On March 9, 2026, at the Main Auditorium of Songkhla Provincial Hall, Songkhla Province moved forward with its initiative to enhance urban potential by hosting a workshop to promote its candidacy for the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the field of Gastronomy. The event was presided over by Mr. Chucheep Thammaphet, Vice Governor of Songkhla, with Mrs. Sasiphen Lamayphan, Provincial Cultural Officer, reporting on the objectives of establishing collaborative mechanisms between the public sector, private sector, and civil society.
This workshop served as a pivotal platform for brainstorming among the committee, working groups, and relevant stakeholders to define the direction of creative city management in accordance with international standards. The event featured distinguished national experts who provided technical consultations and shared their expertise, including:
- Ms. Savitree Suwansathit (Chairperson of the Creative Cities Network Experts): Delivered a lecture on evaluation criteria and guidelines for international creative city networking.
- Mrs. Prisana Pongtadsirikul (Chairperson of the Advisory Committee for Creative City Driving for Sustainable Tourism): Provided recommendations on integrating culinary culture into sustainable creative tourism.
- Ms. Darunee Thammapodol (Advisor to the Ministry of Culture on International Affairs): Shared insights on presenting Songkhla’s local identity on the global stage and fostering international cooperation.
Key Deliberations and Outcomes of the Workshop:
- Capacity Building: Establishing a shared understanding of the UCCN mission and the roles of working groups in utilizing gastronomy as a catalyst for economic development.
- Action Plan Development: Collaboratively reviewing and drafting a proactive Roadmap of activities for 2026 to prepare for UNESCO’s assessment.
- Database and Infrastructure Development: Discussing systematic approaches for collecting culinary and cultural data to effectively communicate the values of the “City of Two Seas, Three Waters” and create a widespread impact.
Songkhla Province is committed to integrating the recommendations from these experts into its master plan. This initiative aims not only to achieve UNESCO designation but also to build a robust and sustainable “food ecosystem” for the people of Songkhla in the long term.
