrough. She began teaching herself to play the guitar at the age of six, performed at markets in Phuket and competed in Thai music contests before taking her talents to the international stage.
Nene returned to her home province for a busking performance at Naka Weekend Market on the evening of July 11.
The market was packed with Phuket residents, tourists and fans who gathered to watch her perform up close following her widely shared America’s Got Talent appearance.
The homecoming marked a return to the type of open-air venue where she had developed her stage presence before gaining international recognition with her performance of ‘Zombie’.
