In their new campaigns to promote soft power and creative economy, Thailand has now chosen its Muay Thai boxing to get the world’s attention. It’s one of its five F’s to promote tourism in Thailand — food, festivals, fashion, film and fight.
Like its classical Khon dance steeped in history and culture, Muay Thai is the country’s local boxing genre with historical antecedents dating back to the 16th century. Used as a form of self-defence, it gained royal patronage and got imbued with many rituals. Every year, for instance, there is a traditional World Wai Kru Muay Thai ceremony in the ancient city of Ayutthaya, outside Bangkok, where the students and masters of the martial art show their respect towards each other through a bevy of unique rites. The event is now a major tourist attraction.
This March marked the 16th year of this gala, attracting students from the world over, India not excluding. With day tours to Ayutthaya being very popular with Indian tourists, this…