Thai tourism industry hails 16-year-old singer for promoting positive image in China

BANGKOK - A 16-year-old Thai student in China hailed for her rendition of songs originally sung by one of China’s legendary singers has been recognised by the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) for her contribution to promoting a positive image of Thailand in China.

Miss Vanatsaya Viseskul, (nickname: Ink), who is studying in Beijing, was one of the star performers at the “The Voice of China”, a famous singing contest TV programme in China.

On October 26, at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Mrs. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports together with Mrs. Srisuda Wanapinyosak, Deputy Governor for International Marketing (Asia and the South Pacific) presented a plaque of appreciation and gratitude to Khun Ink as an ex-officio cultural representative of Thailand.

Mrs. Kobkarn said “There is nothing more important than for the people of any country to feel good about their country. People-to-people relations are the most important part of bilateral relations, and we are extremely happy to recognise Khun Ink for her contribution to this cause.”

Miss Vanatsaya said “I am very pleased to be involved in helping to promote Thailand among the Chinese people. In the final round of the competition of “The Voice of China”, I was invited to perform as a VIP guest. I chose to present a song about Thailand’s beauty to the Chinese audiences.”

The song, “Alone in the Western Chamber”, was originally sung by the late Chinese singer Teresa Teng, a music legend and recognised in China as the undisputed all-time queen of Mandopop, Cantopop and J-Pop. She was extremely popular throughout the Chinese-speaking world, especially in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand in the 70’s and 80’s. A lifelong asthma sufferer, she died in 1995 of a respiratory attack while on holiday in Chiang Mai, Thailand. She was 42.

After Khun Ink’s performance, the Chinese audiences gave her a warm round of applause. Khun Ink can communicate in Chinese well although she has studied in China for only one year. Some audience members said they consider her the reincarnation of Teresa Teng.

Khun Ink has almost 9,000 followers on Weibo and her video on the Youku.com website has been viewed more than 800,000 times.

TAT has invited Miss Vanatsaya to star in a video-clip production that will introduce tourist attractions in Kamphaeng Phet province, her birthplace, and nearby provinces including Phitsanulok and Sukhothai as well as other new Thai tourist attractions to Chinese tourists. The video clips will be circulated through various online media in China, and are expected to generate at least 5 million views.

China is now by far the most important visitor source market for Thailand. In January – September 2015, Chinese tourist arrivals to Thailand totalled 6,115,705, up 96% over the same period of 2014, generating an estimated 2.95 billion Baht in tourism revenue (up 120%).

sourced:traveldailynews.asia