Thailand's Pavilion at Osaka Expo Faces Backlash for Missing Futuristic Mark

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Thai Rath

 

Thai Pavilion's historic display criticised as out of tune with Expo's future-focused theme, leaving visitors wanting more.

 

Thailand's much-anticipated pavilion at the Osaka Expo has stirred quite a buzz, but not for the reasons organisers hoped. Set against the backdrop of "Designing Future Society for Our Lives," the pavilion has been labelled a missed opportunity by attendees.

 

Criticisms are pouring in, suggesting it leans too heavily on historical and cultural displays rather than aligning with the futuristic theme.

 

Notably, TQM Corporation's chairman, Unchalin Punnipa, voiced his dismay. His comments about the disconnect between the theme and Thailand's presentation have gone viral on Facebook, garnering over 1,500 shares.

 

Punnipa pointedly questioned if the focus on history, nature, food, and health truly fits a theme centred on future societies.

 

Visitors like Veenie Nichapatr have called for a revamp, stating, "Design by private firm. Content by bureaucrat." Suggestions are pouring in for additions that highlight Thailand's innovations in health and well-being, resonating more with the Expo’s futuristic vision.

 

 

 

Despite these criticisms, some elements have struck a chord. Japanese visitors, for instance, seem captivated by the authentic Thai cuisine on display. YouTuber Rion Ishida, with an impressive 190,000 subscribers, left praising the culinary offerings, and similar sentiments were echoed on social media platforms.

 

Located within a 60,000-square-metre space, the pavilion's exhibits focus on healthy living, healthcare services, and traditional medicines. Thai officials stress the pavilion's potential in showcasing the nation's strengths in health and wellness, promising to incorporate visitor feedback.

 

With a hefty budget of 900 million baht invested, overseen by the Public Health Ministry, Thai officials remain hopeful. The aim, as articulated by Kittikorn Lohsoonthorn, secretary to Minister Somsak Thepsutin, is to position Thailand as a global health hub.

 

Running until October 13, the Osaka Expo will continue receiving feedback as Thailand alongside 158 nations exhibits their best. Whether the pavilion will adjust its sails remains to be seen as the event unfolds.

 

Based on a story by Bangkok Post

 

-- 2025-04-19

 

 

[flyingtlger]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

With a hefty budget of 900 million baht invested, overseen by the Public Health Ministry....

 

 

[Emdog]

Thailand's future is most countries pasts

[Bobydog]

5 hours ago, Emdog said:

Thailand's future is most countries pasts

No surprises there

 

[bkk6060]

When was the last time this country had any inventions or innovation?  Just continuing their high world standing for road deaths and hookers. How sad.

[Chris49]

Yes no surprise here. Thailand has failed to get with the times and show some social development. I don't think Thailand would know the future if it walked up and slapped it in  the face. Pity. 

[tedd]

15 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

When was the last time this country had any inventions or innovation?  Just continuing their high world standing for road deaths and hookers. How sad.

What even Thailand has to offer has to be better than a large country run by an insane man who thinks he is god. 

lot safer in Thailand than lot of

places in the world 

[spidermike007]

Thailand does have some very creative and innovative youth, who could really be a major tribute to the country if they were allowed to truly have a voice, and if they were given a platform to express themselves. My guess is that the dinosaurs designed this entire thing and all they have to lean on is historical culture, which gets a bit boring and very tired after a while.

 

The youth look toward the future while the dinosaurs cling to the past, we see that all over the world with creepy out of touch leadership. 

 

 

[newbee2022]

13 minutes ago, Chris49 said:

Yes no surprise here. Thailand has failed to get with the times and show some social development. I don't think Thailand would know the future if it walked up and slapped it in  the face. Pity. 

No.

To change a society and subsequently develop their culture it has to come from the very top.

No further comment.

[JimHuaHin]

I imagine that for those of us who travelled throughout many of the mainland South East Asian countries in the 1970s, many found the Thai people the most friendly and Thailand the country most likely to move ahead.

 

Today, nevertheless, although on the surface Thailand is one of the most developed countries of mainland South East Asia, in many ways it has progressed little over the past 5 decades.  I know that many of my Thai friends from my 1970s university days feel the same.

