In the dense cloister of shops and stalls that is Chatuchak Weekend Market, the air can be quite oppressive, made especially worse if people smoke.
Vendors atChatuchak WeekendMarketwalk past a no-smoking sign. Hundreds of such signs havebeen put up at the market as part of the management’spolicy to turn Chatuchak into a smoking-free zone. APICHIT JINAKUL
However, when the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) took over management of the market, a unique no-smoking policy was enforced - with impressive results that have caught the eye of neighbouring health authorities.
The campaign to rid the market of cigarette butts was built around the cooperation of patrons and traders to respect each other's right to clean air.
A recent tour of the country's best-known weekend market by foreign health promotion delegates has revealed Chatuchak as a much more pleasant place to shop.
Dr Prakit Vathesatogkit, secretary-general of Action on Smoking and Health-Thailand (ASH), said the campaign launched by the market management had worked well. Smokers are now a rare breed at Chatuchak.
Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (Seatca) delegates travelled to Bangkok specifically to observe the results of the campaign.
Dr Prakit said Seatca representatives were interested in the measures put in place to wean the market off smokers.
During the delegates' visit to the market, they came across just one customer and one trader with lit cigarettes.
He said the Malaysian representative hoped Chatuchak's no-smoking campaign success could be emulated by authorities in the Malaysia's Malacca City which is looking to promote no-smoking public areas.
Preecha Mitrirux, secretary to the director of the SRT's Chatuchak Market Management office, said the transformation to a smoking-free market began right after the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration handed control to the SRT early this year.
No-smoking stickers written in Thai, Chinese and English were affixed in prominent areas throughout the market.
The no-smoking message is also piped through the loud speakers every 20 minutes.
Garbage collectors and security guards are also the eyes and ears of the campaign. They approach people smoking and politely ask them to stop.
Tourist police also seek smokers' cooperation to refrain from the habit while at the market.
The police do not fine the smokers but ask for their cooperation to create a friendly atmosphere, Mr Preecha said.
He and the market staff hand out cards thanking people at the market for not smoking.
In the future, the market will designate smoking areas. 'I don't smoke myself but I understand the need of people who can't kick the habit," Mr Preecha said.
Businessman Wasant Samakarn, 37, a regular visitor to the market, said he was pleased Chatuchak is almost completely free of smokers.
He used to be irritated by people smoking in the crowds.
"Some people come with their families, with small children. They want to enjoy their day out. If anyone craves a puff, there should be a place for that," Mr Wasant said.
"We non-smokers shouldn't have to keep making way for them."
The non-smoking environment will also add more charm to the popular market.
Winyo Pongkasemwiwat, a 44-year-old businessman, said the no-smoking rule in effect at Chatuchak was acceptable as it corresponds to the anti-smoking law.
He said he believed many smokers were considerate enough not to disturb others.
Clothing trader Keng, who only gave his first name, said it is easy for shoppers to abstain from smoking while at the market because usually they are there only for a short period of time.
However, for traders who work at the market for most of the day, the urge to puff can be agonising.
The market should find smoking areas for them which are not too far from their stalls, they said.
"We're ready to join the campaign. Now, I have to walk a really long way to have a smoke and I don't want to leave my stall unattended for too long," Mr Keng said.
Dr Prakit said ASH will soon commission an opinion survey on the smoke-free Chatuchak market.
The market will be a case study for other non-smoking campaign initiatives. ASH will also promote a similar campaign at other major markets such as See Mum Muang and Talad Thai to the north of Bangkok.