Culture Ministry in a spot of bother after naming a Japanese-inspired place as Thai heritage

By NISANATH KUNGWANWONG 
THE NATION

 

Hinoki Land // Photo from: HinokiLand's Facebook fanpage

 

A POPULAR new tourist destination in Chiang Mai, Hinoki Land, has become controversial on social media after the Culture Ministry nominated the Japanese-inspired site as one of Thailand’s top 10 cultural destinations.

 

Many people posted comments saying, “Hinoki Land should not be included in the list, as it merely copies a Japanese tourist spot of the same name.”

The ministry’s Cultural Promotion Office recently announced the top 10 cultural destinations for people to visit. 

 

Hinoki Land // Photo from: HinokiLand's Facebook fanpage

 

The destinations were selected from popular places nationwide, ranging from a botanical garden to an architectural museum and an agricultural farm to a nightlife theatre.

 

Besides Hinoki Land in Chiang Mai’s Chaiya Prakan district, the other places are Chiang Rai’s Doi Tung, Jim Thompson Farm in Nakhon Ratchasima province, the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden in Chon Buri, the Buffalo Village in Suphan Buri, Woodland Muangmai in Nakhon Pathom province, Ancient City in Samut Prakan, the Siam Niramit theatre in Bangkok and the Phuket Fantasy theatre.

 

According to the announcement, the ministry selected these places in order to honour them for their cultural heritage. 

 

The ministry also aims to encourage the general public to promote cultural heritage at both local and national levels.

 

Criteria not known

 

However, the ministry did not mention the criteria for its selection, which led the public to wonder about the choices.

 

A Chiang Mai cultural promotion officer said her office had not nominated Hinoki Land, |but it that was done by the headquarters in Bangkok.

 

Hinoki Land // Photo from: HinokiLand's Facebook fanpage

 

Meanwhile, when contacted by The Nation, the Cultural Ministry declined to explain the criteria for selection, saying its officers were in a meeting to discuss the issue and would reveal the criteria today.

 

“I’m surprised that the Culture Ministry nominated Hinoki Land, which imitates Japan’s popular destination,” Phakkhanan Winitchai, director of Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Chiang Mai Office, said.

 

“The ministry should reveal the selection criteria. If the criteria claims to be based on Thai culture, it may not be credible. However, if the place was selected for its international value, it may pass.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30369330

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2019-05-14

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That top pic' looks like load of big red domino's ready for a rally .. 

Why didn't they just paint Hopewell red?

It's all Thai culture- from som tam, biriyani, ice cubes to light bulbs, and iPhones. 

The outdoor museum, “Ancient Siam” definitely should be on the list of cultural heritage sites since in is a collection ( and replicas) of traditional Thai architecture from all regions of Thailand. 

How a Thai Ministry could get culture???

1 hour ago, Lupatria said:

It's all Thai culture- from som tam, biriyani, ice cubes to light bulbs, and iPhones. 

At of course the bearskin hat that the Kings soldiers wear. My wife would not have it that they were in Europe 400+ years ago!!

33 minutes ago, toenail said:

The outdoor museum, “Ancient Siam” definitely should be on the list of cultural heritage sites since in is a collection ( and replicas) of traditional Thai architecture from all regions of Thailand. 

Is that the place with the double charging? yes a good example of Thai culture and all the buildings are copies! I see it's gone up to 700 baht now, no thanks not even at 350 baht for Thais. I can look at 20 year old crumbling concrete on our housing estate for free.

Last picture shows a nice clear sky. Could this be FAKE NEWS by Photoshop?

Appparently Stonehenge ,the pryamids and the wheel all from the Thai think tank....

Maybe Hinoki Land memorializes Japanese occupation of Thailand in WW2. Then it is part of Thai cultural history.

1 hour ago, Orton Rd said:

Is that the place with the double charging? yes a good example of Thai culture and all the buildings are copies!

 

My nomination for Post of the Week.

4 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Why didn't they just paint Hopewell red?

And charge an entrance fee; it could help them pay the money back. It will take a while though to collect the 12Billion Baht they owe.

 

 

 

4 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

Why didn't they just paint Hopewell red?

This is truly Thai heritage.....????

A picture of a beautiful beach in a TAT promotion leaflet ,turned out

actually to be one on a Scottish Island, Barra if my memory is correct.

regards worgeordie

Resorts up here have a Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower and Mount Rushmore as part of Thai culture.

9 hours ago, webfact said:

Meanwhile, when contacted by The Nation, the Cultural Ministry declined to explain the criteria for selection, saying its officers were in a meeting to discuss the issue and would reveal the criteria today.

So they'l decide the criteria after the selection hahahaha

3 hours ago, DPKANKAN said:

At of course the bearskin hat that the Kings soldiers wear. My wife would not have it that they were in Europe 400+ years ago!!

With so many strange colours I think the Thai version is from that endangered animal Polyester