While exploring the country, holidaymakers can now enjoy a fresh and entertaining experience by pretending to be treasure hunters and completing quests. Recently, the Tourism Authority of Thailand in collaboration with Thai NFT artists and Bored Town launched the Amazing Hunt NFT Travel Guide, which allows users to collect NFTs that can be exchanged for discounts and vouchers on travel-related services.
The mission is to track down the fantastic beasts that represent each region. Travellers can download the Amazing Hunt app and customise their master avatar with Thai-inspired outfits. They can then use the map to locate the fantastic beasts and local treasures hidden in various tourist spots, community attractions, landmarks, museums and learning centres as well as hotels, home-stays, restaurants and souvenir shops.
These beasts serve as tour guides, leading travellers to explore sights across Thailand. In the northeast region, Phaya Khan Khak (Giant Toad) is modelled after the five-storey giant toad-shaped building of the Phaya Khan Khak Museum in Yasothon province. According to local beliefs, the "toad" signifies fertility and is linked to the legend of the Bun Bang Fai rocket festival, which marks the beginning of the rainy season.
In the northern region, Phaya Chalawan, the famous giant crocodile of the Nan River, is inspired by the Chalawan statue situated at Bueng Si Fai in Phichit province. In Krai Thong folklore, the story of Chalawan has been passed down through generations and represents the abundance of Thailand's northern watershed forests.
In the central region, the Bryde's whale is influenced by the 17m-tall statue at the Samut Sakhon Aquarium. It is the 16th species to be added to Thailand's list of protected animals and serves as an indicator of the richness of the Gulf of Thailand's marine ecosystem, particularly the upper Gulf of Thailand.
In the eastern region, the half-horse, half-dragon Mah Nin Mangkorn draws inspiration from the statue situated in front of the Sunthorn Phu Monument in Rayong province. Mah Nin Mangkorn is a magical creature from the famous epic poem Phra Aphai Mani by Sunthorn Phu, who was the first Thai commoner to be honoured by Unesco in 1986 as a world poet.
In the southern region, the Dugong is modelled after the Dugong Fountain Roundabout in Trang province. This large, four-tiered fountain depicts Thai folktales and is adorned with a dugong, which serves as an indicator of the richness of the marine ecosystem.
The Naga, based on the ancient sculpture displayed at the U Thong National Museum in Suphan Buri province, is designed after the fantastic beast character. Symbolising water and abundance, the naga is believed to be a guardian of Buddhist and Hindu traditions.
Find out more details, visit amazinghunt.app.
