Thailand has, for the most part, lacked in exceptional museums, resulting in a lack of museum-going culture. So this year Museum Siam -- the country's most impressive and interactive museum to date, is looking to change that.
With an aim to attract more than 200,000 visitors in 2017, the museum has joined hands with both the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) to present both tourists and locals with a year full of informative and fun activities with their "Muse All Year" campaign.
"You can't separate tourism from museums," said Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhaya, deputy governor for marketing communications from TAT at the campaign's launch event on Monday at Museum Siam. "Museums, no matter what the country, have an [obligation to] give information and entertainment to visitors -- whether they be foreigners or locals. I believe that when you come to Thailand, you should visit its museums first in order to gain knowledge, before facing the actual [culture in] Bangkok."
Since Museum Siam is currently under renovation, the "Muse All Year" campaign includes the introduction of a new Muse Pass, a museum pass for multiple museums around the country; Muse Mobile, a museum placed inside a shipping container that will run throughout the country all year long; and Muse Caravan, an educational activity van that will run from Feb until July at more than 100 schools nationwide.
Other upcoming activities include an exciting temporary exhibition called "Tom Yum Goong" in March, the much visited artist-clad "Noise Market" in June, "Night At the Museum" in December, and a new permanent exhibition, "Decode Thailand" that will come later this year.
Furthermore, due to its position in the historic centre of Bangkok, Museum Siam is seeking to become Thailand's new landmark attraction, aiming to be what museum officials call the "First Stop Destination" for tourists as the new and elaborately designed Sanam Chai MRT takes commuters right onto the museum grounds.
Sanam Chai MRT, nearly finished with construction, is expected to be ready within two years. In the meantime, those curious about Museum Siam's activities can go to www.museumsiam.org or www.facebook.com/museumsiamfan.
-- Apipar Norapoompipat
