On Saturday 8 June 2024, the Royal Thai Embassy in Copenhagen, together with Team Thailand and Thai community in Denmark, organized the Thai Festival 2024 at Copenhagen’s City Hall Square (Rådhuspladsen) from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. H.E. Mrs. Sirilak Niyom, Ambassador of Thailand to Denmark and Mr. Jens-Kristian Lütken, Copenhagen Mayor of the Employment and Integration Affairs jointly presided over the opening ceremony of the event.
Her Excellency the Ambassador gave a welcoming remark to the attendants of the Thai festival which was held for the second time in a row after the pandemic at the Copenhagen City Hall square (Rådhuspladsen). She said that the event this year marked the 166 years of close diplomatic ties between Thailand and Denmark and the relationship at the people-to-people level has always been excellent. Thailand is still the top tourist destination outside of Europe for Danish people in which over 100,000 Danish travellers visited Thailand last year. She expressed hope to see more Danes to visit Thailand after participating this Festival. She added that the Thai Festival not only helps promote cultural understanding but also strengthens unity and reputation for the Thai communities who have come together to proudly present ‘Thainess’ in the heart of Copenhagen city.
Mr. Jens-Kristian Lütken addressed participants that Thailand holds a special place in the hearts of many Danes due to the tasty gastronomy, unique cultures, and welcoming smile of Thais. He thanked Thai people who choose to come and live in Denmark and has greatly contributed to
Denmark’ s community, city, and efforts to become an even better city. He said that Copenhagen prides itself in having a vibrant Thai community which continues to play an important part in making Copenhagen the global city that it is today. He hoped that the Festival will inspire Danes to experience even more of the impressive experiences of Thailand.
The festival included several cultural performances: namely, long-drum parade, Khon (masked dance), Nora (acrobatic dance), Muay Thai demonstration, and various Thai traditional dances and music. In addition, there were a number of activities and almost 40 booths of Thai entrepreneurs, selling authentic Thai food, Thai fruits and Thai beverages such as Thai tea, Thai iced coffee and Thai beer, including Thai massage. There were also booths of Thai Airways, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and Thai Trade Center showing quality products made in Thailand as well as kid corners with drawing and colouring of paper umbrellas. There were also lucky draws with the exceptional prizes of 2 Copenhagen-Bangkok round-trip plane tickets, an accommodation voucher from TAT, 3 accommodation vouchers from La Vida Samui and various awards from Thai product sellers, including KFT, Kei Lao, Thai Shop CPH Aps, and LumLum restaurant.
The Thai Festival successfully accomplished with a great number of around 30,000 visitors continuously throughout the day including Danes, Thais, foreigners and general tourists.
The Royal Thai Embassy sincerely appreciate all the efforts from all relating parties who contributed to the success of this event namely; Copenhagen Municipality, Thai Airways, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Thai Trade Center, Rak Thai School, Khon Krabi-Krabong Club from Assumption College Bangrak, Thai music bands, Lyngyby Thaiboxing, all the performers, musicians and DJs, Thai volunteer nurses, Danish and Thai volunteers, all sponsors, all participating shops and all Thai communities who have supported this Thai festival to its great success. The Royal Thai Embassy looks forward to seeing everyone again next year.