Bangkok, 28 April, 2022 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), together with the provinces of Chanthaburi, Rayong, and Si Sa Ket, today announced the launch of the ‘Amazing Thailand Metaverse: Amazing Durian’ project, a new virtual travel experience specially created to attract a new sector of tourists especially durian lovers, cryptocurrency enthusiasts, and high-disposable income tourists to Thailand.
Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, TAT Governor, said, “The metaverse is a new era of the digital world, and TAT has identified world trends and consumer behaviour in line with this as an opportunity to increase the competitiveness of the Thai tourism industry. It is an exciting way to resume business as Thailand reopens to foreign tourism in a sustainable manner, which is a key objective of the ‘Visit Thailand Year 2022: Amazing New Chapters’ campaign. Tourists will be encouraged to visit Thailand after enjoying their virtual experience.”
The ‘Amazing Thailand Metaverse: Amazing Durian’ is the country’s prototype project that uses Web 3.0 technology and the application of digital assets to promote tourism to connect the virtual world and real world together. At the same time, the project aims to help business operators as Thailand reopens and to also upgrade technical capabilities in the tourism industry.
Durian was chosen as the pilot focus for the project due to the fruit’s international fame, and the fact that it is currently durian season in Thailand with Chanthaburi, Rayong and Si Sa Ket being widely known for their production of the fruit.
The ‘Amazing Thailand Metaverse: Amazing Durian’ project can be experienced by visiting www.amazingthailandmetaverse.com via iOS and Android smartphones or PC computer. Tourists can create their own avatar to explore a virtual durian garden that is designed based on an actual durian orchard without the need of any VR headsets.
Orchards that are currently participating in the project are Suan Arun Burapha and KP Garden (Chanthaburi), Lamai Garden and Suphattra Land Park (Rayong), and Ing Than Park (Si Sa Ket) with more orchard are expected to join. These orchards are well-known for producing many different Thai durian varieties, including the popular ones – Monthong and Chanee – and the local ones – volcanic and long lap lae, as well as the durian glycemic index (GI), which will all be available for tourists to explore in the virtual garden.
TAT in cooperation with the participating durian orchards and selected NFT creators have created the NFT Collection Amazing Durian in Metaverse, for which tourists can purchase and collect within this durian season in Thailand (from now until 31 August, 2022). In addition to the special collection, tourists can enjoy gamification whereby they can use tokens/items upgrade their avatar’s abilities, and redeem e-vouchers for accommodation, and tourism products and services in the real world.
More information on ‘Amazing Thailand Metaverse: Amazing Durian’ can be found on the Facebook page AmazingThailandMetaverse.
Durian operators and entrepreneurs interested in joining the project can contact the TAT’s Tourism Industry Investment Planning Division or Tourism Industry Investment Promotion Department on Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 Ext. 2940-2945.