[JimHuaHin]

11 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

Thailand does have some very creative and innovative youth, who could really be a major tribute to the country if they were allowed to truly have a voice, and if they were given a platform to express themselves. My guess is that the dinosaurs designed this entire thing and all they have to lean on is historical culture, which gets a bit boring and very tired after a while.

 

The youth look toward the future while the dinosaurs cling to the past, we see that all over the world with creepy out of touch leadership. 

 

 

Many of these educated enlightened Thai youth have moved overseas to live and work, where their creativity can be freely expressed and respected.

 

Many of the children of my long-term Thai friends (see my previous post) are now living and working not only in Western countries, but also in countries such as Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, webfact said:

Criticisms are pouring in, suggesting it leans too heavily on historical and cultural displays rather than aligning with the futuristic theme.

Stuck in the past with no future ideas... seems strangely familiar

[Tom100]

I have been reading about the Expo because I may attend, but the reviews have been so so. Japan is doing this to boost tourism, and it may work for that -- not because it shows a better digital future (the future is more likely a dystopian 24/7 digital monitoring state).

 

Whatever happened to the "Thailand 4.0" initiative reported in the Bangkok Post newspaper 9 years ago. Anything?  The Post describes it as: "...a national development plan focused on transforming Thailand into a knowledge-driven, innovation-based economy.... promoting digital technologies, automation, and robotics, particularly among small and medium enterprises (SMEs), manufacturing, and the service sector." Thailand 4.0 has not arrived in my Soi yet!

 

I think Thailand's pavillion focusing on the past will make it relatively interesting compared to the other pavillions...so Maybe a good choice!

 

Whatever happened to 

[AgMech Cowboy]

31 minutes ago, tedd said:

What even Thailand has to offer has to be better than a large country run by an insane man who thinks he is god. 

lot safer in Thailand than lot of

places in the world 

Yes, one has to wonder about countries like Russia, Iran, Canada and China and what their futures will be like when those leaders and government style is over thrown.

[black tabby12345]

What's wrong about not being futuristic?

Thai people often value "present time", a lot more than any "unforeseen" future.

And the Future doesn't always look so bright.

[mran66]

Backlash for showing what the country is?? Should have no reason for such, I would rather think that having progressive presentation would get backlash by being fake. 

 

Thai society is held hostage by its leaders who continue brainwashing their people from young age  about the greatness of all things old and them being special, and preventing any progression 

[mran66]

1 hour ago, Tom100 said:

Whatever happened to the "Thailand 4.0" initiative reported in the Bangkok Post newspaper 9 years ago. Anything?  The Post describes it as: "...a national development plan focused on transforming Thailand into a knowledge-driven, innovation-based economy.... promoting digital technologies, automation, and robotics, particularly among small and medium enterprises (SMEs), manufacturing, and the service sector." 

 

555

 

Actually someone should make a collection of all comparable statements by the Junta and make it like a poem book. Would be fun reading. 

[mran66]

29 minutes ago, black tabby12345 said:

Thai people often value "present time", a lot more than any "unforeseen" future.

And the Future doesn't always look so bright.

 

Non-performance rates of loans held by Thai banks and finance companies seem to be aligned with your statement! 9

[KannikaP]

1 hour ago, bkk6060 said:

When was the last time this country had any inventions or innovation?  Just continuing their high world standing for road deaths and hookers. How sad.

They 'legalised' cannabis, more than UK or most other countries

[UserC923]

It's almost time to change the country's name again.

[Tarteso]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

With a hefty budget of 900 million baht invested,

 Put at least a couple of ladyboys at the entrance offering canapes or small decorative appetizers served with drinks at events.

[geisha]

3 hours ago, tedd said:

What even Thailand has to offer has to be better than a large country run by an insane man who thinks he is god. 

lot safer in Thailand than lot of

places in the world 

Your comment has nothing to do with the subject. 

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

When was the last time this country had any inventions or innovation?  Just continuing their high world standing for road deaths and hookers. How sad.

 

And some / many Thais are noticing that Thailand is not developing, everything is stationery, creativity and innovation are asleep. 

 

I'm well retired but for many years I was a local director of an international management consulting firm. Doing organizational analysis I often commented to clients 'there's no mention in your organization structure of creativity or innovation and no management position specifically responsible for these subjects'.  The response 'not needed Thailand is already very advanced'

 

In the last few years I've asked my old consulting colleagues whether this has changed. Answer every time 'nothing has changed, still no mention of creativity or innovation and no management position specifically responsible for these subjects'. 

