An American boy's challenge on Instagram has given Muay Thai boxing a cost-free and welcome fillip, and set a record for "likes" on a comment, according to former finance minister Korn Chatikavanij.
Mr Korn wrote on his Facebook account "Korn Chatikavanij" two days ago about Instagram user "reed_harrington23", who promised in a video clip that if he had 200,000 followers he would do whatever the top comment said.
According to Mr Korn, Instagram user "fiven9nekid" was among the respondents. He advised "reed_harrington23" to visit Thailand, learn Muay Thai, win a tournament, return to the United States, join the Ultimate Fighting Championship, go undefeated in his weight class, retire and give an interview saying his comment was the reason he began fighting.
The comment received 2.57 million likes and broke the likes record for a comment on Instagram.
"The boy has more than 300,000 followers. So, we should be prepared to welcome him," Mr Korn wrote. "This pleasant topic shows that our Thailand is unique, charming and exotic in the eyes of the international community.
"This viral stuff is public relations for the country and does not need budget funding," Mr Korn said.