In the morning of 16 January 2024, Mister Suphot Wongcharatrawi, Advisory Committee to the Minister of Tourism and Sports, presides a press conference launching a campaign named “THAILAND SOFT POWER X GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ CHALLENGE” at Tourism Authority of Thailand (head office). The campaign promotes the five Soft Powers (5F) of Thailand which consist of Food, Fashion, Film, Fight, and Festival, in accordance with the Soft Power Policy; a crucial tool to boost economic value. Mister Nithee Seeprae, Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications to the Tourism Authority of Thailand also attends the press conference today and invites challengers to join the event taking place during 21-27 February 2024 at Parc Paragon, Siam Paragon.

Mister Suphot said that the “THAILAND SOFT POWER X GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ CHALLENGE” was a response to the government’s strategic policy— founding the National Soft Power Strategic Committee to strengthen trust and enhance Thailand’s potential in the international market, in order to boost economic value and drive the economy with tourism. The event will promote tourism through the “Soft Power” by showcasing Thai tourism product & service’s identity, ultimately promoting Thailand as a leader of the Soft Power and attracting the attention of worldwide tourists.

Mister Nithee said that the TAT. has invited the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ to adjudicate the “THAILAND SOFT POWER X GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ CHALLENGE” and find the best of the world in the five topics as follows:
1) Most balloons burst with boxing gloves in one minute;
2) Most elephant pants put on in one minute;
3) Most street food (Pa Thong Ko) eaten in one minute;
4) Most masks (Phi Ta Khon) put on in one minute;
5) Most popcorn eaten in one minute.
Each topic features Thai tourism product and Soft Power which are well-known among foreign tourists. For example, Pa Thong Ko is featured in the Top Five Most Popular Street Food in the World by TasteAtlas. Elephant pants are famous souvenirs among foreigners visiting Thailand. Muay Thai is widely recognized across the globe. The Phi Ta Khon Festival is a uniquely charming local culture that greatly catches the attention of foreign tourists.

“THAILAND SOFT POWER X GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ CHALLENGE” will take place during 21 – 27 February 2024 at Parc Paragon, Siam Paragon. The challenge is divided into rounds, 10 minutes per round, and rotates between the five topics as follows:
– Most street food (Pa Thong Ko) eaten in one minute (10 challengers per round)
– Most balloons burst with boxing gloves in one minute (3 challengers per round)
– Most popcorn eaten in one minute (10 challengers per round)
– Most elephant pants put on in one minute (10 challengers per round)
– Most masks (Phi Ta Khon) put on in one minute (10 challengers per round)
The event’s schedule is as follows:
– 21 February 2024: Start the challenge from noon to 08.40 p.m. (9 rounds per topic),
– 22 – 26 February 2024: Start the challenge from 11.00 a.m. – 08.40 p.m. (10 rounds per topic),
– 27 February 2024: the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ adjudicator inspects and verifies the challenging result VDOs of the first-place winners in the five topics recorded during the challenge. The winners may get a chance to become a record holder and receive a certificate from the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™.
Anyone who is interested in joining the challenge can register through the campaign website or walk-in booth at the event. Participants can register in more than one topics but attempt no more than 3 times per topic. The 1st – 10th place winners of each topic will receive prizes as follows:
– 1st place winner: GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ certificate & 10,000-Baht cash & traveling voucher
– 2nd place winner: 5,000-Baht cash & traveling voucher
– 3rd place winner: 3,000-Baht cash & traveling voucher
– 4th – 10th place winner: traveling voucher

Moreover, people who visit the “THAILAND SOFT POWER X GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ CHALLENGE” can join an offline event at the “Shoot Share Check-in” booth. Take photos of the event and post on social media such as Facebook, Instagram, X, or TikTok, with #THAILANDSOFTPOWERCHALLENGE hashtag to get various souvenirs. Plus, anyone who reviews the event or creates content to promote the Soft Power (5F) on TikTok through #THAILANDSOFTPOWERCHALLENGE hashtag may get a chance to win 30 prizes from the campaign.

Creators from TikTok also attend the press conference today and share their thoughts on the “THAILAND SOFT POWER X GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ CHALLENGE” as follows:
– Food representative: Krisanai Buasri (@ohm_plengg)
– Fashion representative: Sathida Pansitthichai (@wonderdastory)
– Film representative: Sattawat Nakboon (@topmie)
– Fight representative: Phaknipat Sud-ngam (@nuttopak)
– Festival representative: Suphaphon Skeen (@kruyuy.supaporn)
The five creators from TikTok will create engaging content based on their styles and interests to spread awareness among public.

Last but not least, Miss Thapanee Kiatphaibool, Governor to the Tourism Authority of Thailand comes to the post-press conference and converses with the TikTok creators to encourage them.

For those who are interested in more details and join the challenge, visit https://thailandsoftpowerchallenge.com/ or www.tourismthailand.org/thailandsoftpowerchalleng