 

There is one organization trying to make progress in this rea - a giant oil and gas company, but there's a roadblock, staff appointed to this area have little experience or knowledge in this area. And as with a few organizations trying to improved the positions are filled by famous family, inexperienced, way too young folks. 

[Tom100]

3 hours ago, mran66 said:

 

Non-performance rates of loans held by Thai banks and finance companies seem to be aligned with your statement! 9

Great point. I have been amazed to see so many recently repo'ed cars for sale in Chiang Mai.

Then I read this...  "According to data from the National Credit Bureau (NCB), as of the first quarter of 2024, non-performing auto loans—defined as loans overdue by more than 90 days—reached 238 billion baht, marking a 32% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.

 

Additionally, delinquent loans (overdue by up to 90 days) totaled 200 billion baht, with another 39 billion baht in auto loans under restructuring. This indicates that a significant portion of car buyers are either falling behind or at risk of defaulting on their payments.

The frequency of these non-performing loans is particularly pronounced among certain demographics, notably Generation Y (born roughly between 1981 and 1996), which accounts for a large share of troubled auto loans. The NCB reported that this group held 415,000 NPL auto loan contracts worth 28 billion baht and 298,000 delinquent contracts worth 114 billion baht, totaling 713,000 accounts with a combined value of 240 billion baht. This suggests that younger borrowers, possibly due to lower income stability or higher debt burdens, are disproportionately struggling to meet their car payment obligations.
 

"

[Will B Good]

A desperate bid to cling on to and exploit what the dinosaurs see as Thailand's 'soft power' maybe?

[kuzmabruk]

5 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

When was the last time this country had any inventions or innovation?  Just continuing their high world standing for road deaths and hookers. How sad.

SomTam.  The last great Thai invention, claimed by all neighboring countries as theirs.  

[trainman34014]

Most Thai's i know see 'The Future' as tomorrow and don't have much more ambition than eating, smoking and drinking Beer !

[spidermike007]

7 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Many of these educated enlightened Thai youth have moved overseas to live and work, where their creativity can be freely expressed and respected.

 

Many of the children of my long-term Thai friends (see my previous post) are now living and working not only in Western countries, but also in countries such as Japan, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan.

And that's a huge part of the problem and unfortunately it doesn't bode well for the future of the nation, the youth are the lifeblood of the country and if they're leaving that's a rather scary scenario. 

 

Of course the problem is that they're simply not being encouraged and quite the opposite is happening in a sense that change, reform and progress are being thwarted at every move buy some very sinister elites, and some people that we just cannot mention. Unfortunately there's just too much money at stake and when you couple that with a primitive mind and a heart filled with greed that has no room for humanity, you get this kind of moral degradation. 

[mran66]

5 hours ago, scorecard said:

 

And some / many Thais are noticing that Thailand is not developing, everything is stationery, creativity and innovation are asleep. 

 

I'm well retired but for many years I was a local director of an international management consulting firm. Doing organizational analysis I often commented to clients 'there's no mention in your organization structure of creativity or innovation and no management position specifically responsible for these subjects'.  The response 'not needed Thailand is already very advanced'

 

In the last few years I've asked my old consulting colleagues whether this has changed. Answer every time 'nothing has changed, still no mention of creativity or innovation and no management position specifically responsible for these subjects'. 

 

There is one organization trying to make progress in this rea - a giant oil and gas company, but there's a roadblock, staff appointed to this area have little experience or knowledge in this area. And as with a few organizations trying to improved the positions are filled by famous family, inexperienced, way too young folks. 

 

At least they focus on innovation for democracy as there is a department for such "Office of Innovation for Democracy at King Prajadhipok's Institute" 

 

Looking recent history one can only wonder the focus areas of their innovation (reduction or growth). Anyway looking at the end result, maybe not a bad idea not to have focus on innovation in companies.... 

 

 

[Greenhill]

9 hours ago, tedd said:

What even Thailand has to offer has to be better than a large country run by an insane man who thinks he is god. 

lot safer in Thailand than lot of

places in the world 

Only if you stay indoors!!!!!